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Padraig Whelan·22 April 2024
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Padraig Whelan·22 April 2024
After a thrilling Clásico, FA Cup chaos and Leverkusen somehow extending their unbeaten run, it was another exciting weekend of action across Europe.
But which stars stood out above the rest to make our best XI?
He didn’t make many saves for Alavés in their surprise win over Atlético de Madrid but the interventions he did make were vital and outstanding, in particular his low sprawling stop at 1-0 to keep Ángel Correa’s blistering drive out that seemed certain for the net and it is one that helped put serious breathing room between his side and the drop zone.
When you are hailed as ‘a f***ing legend’ by Jude Bellingham in the wake of a win over Barcelona, you’ve definitely done a lot right. Vázquez has been at Los Blancos for so long and in a squad surrounded by superstars, rarely gets the plaudits but he’s taking them all for his showing in Sunday’s Clásico win as he won a penalty, scored himself and was then vital in the build-up to the winner as Real emerged 3-2 winners.
On paper, a centre-back conceding three times in a wild game may appear a surprise inclusion but Kabak was a standout at both ends of the field. He scored a stunning long-range goal, repeatedly attempted to set up team-mates with his range of passing as well as winning 83% of his ground duels and 86% of those in the air.
The above clip sums up the performance from the Granada centre-back in their 1-1 draw in Bilbao, somehow scrambling back to make the vital goal-line clearance as he helped his defence to a surprising point. It won’t be enough to keep them in the division but is enough to earn him a place in our side.
The 24-year-old is in a real purple patch at the moment. You would have been forgiven for feeling tired just watching his energetic performance in their 3-0 win at Sassuolo as he tore the turf up on the left flank and also provided an assist for Patrick Dorgu’s goal. A potential late inclusion if Italy expand their Euros squad, anyone?
What a signing the 23-year-old has been since arriving from Cercle Brugge in January and is a big reason behind their upturn in form which has moved them away from any relegation concerns. In 13 games, he has provided four assists and scored three goals, the latest of which came in securing a 2-2 draw with a Man of the Match performance against Marseille – which came while carrying a knee issue into the game too. An excellent find.
The midfielder’s stellar form from the past few weeks continued as he pulled the strings superbly for Bayern in their 5-1 win over Union Berlin as they warmed up in style for the Champions League semi-finals. He scored the opener, set up the fifth and constantly kept things progressing with his driving runs and dictating of possession.
Given the manner of their win (and certain behaviour afterwards), United haven’t emerged from their FA Cup semi-final success against Coventry City with much credit. But if it wasn’t for the performance of Fernandes, they wouldn’t be back in the final. He assisted Harry Maguire’s goal, snapped off a sharp finish to score himself and then kept his cool in the face of goalkeeping provocation in the penalty shootout to help his side through.
Is there another player in world football who is so essential to his team’s success than Aspas at Celta? Even if it hasn’t been his most prolific of seasons, with his side in desperate need of points in their fight for survival, he came up with the goods as he has so often done before, scoring twice and providing two perfect assists in their 4-1 victory against Las Palmas.
Against the side where he came through the ranks, Hack did everything he could to deliver something for Gladbach on their trip to Hoffenheim, which ultimately ended in a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss but it wasn’t for lack of effort from the 25-year-old, who scored a hat-trick in the defeat.
It is hard to choose between Palace’s front three from their 5-2 win over West Ham, with Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta also excelling. Ultimately, Eze gets the narrow nod as he was a relentless threat throughout, refusing to ever give the Hammers breathing room and contributed an assist as well as the most emphatic acrobatic finish you’re likely to see this year.