European Team of the Week | Aug 12-15

The top leagues across the European continent did not fail to disappoint once again this past weekend as a cadre of shock results highlighted the fixtures in La Liga, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A.

With what was unquestionably the result of the weekend, minnows Rayo Vallecano kept Xavi’s massively reinforced new-look Barcelona side scoreless in a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou, with two Rayo players justifiably awarded a place in this edition of the Team of the Week.

GK: Stole Dimitrievski (Rayo Vallecano)

The Macedonian keeper was a wall at the back as he continues his trend of keeping Barcelona quiet as a mouse when he squares off against the Spanish giants, helping the club earns its third successive clean sheet against Xavi’s new look Catalan outfit.

⚡️ Last night, Stole Dimitrievski stepped up his game at Camp Nou once again!

😳 According to the quality of Barcelona’s chances, Rayo should have received almost 1.5 goals, but the Macedonian goalkeeper prevented that from happening!#LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6qo6eqYuTt

— LaLiga Lowdown 🧡🇪🇸⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) August 14, 2022

RB: Davide Calabria (AC Milan)

The 25-year-old Milan captain put in an exceptional performance on the right side of the defense against Udinese on Saturday at the San Siro. Despite the scoreline ending 4-2, the Italian international crafted an assist while also completing six tackles in what was a very good all-around performance.

🗣️ Davide #Calabria to #MilanTV: “The mentality of this team is now consolidated, we must not be distracted by the chances. We can’t take goals in the first few minutes and in the last few chances where we were well placed on the pitch.” pic.twitter.com/m05VwUgV5c

— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) August 13, 2022

CB: Ozan Kabak (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

In need of reputation repair after poor loan spells at both Norwich City and Liverpool, the Turkish international was a mountain for Hoffenheim in their 3-2 home win against visiting Bochum. Kabak scored the equalizer to make it 2-2 early in the first half while contributing seven headers won, three interceptions, making three clearances, and completing 94% of his passes in a fantastic display in Sinsheim.

Congratulations, @ozankabak4 🤝

His strong performance was recognized twice: The center back is nominated for the “Team of the Week” of @sportschau and Kicker 👏#TSGBOC pic.twitter.com/It1hfMxWWJ

— TSG Hoffenheim EN (@tsghoffenheimEN) August 15, 2022

CB: Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)

Widely regarded as one of the signings of the summer across Europe, Nico Schlotterbeck faced off against his own clubmates when Dortmund defeated Freiburg 3-1 away from home, with Schlotterbeck putting in another incredibly assured performance despite his age, with nine headers won, four completed tackles and two blocks.

Nico Schlotterbeck on the incident with Christian Streich,

“He told me that we were never gonna come back, that Freiburg doesn’t need me. Now I look at the full time score and ask him are you sure you don’t need me, maybe you should shout louder.”

🗞 @DAZN_DE #BVB pic.twitter.com/kqXUF65TF2

— BVB Newsblog (@bvbmewsblog) August 12, 2022

LB: Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse FC)

Fin du multiplex ligue 1⬇️

Issiaga Sylla et Toulouse FC ont renversé Troyes par un score de 3-0, le guinéen a été l’auteur d’une bonne prestation ‼️

Julien Jeanvier et l’AJ Auxerre ont été surpris par Angers qui a égalisé, score final 2-2 et un but de l’international guinéen ‼️

— 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲́𝗲𝗻𝘀 🇬🇳🐘 (@Joueurs_GN) August 14, 2022

CM: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

There is no question that Joshua Kimmich has become one of the standout central midfielders in Europe, and he was at his very best once again for Bayern in their consummate 2-0 win over Wolfsburg that saw Kimmich run the show as usual in what was another all-action display from the German international star.

Joshua Kimmich’s game by numbers vs. Wolfsburg:

89% pass accuracy
90 touches
5 chances created (most)
5 tackles
3 interceptions
3 crosses completed
1 assist

Completely ran the show vs. Wolfsburg. 🧙‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/B6FI1Et38q

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 14, 2022

CM: Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano)

Though Stole Dimitrievski earned much of the credit in Rayo’s fantastic 0-0 draw against Barcelona, Senegalese midfielder Pathé Ciss put in an incredible performance in midfield and is largely responsible for keeping both Pedri and Gavi quiet all evening at the Camp Nou, indicated by his six tackles won, three clearances, seven ball recoveries, and 90% pass completion.

🔝 Pathé Ciss tapó la medular del Barcelona con ocho recuperaciones. Su despliegue defensivo provocó que Pedri y Gavi apenas generaran peligrohttps://t.co/HJY8ZW36pE

— Diario AS (@diarioas) August 15, 2022

RW: João Félix (Atlético Madrid)

A hat-trick of assists gets the Portuguese starlet into the team of the week after João Felix had a direct goal contribution of 100% as Atlético Madrid earned three points away from home against Getafe, setting up Álvaro Morata for his brace in the process while looking assured as the Spaniard’s strike partner thus far.

🅰️ 15′
🅰️ 59′
🅰️ 75′

João Félix has provided a hat-trick of assists in his first LaLiga game of the 2022/23 season. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/lO1RbVZcLJ

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) August 15, 2022

LW: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (SSC Napoli)

A fantastic debut from young Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia places him in the team this week after the summer arrival at SSC Napoli – who is the heir apparent to Lorenzo Insigne – bagged a goal and added an assist to his name while offering that same willingness to be direct that Insigne did for over ten years in Naples.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia best player on the pitch for Napoli, a goal and an assist. He’s intelligent on and off the ball, only 21 so he will make bad decisions he’s made a few with his pass selection this evening but he’s an exciting player, taking risks and taking players on.

— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) August 15, 2022

CF: Dušan Vlahović (Juventus)

It was normal service resumed for Serbian international striker Dušan Vlahović on Sunday when the former Fiorentina standout opened his Serie A account for the season with a brace against Sassuolo at the Allianz Stadium. In doing so, he became the highest-scoring Serbian in Serie A history and made Cristiano Ronaldo a thing of the past in the process.

With his 5⃣3⃣rd goal, Dušan Vlahović has become the highest scoring Serbian in the #SerieA 🇷🇸

What an achievement for #DV9 🔥pic.twitter.com/tMP4bjs5lg

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) August 15, 2022

CF: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)

Though still in a rift with French star Kylian Mbappé, Brazilian icon Neymar looks to have started the Ligue 1 season in a manner befitting of his ability after another impressive performance for PSG saw him nab two goals (one from the spot) in a 5-2 thrashing of Montpellier in Paris, with him now sitting on three goals land three assists this season already.

The second goal from @neymarjr and the 3rd of the match! ⚽️#PSGMHSC pic.twitter.com/LxEhpADPdE

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 15, 2022