Barcelona star outshines Real Madrid teammates to bag Euro 2024 award | OneFootball

A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona, on Monday, outshone several of his counterparts from arch rivals, Real Madrid.

As much came on the international front, in France’s Euro 2024 showdown with Belgium.

Didier Deschamps’ troops ultimately emerged on the right side of a 1-0 result, owing to a deflected Randal Kolo Muani effort late on.

Les Bleus’ star performers on the night, though, came at the other end.

Whilst the nation’s star-studded frontline toiled in their efforts to find a way beyond a stubborn Belgian defence, France’s defenders stood tall.

William Saliba, for one, was superb, with N’Golo Kanté having done a tremendous job from his berth in the middle of the park, too.

But, ultimately named Man of the Match following the full-time whistle was Barcelona standout Jules Koundé.

Stopper Koundé was handed the altogether unenviable job of keeping Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku quiet in Düsseldorf.

And, to his credit, the 25-year-old went on to do a tremendous job of precisely that.

Barely putting a foot wrong all evening, Koundé again showcased his excellence at full-back, a role in which he has of late looked like one of the very best on the continent.

As much no doubt left the powers that be at Barcelona particularly proud, with Koundé, on his way to the MOTM prize, having outperformed the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni (the latter of whom did impress), of Real Madrid.

Conor Laird | GSFN