FedEx Performance Zone: Aspas takes the lead

Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas took over at the head of the FedEx Performance Zone after a goalscoring display on a night when Ajax's Amin Younes rose more than 80 places. UEFA.com speaks to some of the star performers in Thursday's quarter-final first legs.

• Full FedEx Performance Zone rankings
• What are the rankings and how do they work?

1: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo)
There is a new leader at the top of the FedEx Performance Zone, Aspas having displaced Lyon's Nabil Fekir after scoring one goal and fashioning another in Celta's 3-2 victory against Genk. The Spain forward also had three shots on target and won two corners.

"Leading 3-1 after a great first half, we were a bit unlucky to concede a goal in the second period, but we got a win and we still have a good chance of qualifying in Belgium next week," he explained. "The first half was really good for the team and me personally with a goal and an assist."

5: Mallo (Celta Vigo)
The Celta right-back delivered another bright performance in the UEFA Europa League, moving up to fifth as a result. That 15 of his 37 completed passes came in the final third demonstrated his attacking intentions. However, he did not neglect his duties at the other end, making nine defensive interventions.

"We were perhaps a bit too cautious at the beginning and we attacked more down our left side than the right," he said. "We worked our way into the game and I found a bit more space."

14: Davinson Sanchez (Ajax)
The Colombia defender, 20, played a key role in helping his side keep a clean sheet against Schalke. Winning 13 clearances, nine interceptions and four aerial duels, he contributed to a tremendous defensive display in Ajax's 2-0 home triumph.

"I was calm and composed and I was able to do the job and tasks that were demanded of me," he noted afterwards. "It was an intense match and we managed to keep the intensity high from the beginning to the end."

Anderlecht's Leander Dendoncker celebrates his leveller©AFP/Getty Images

20: Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht)
The 21-year-old midfielder spent most of the evening performing defensive actions against Manchester United, making four interceptions and prevailing in four of his aerial duels. He also popped up with a late equaliser when he headed in a cross from Ivan Obradović.

"It was tough, as we knew it would be, so we should be satisfied with the result. I'm satisfied with my performance. It's fantastic to score against such a big opponent."

27: Amin Younes (Ajax)
The wide man shot up 82 places following a superb attacking display against Schalke. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach winger had four attempts on goal, executed eight successful dribbles, produced three crosses and won three corners as he caused the Schalke defence plenty of problems.

He was fouled four times in the attacking third, one of them leading to the penalty which Davy Klaassen converted for the opening goal. "I'm happy to play this way in front of these supporters and I think it made the people very happy," he said.

Patrik Andersson's view
Aspas has been Celta's main man all season and he turned in another big performance against Genk alongside John Guidetti and Pione Sisto. Celta's full-backs provide the width in their 4-3-3 formation, so it is no surprise to me that their captain, Mallo, has muscled his way into the top five. Kudos to Ajax's Younes, who, with another strong showing in the second leg, could make further inroads on the leading pack.

Patrik Andersson is a former Bayern München, Barcelona and Borussia Mönchengladbach defender. He won 96 caps for Sweden, reaching the semi-finals of EURO '92 and the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and was part of the Bayern side that won the UEFA Champions League in 2001 – he made the UEFA.com user's Team of the Year that year.