Who makes our Europa League Team of the Week?
Friday, February 23, 2018
Article summary
Ciro Immobile's hat-trick for Lazio guaranteed him a place in the FedEx Performance Zone team of the UEFA Europa League round of 32 deciders. Who else got the nod?
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Note: While the FedEx Performance Zone is a form tracker taking into account domestic and European games, the Team of the Week is based purely on the UEFA Europa League matchday in question.
Goalkeeper
Anthony Lopes (Lyon)
Lopes made five interventions to keep a clean sheet as Lyon built on their 3-1 first-leg success with a 1-0 victory at Villarreal .
Overall ranking 57 (+87)
Defenders
Michalis Bakakis (AEK)
Bakakis made five interceptions, two tackles and a goal-line clearance as his team held Dynamo to a 0-0 draw in Kyiv, though it was not enough to prevent his side bowing out on away goals.
Overall ranking 108 (+180)
Lukáš Hejda (Plzeň)
Hejda made four interceptions, three tackles and won four aerial duels, as well as providing an assist as his side eliminated Partizan in the Czech Republic.
Overall ranking 132 (+189)
Bastos (Lazio)
Lazio's attacking players stole the headlines, but Bastos made the cut thanks to his goal and various defensive contributions in his side's defeat of FCSB.
Overall ranking 158 (+151)
Branislav Ivanović (Zenit) +285
The former Chelsea defender delivered a goal and an assist, and made six further defensive interventions as Zenit beat Celtic 3-0.
Overall ranking 118 (+285)
Midfielders
Felipe Anderson (Lazio)
The Brazilian supplied a goal and two assists, made five dribbles and set up four chances, tallying the most points of any player on matchday eight.
Overall ranking 4 (+167)
Bruno Fernandes (Sporting)
The midfielder leapfrogged Florian Thauvin of Marseille to top the FedEx Performance Zone with two goals – including one wonder-strike from long range.
Overall ranking 1 (+2)
Leandro Paredes (Zenit)
The defensive midfielder demonstrated his creativity; he delivered an assist and created three chances for team-mates in a typically all-action performance.
Overall ranking 93 (+188)
Marin Tomasov (Astana)
One goal and one assist for Tomasov against Sporting helped the Kazakh side exit the competition with pride; he also delivered four chances and three crosses.
Overall ranking 67 (+297)
Forwards
Ciro Immobile (Lazio)
The Italian international's hat-trick was his headline achievement – converting all three of his shots on goal – but three dribbles and two chances created further raised his points tally.
Overall ranking 5 (+94)
Munas Dabbur (Salzburg)
Dabbur scored one goal as Salzburg beat Real Sociedad and the Israeli created three chances and won six aerial duels as his side reached the round of 16.
Overall ranking 57 (+190)