The weekend action across Spain, Germany, and Italy provided numerous talking points as well as moments of magic that continue to capture the hearts and minds of fans across the continent in the wake of club football’s official return in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
3er Lachs
Danke für dieses atemberaubende Spiel, Jungs! 🙏❤️
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🐐 7:1 🐟 (90.) #KOESVW #effzeh pic.twitter.com/qF4nt9SqjA— 1. FC Köln (@fckoeln) January 21, 2023
From numerous goal fests in the Bundesliga, to Nigerian goalscoring influence in Serie A, and a former Premier League back-up keeper providing another heroic performance in La Liga, 101 Great Goals picks out the best XI from across Europe’s top club competitions.
📰 Table Of Contents
- 1 GK: Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona Futbol Club)
- 2 RCB: Éder Militão (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol)
- 3 CB: Micky van de Ven (VfL Wolfsburg)
- 4 LCB: Danilho Doekhi (1. FC Union Berlin)
- 5 RWB: Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli)
- 6 LWB: Diego Rico (Real Sociedad de Fútbol)
- 7 CM: Ellyes Skhiri (1. FC Köln)
- 8 CM: Antoine Griezmann (Club Atlético de Madrid)
- 9 RW: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta Bergamo)
- 10 LW: Paulo Dybala (Associazione Sportiva Roma)
- 11 CF: Steffen Tigges (1. FC Köln)
- 12 Read below for more news
GK: Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona Futbol Club)
On loan Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga is enjoying first-choice minutes at La Liga outfit Girona during 2022-23 as the Argentine has produced numerous top-class performances, with perhaps none better than this weekend. Eight saves, and a penalty stop, was a fantastic effort despite the 1-0 loss.
Paulo Gazzaniga has had one of the best goalkeeping performances in LaLiga this season away at Villarreal.
The Girona goalkeeper has had eight saves, which included a stoppage time penalty save from Gerard Moreno.
— Jonas Adnan Giæver (@CheGiaevara) January 22, 2023
RCB: Éder Militão (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol)
Real Madrid persisted in their attempts to keep pace with table-topping and bitter rivals Barcelona this weekend with a 2-0 away win against Athletic Club, with Éder Militão once again proving to be sensational at the back with 3 interceptions, 6 clearances, and 3 aerial duels won. Rock.
📊 Éder Militão has been dribbled past only twice in La Liga this season.
For more, get #hoof now https://t.co/Otc9gqTfYT pic.twitter.com/MzxQQjf4Tr
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) January 21, 2023
CB: Micky van de Ven (VfL Wolfsburg)
21-year-old Dutch youth international defender Micky van de Ven has become a key figure at Volkswagen Arena this season under Niko Kovač and his performance at the weekend in the club’s 6-0 drubbing of high-flying Freiburg showed why the former Bayern Munich manager continues to keep faith in the youngster.
Dutch centre-back Danilo Doekhi scored twice as Union Berlin defeated Hoffenheim 3-1.
Micky van de Ven with another fine performance and an assist in Wolfsburg’s 6-0 win over Freiburg.
— Dutch Football 🇳🇱 (@FootballOranje_) January 21, 2023
LCB: Danilho Doekhi (1. FC Union Berlin)
A brace from Dutch center-back Danilho Doekhi helped see Union Berlin begin the Rückrunde as the Bundesliga returned to action at the weekend with a 3-1 win over visiting Hoffenheim in the capital to take the club up to 3rd in the table while remaining in the race for Champions League football.
Don’t tell Danilho Doekhi he doesn’t know when to turn up to a party. He did it against Gladbach once. He’s done it here against Hoffenheim twice. And then Jamie Leweling outdoes him, nutmegging Baumann. Neither of them need by a drink in Köpenick ever again. Bloody hell. Eisern! pic.twitter.com/lbvwV6Z8fT
— 1. FC Union Berlin (English) (@fcunion_en) January 21, 2023
RWB: Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli)
Captain fantastic! 💥
Giovanni Di Lorenzo smashes the ball to give Napoli the lead right before halftime. His first Serie A goal since November 2021. 👏 pic.twitter.com/EuxD4Fc3XZ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 21, 2023
LWB: Diego Rico (Real Sociedad de Fútbol)
Real Sociedad’s sensational 2022-23 La Liga campaign continued with a 2-0 away win at Rayo Vallecano to keep them sitting 3rd in the table, with Diego Rico’s defensive efforts at left-back proving vital once again during a season of redemption for the former Bournemouth defender.
El mejor once de la jornada🧐 lo habéis elegido vosotros.🔥
Un XI que nos llega de la mano de @Poloclubbrand
¿Estáis de acuerdo? #ElPostDeDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/SS0ox0RodJ
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) January 22, 2023
CM: Ellyes Skhiri (1. FC Köln)
Tunisian international attacking midfielder Ellyes Skhiri is one of two Köln players to feature in the TOTW here after the former Montpellier academy product chimed in with two goals and an assist during a superb performance in Köln’s massive win over Werder Bremen.
🇩🇪 | 1. FC Köln 7–1 Werder Bremen
We saw another dominant win in Bundesliga today, this time by Köln, who put five past Bremen after just 36′ of action. 😳
It was truly a team effort, with Steffen Tigges, Ellyes Skhiri and Linton Maina particularly standing out. 👏👏#KOESVW pic.twitter.com/RSpe203AOs
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) January 21, 2023
CM: Antoine Griezmann (Club Atlético de Madrid)
French star Antoine Griezmann continues to produce the goods for Spanish giants Atlético Madrid after his return to the capital in the wake of his stint with Barcelona with another sensational and influential performance for Diego Simeone’s men. Two assists highlighted a fantastic Man of the Match display.
“Is he a forward… is he a midfielder…?” 🤔@eastonjamie, @GuillemBalague & Bernd Schuster walk us through the brilliance that is Antoine Griezmann! 🙌
🎙️ #LaLigaTV pic.twitter.com/yPhbhr2h1a
— LALIGA TV (@LaLigaTV) January 23, 2023
RW: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta Bergamo)
Former Premier League starlet Ademola Lookman continues his career resurgence in Bergamo with neutral favorite Atalanta in stunning fashion this season in Serie A, with his brace against Juventus seeing him climb into sole possession of second in the goal chart (11) behind compatriot Victor Osimhen.
Ademola Lookman’s last three games for Atalanta:
⚽⚽🅰️ vs. Salernitana
⚽⚽ vs. Spezia
⚽⚽🅰️ vs. JuventusMan on fire. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GmLnVzKRfE
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 22, 2023
LW: Paulo Dybala (Associazione Sportiva Roma)
Argentine international and World Cup winner Paulo Dybala has done himself a world of good swapping Turin for Rome as the former Palermo starlet has resurrected his own career at the Stadio Olimpico this season, with a brace of assists proving decisive in Roma’s 2-0 away win at Spezia.
10 – Paulo Dybala is the fastest player to have been involved in 10 Serie A goals for AS Roma (7 goals and 3 assists in 13 appearances), among those who have made their debut with the Giallorossi since 2004/05 onwards. Decisive.#SpeziaRoma pic.twitter.com/k5Nsr9FUPm
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 22, 2023
CF: Steffen Tigges (1. FC Köln)
Steffen Baumgart’s Köln produced one of the headline results of the entire weekend across Europe’s top leagues with a 7-1 demolition job on Werder Bremen at the RheinEnergieStadion, with striker Steffen Tigges bagging a brace – including a goal from 47-meters – and an assist to leave his mark on a night of celebration along the Rhine.
Steffen Tigges has just scored from 47 meters out for Cologne.
Wow. pic.twitter.com/HaCt2f4Sf6
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) January 21, 2023