European Team of the Week | Sept. 16-18

In an action-packed weekend, Lionel Messi’s performance against Olympique Lyonnais in PSG’s 1-0 away win highlighted the action across the continent’s top league competitions after the Argentine legend became Europe’s all-time leading scorer from open play.

It’s been 22 years since Lionel Messi arrived in Barcelona to start a legendary run 👑 pic.twitter.com/rwonp8Bt45

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 17, 2022

Elsewhere, Polish dup Rafal Gikiewicz and Robert Gumny played key roles in FC Augsburg’s shock 1-0 home win against visiting German juggernaut Bayern Munich at WWK Arena, while Monza’s Armando Izzo was at the center of attention when his side bested Juventus by the same 1-0 scoreline.

Udinese remained hot in Serie A, Barcelona birthed another fantastic academy product, and Real Madrid’s long-term holding midfield successor continues to perform.

Here now is 101 Great Goals’ European Team of the Week.

GK: Rafal Gikiewicz (FC Augsburg)

The 34-year-old Polish keeper put in a fantastic display that included six saves – one coming against Manuel Neuer in the last seconds of proceedings – that saw Augsburg perpetrate a shock 1-0 win against Bayern Munich.

6 saves vs Bayern Munich, Rafał Gikiewicz magnificent today to help secure a win for Augsburg – his save to deny Manuel Neuer at the end 😳pic.twitter.com/8ZR7KkjKjx

— Get German Football News (@GGFN_) September 17, 2022

RB: Robert Gumny (FC Augsburg)

The second of two Polish players that Augsburg can claim in the team this week, Gumny celebrated his recent international call-up for the UEFA Nations League with a brilliant outing against Bayern.

Reporting for duty! 🇵🇱

Robert Gumny has been selected to the Polish national team for the upcoming international break. pic.twitter.com/iVmoD53WF6

— FC Augsburg (@FCA_World) September 12, 2022

RCB: Jaka Bijol (Udinese Calcio)

UDINESE STUN INTER!

Jaka Bijol with a potential game winner. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Q9VC6kkb9f

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 18, 2022

LCB: Armando Izzo (Associazione Calcio Monza)

Though many will refer to the talking point that Izzo was the recipient of Ángel Di Maria’s elbow and subsequent red card, Izzo was a key defensive figure in Monza’s shock 1-0 win over visiting Juventus.

🤯 Gran Armando Izzo vs Juventus:

✅ 94.8% de acierto en el pase
💥 0 veces regateado
💪 5/6 duelos ganados en el suelo
👊 4 intercepciones
✂ 3 entradas con éxito
☄ 4 despejes pic.twitter.com/tBuf1R8QDN

— Soy Calcio (@SoyCalcio_) September 18, 2022

LB: Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona)

Barcelona-born and La Masia bread, Balde is just eighteen but is already vying for a starting role under Xavi as a long-term replacement for Jordi Alba, and his two assists against Elche serve his efforts well.

📊| Alejandro Baldé registered 2 assists today, taking his tally in La Liga this season to 3 – making him the player with joint most assists in the league.

18 years old. Top talent. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/lN0iJoeHRs

— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) September 17, 2022

CM: Sergej Milinković-Savić (Società Sportiva Lazio)

Despite another season of speculation involving the star Serbian midfielder, Milinković-Savić remains one of the key puzzle pieces in the Italian capital for Lazio, with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 thrashing of Cremonese that sees the club jump to fourth.

The players with the most successful through-balls in 2022-23 across the top five European leagues so far:

Lionel Messi: 12
Neymar: 7
Florian Sotoca: 6
Dani Olmo: 4
Kevin De Bruyne: 4
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 4
Bruno Fernandes: 4
Maximilian Arnold: 4 pic.twitter.com/vn7wrR5z9v

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 16, 2022

CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid)

The former AS Monaco starlet has started life at Real Madrid incredibly well while helping the Spanish champions actively accept moving on from Casemiro this summer, with Tchouaméni’s defensive influence at the forefront in a Madrid derby win.

Aurélien Tchouaméni’s game by numbers vs. RB Leipzig:

100% tackles won
92% pass accuracy
75 touches
58 passes completed
5/9 ground duels won
5/6 long balls completed
2/3 dribbles completed
2 interceptions

Another complete performance. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/dtx082r74x

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 14, 2022

RW: Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Jonas Hofmann bagged a brace in Gladbach’s 3-0 win over an RB Leipzig outfit that read the riot act against Borussia Dortmund, with the two-goal performance pushing the club into the top six.

🎥 Highlights as @Borussia_EN blow @RBLeipzig_EN away with a commanding performance and double from Jonas Hofmann 👏 pic.twitter.com/gMnCQ82D0N

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) September 17, 2022

LW: Gerard Deulofeu (Udinese Calcio)

Once one of the most highly-touted graduates to come through the ranks at La Masia, Deulofeu may now have finally found his footing at Udinese after countless stints elsewhere, and his brace of assists helped Udine to their fifth win on the bounce.

Looking at total Expected Threat (xT) generated so far this season is fun.

Messi is still good. pic.twitter.com/NMR9exH3I9

— Marcus Bring (@MarcusBr22) September 19, 2022

CAM: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)

Though PSG only defeated Olympique Lyonnais by a single goal, Lionel Messi put in a masterful display as influential as any other while his match winner now sees him as the top goalscorer – without penalties – in football history.

With his goal against Lyon yesterday, Lionel Messi surpassed both Pele and Cristiano Ronaldo for most non-penalty goals in the history of football.

🇦🇷 Messi: 672
🇧🇷 Pele: 671
🇵🇹 Ronaldo: 671 pic.twitter.com/XOJliAKxhq

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) September 19, 2022

CF: Mame Baldé (Espérance Sportive Troyes AC)

Troyes forward Mame Baldé was at the center of it all as the champagne outfit climbed into midtable in Ligue 1 with a 100% goal contribution effort after his brace and an assist in their 3-1 win over Clermont Foot.

🐺 La masterclass de notre attaquant 𝗠𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲́ auteur de deux buts face à @ClermontFoot ! 🌟#TeamESTAC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/n05Ht2V86Q

— ESTAC Troyes (@estac_officiel) September 19, 2022