European Team of the Week: 26-28 May

GK: Wladimiro Falcone (Unione Sportiva Lecce)

With three points secured thanks to a 1-0 away win against Monza, Lecce is free and clear of the relegation zone going into the final weekend of action in Serie A. Wladimiro Falcone’s penalty save in the final ten minutes of action to keep it all square at 0-0 set the stage for Lecce’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty to bag a massive win.

#SerieA : #ACMonza 0-1 #Lecce

Lecce have mathematically secured their Serie A safety with a combination of Wladimiro Falcone’s penalty save and the last-gasp Lorenzo Colombo spot-kick to beat Monza https://t.co/qkxhN7Jfoq #MonzaLecce #SerieATIM #Calcio #Spezia #HellasVerona

— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 28, 2023

RB: Davide Calabria (Associazione Calcio Milan)

One of two AC Milan players to feature this week, Italian right-back Davide Calabria bagged the lone assist during a 1-0 win against Juventus, with an expert cross that was headed home by Olivier Giroud. Calabria was stout in all phases of play, so his inclusion here makes a ton of sense.

COLPO DI TESTA DI OLIVIER GIROUD!
CHE BELL’ASSIST DI DAVIDE CALABRIA!pic.twitter.com/uBeOd6HC2b

— Football Report (@FootballReprt) May 29, 2023

RCB: Malick Thiaw (Associazione Calcio Milan)

Young German center-back Malick Thiaw has had a fine breakout season with AC Milan after escaping the clutches of FC Schalke 04 in the summer while putting himself on track to make his first-ever appearance for the national side in due course. Alongside Fikayo Tomoroi, Thiaw was sublime against Juventus in a 1-0 win, which included 10 clearances.

Malick Thiaw vs. Juventus:

90 minutes
52/57 passing (91%)
10 clearances
5 recoveries
3 ground duels won
2 aerial duels won
2 tackles won

Monstrous effort in Turin for the young German 💪🇩🇪 #JuveMilan pic.twitter.com/qfdN5l1wfX

— Matt Santangelo (@Matt_Santangelo) May 28, 2023

LCB: Clerc (Elche Club de Fútbol)

Though relegation awaits Elche at the conclusion of the current 2022-23 La Liga season, the club still put up a valiant fight at the weekend with a fantastic 1-0 win away at Athletic Club which saw veteran center-back Clerc put in a sublime performance to blank the Basque outfit.

📊 𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗛𝗘 en el once de la jornada en @WhoScored

✅ Carlos Clerc
✅ Josan
✅ Edgar Badia pic.twitter.com/IlyFNC61So

— Elche Club de Fútbol 🌴💯 (@elchecf) May 29, 2023

LB: José Gayà (Valencia Club de Fútbol)

Valencia is a club under the microscope currently in the aftermath of racist abuse flung at Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior, but this past weekend, the club earned a vital point toward possible survival in a 2-2 draw against now-relegated Espanyol, with José Gayà adding an assist and a goal-saving tackle in the process.

#ValenciaCF 🦇

Cada año elegimos al mejor jugador de la temporada en #RadioestadioValenciano

🥇@jose_gaya líder tras el #ValenciaEspanyol pic.twitter.com/lTsy3MvZrG

— ONDA DEPORTIVA VALENCIA (@ODValencia) May 29, 2023

RCM: Kevin Stöger (Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum)

A final day of drama gripped the top flight of German football after Borussia Dortmund let slip their first chance at a title in a decade, but at the other end, fellow Ruhr Valley club VfL Bochum escape the potential of relegation thanks to a huge 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, with Austrian Kevin Stöger chipping in with a goal and an assist to help the club survive another season.

Kevin stöger, Takuma Asano und Saidy Janko in der Kicker elf des spieltages. pic.twitter.com/JG9jZn7XtH

— VfL_Edits1848 (@VfL_Edits1848) May 29, 2023

LCM: Pierre Lees-Melou (Stade Brestois 29)

Brest secured Ligue 1 survival with a 2-1 win over Clermont. Franck Honorat and Steve Mounié were on target with both goals assisted by Pierre Lees-Melou as Brest bounced back from Neto Borges’ first-half opener for the visitors. #SB29CF63 pic.twitter.com/vm2BqDGoHW

— Football24/7 (@foet247europa) May 24, 2023

RW: Ansu Fati (Futbol Club Barcelona)

It is hard to think that many will have to possibly come to terms with Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati departing Catalunya this summer. Even if he does go, this past weekend showcased the level of talent he still possesses despite one injury after the next, with a brace against Mallorca helping the club to a 3-0 win.

6 goals and 3 assists in 12 starts for Ansu Fati this season. That, on the back of a barrage of serious injuries, at the age of 20.

He’s still nowhere near his best, but I’ll say it again – it’s ridiculous that we’re (seemingly) giving up on him so soon.

— Neal 🇦🇺 (@NealGardner_) May 28, 2023

LW: Nikola Vlašić (Torino Football Club)

A failed move to West Ham United in the summer saw Croatian attacking midfielder Nikola Vlašić run the risk of falling by the wayside, but a January loan to Torino has done wonders to revitalize his pathway in Europe. A brace of assists at the weekend showcased his massive contributions in Turin of late.

Nikola Vlašić is also contributing today as he gets 2 assists for Torino in a 4-0 win over Spezia.

He ends the season off in Seria A with 5 goals and 6 assists with 4 assists and a goal coming from his last 7 games.

Another player in form right before the Nations League. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/4PuJJQVbul

— 🇭🇷 (@TheCroatianLad) May 27, 2023

RF: Gaëtan Laborde (Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice)

A brace and an assist saw Nice forward Gaëtan Laborde included in the L’Équipe team of the week after the French Riviera side secured a 3-2 win away from home against Montpellier. Though the club is set to miss out on Europe next season, his performance in isolation deserves a ton of credit.

Gaëtan Laborde dans l’équipe Type de cette 37 ème journée!❤️🖤🦅. pic.twitter.com/fyIYniaNKw

— actus_ogcn (@actus_ogcn) May 28, 2023

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

Few final acts may have gone as well as that of French international forward Christopher Nkunku. Primed for a move to Chelsea in the summer, the RB Leipzig star said goodbye to Saxony with a brace and an assist to secure his first-ever Torjägerkanone along with SV Werder Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug.

Christopher Nkunku scored two goals on the final matchday of the Bundesliga season to tie Füllkrug (16) and win the Golden Boot.

This is after missing several months this season due to injury.

Next up: Chelsea 😎 pic.twitter.com/buvN9GJUtv

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 27, 2023