European Team of the Week | 12-14 May

GK: Michele Di Gregorio (Associazione Calcio Monza)

Italian minnows AC Monza continued their brilliant run of form that has seen them climb to 8th in the Serie A table after a massive 2-0 home win against newly-crowned champions SSC Napoli, with shot-stopper Michele Di Gregorio making seven saves to preserve a clean sheet in Lombardy.

Michele Di Gregorio: Clean Sheet Baller ™️🙅‍♂️#MonzaNapoli pic.twitter.com/BP05lLDk64

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 14, 2023

RB: Przemysław Frankowski (Racing Club de Lens)

Polish international right-back Przemysław Frankowski was once again a key figure for Lens at the weekend as the Hauts-de-France outfit nears a return to the Champions League after a 2-1 win over Stade de Reims despite being down to ten men. Frankowski bagged the equalizer from the spot to set up a dramatic comeback win.

Despite falling to 10 men and conceding the opener in the 23rd minute, Lens prevailed with a 2-1 victory against Reims.

Przemysław Frankowski equalized from the penalty spot, whilst Seko Fofana converted the go-ahead goal to lead Lens to their eighth win in nine matches. pic.twitter.com/S9TbPZPP5T

— Breaking The Lines (@BTLvid) May 12, 2023

RCB: Timo Hübers (1. Fußball-Club Köln e.V.)

A brace featuring a back-heeled strike is hardly what you’d expect from your center-back, but for Köln defender Timo Hübers, that is precisely the afternoon he had for himself along the Rhein as Köln condemned Hertha BBC to the 2.Bundesliga after a 5-2 win at RheinEnergieStadion.

A sublime flick from Timo Hübers for a brace 🔥 pic.twitter.com/g2MVHcIq4R

— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) May 12, 2023

LCB: Przemysław Wiśniewski (Spezia Calcio)

The second Polish international defender to feature in the team of the week, Spezia’s Przemysław Wiśniewski got himself on the scoresheet against foundering Italian giants AC Milan with a finish from inside 6 yards to set the Ligurians off and running to a 2-0 win in front of home support.

GOL DI PRZEMYSŁAW WIŚNIEWSKI!!!
CHE PALLA DI SALVATORE ESPOSITO 🇮🇹(2000)!!!pic.twitter.com/LZ2YHqMeCq

— Football Report (@FootballReprt) May 15, 2023

LB: Alejandro Balde (Futbol Club Barcelona)

The rise of Spanish teenage sensation Alejandro Balde has been one of the stories of the season for officially crowned La Liga champions Barcelona after the youngster bagged more combined assists than Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modrić, but his first goal for the club coming in the title decider at the weekend is a memory he will cherish forever.

Alejandro Balde picked the perfect time to score his first Barcelona goal 🌟 pic.twitter.com/tTGmcd7gOp

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 14, 2023

RCM: Salvatore Esposito (Spezia Calcio)

Scoring the first Serie A goal of your carer is something special. Scoring it in stunning fashion from a free-kick against AC Milan is something that would be difficult to top after Salvatore Esposito did just that for Spezia’s second goal in their 2-0 win over ACM, growing his budding reputation in the process.

SALVATORE ESPOSITO. STOP THAT! 😳

Milan are being exposed at Spezia. 😬 pic.twitter.com/hRfcLlClpY

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 13, 2023

LCM: Álex Baena (Villarreal Club de Fútbol)

¡QUÉ GOLAZO DE ÁLEX BAENA 🇪🇸(2001)!https://t.co/6m4QqCJmz8

— Football Report (@FootballReprt) May 13, 2023

RW: Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club)

Despite a few hiccups along the way and frustrations involving some of the club’s biggest names, PSG remains in pole position to secure another Ligue 1 title this season after a massive 5-0 against AC Ajaccio, with Kylian Mbappé adding two more to his goal tally to give him 26 in the league for the season.

Kylian Mbappe has more Goals and Assists in Ligue 1 this season than 3 teams:

🥇 KYLIAN MBAPPE – 30
🥈 Auxerre – 29
🥉 Angers SCO – 27
4️⃣ AC Ajaccio – 21

Incroyable. 👑 pic.twitter.com/DljWmVWwVs

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 15, 2023

LW: Christopher Nkunku (RasenBallsport Leipzig e.V.)

Destines for a future away from Saxony, French star Christopher Nkunku remained committed to the cause of getting RB Leipzig into the Champions League once again at the weekend, inspiring his side to a late 2-1 win thanks to a brace of assists to lift the club over Werder Bremen at Red Bull Arena.

Unreal run by Christopher Nkunku to assist Dominik Szoboszlai’s stoppage-time winner for Leipzig 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/sbnfqmYC85

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 14, 2023

RF: Sheraldo Becker (1. Fußballclub Union Berlin e.V.)

A double brace of goals and assists for Surinamese striker Sheraldo Becker at the weekend highlighted Union Berlin’s continued push for Champions League football for the first time in club history, with Becker banking 100% goal contributions in a 4-2 win over top-four rivals SC Freiburg.

🇸🇷🕸️ Sheraldo Becker (28) was on fire for Union Berlin today vs Freiburg. 2 goals + 2 assists. He’s also the clubs top scorer/top assister this season.

The Spiderman celebration even got pulled out! pic.twitter.com/uJinNIjelY

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 13, 2023

LF: Robert Lewandowski (Futbol Club Barcelona)

Long considered one of Europe’s best strikers, much was made of whether or not Robert Lewandowski would be able to shine outside of the Bundesliga, but the Polish icon made a fool of his detractors this season after a brace at the weekend in the title decider took him to 21 league goals and the frontrunner to finish top scorer in La Liga.

Robert Lewandowski is the first Barcelona player to score 30+ goals across all competitions in his debut season since Ronaldo in 1996/97.

R9 🤝 RL9 pic.twitter.com/AruWoM4U35

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 14, 2023