A new feature starting this week and its pretty simple. We
pick five of the best performers from the top leagues in Europe for a preview.
Weekend 21st/22nd September
Ricardo Alvarez Sassuolo
0-7 INTER MILAN
Inter have started this season well and remain undefeated
thanks to the 7-0 away trouncing of Sassuolo. Milito started on the bench and
came on to grab 2 and an assist but it was the performance of Argentine Alvarez
what stole the show. The 25 year old managed to grab both a goal and an assist
to compound a miserable outing for Sassuolo but it was his directness and
dribbling ability which tormented the host’s defence. Ricky had an incredible 11
take ons against the Sassuolo back-line completing 8 of them. His average
number of dribbles per game according to whoscored.com is 5.8 which puts him
joint top across Europe with a certain other Argentinean who plays in
Barcelona.
Mathieu Flamini ARSENAL
3-1 Stoke City
It would be easy to pick up on record signing Mesut Ozil’s
performance having a hand in all 3 goals, or else Aaron Ramsey continuing his
goalscoring start to the campaign but for periods of the second half Stoke City
where the better side. They were foiled by an excellent Mathieu Flamini who
looks as though he could be a very good piece of business by Wenger getting the
Frenchman to return to the Emirates. It was all about 3’s for Arsenal and the
Frenchman. 3 goals for the side and Flamini made a key 3 clearances, 3 tackles,
and 3 interceptions to guarantee 3 points and a good day at the office for the
holding midfielder.
Foued Kadir RENNES
2-0 Ajaccio
As all round performances go not many could do better than
the Algerian on loan from Marseille. This win ensured Rennes are only three
points behind leaders Monaco and one behind PSG. The Algerian was put left wing
in a 4-3-3 and secured the win by getting both goals. Kadir’s performance was
not just one of attacking excellence; he also put in a really good shift on the
left side. He protected his full back well by tracking back making a valuable 5
interceptions and 3 tackles to cap an excellent all round performance.
Pedro Rayo
Vallecano 0-4 BARCELONA
The Spaniard looks to have recaptured his form he had under
Guardiola and which helped introduce him
to the footballing world. Pedro was renowned for his sharpness, his pace and
his clinical finishing ability. He grabbed a hat-trick against Vallecano,
finishing them off himself before Fabregas applied the fourth. Pedro only
completed 17 passes in the full game, compare that to last season when he would
spend 90 mins stuck on the right, passing the ball back in centrally every time
it came to him. Under Gerardo Martino and his change to Barcelona’s tika-taka,
Pedro is unshackled allowing him to get central in the box and help out Lionel
Messi. The Spaniard had 3 shots in the full game all of which were on target
and all of which found the Vallecano net.
Vincent Kompany MANCHESTER
CITY 4-1 Manchester United
It was always going to be a tossup between City’s lead by
example captain and their juggernaut central midfielder Yaya Toure for the
final position but Kompany just edged it for me. He did not even make a single
tackle, as his reading of the game and covering ability denied Manchester
United’s forwards any joy at the Etihad. Rooney was in superb form but not even
he could get by Kompany which speaks volumes about the Belgian. Kompany made an
incredible 12 clearances, 11 of them inside his box. Every ball that was put
forward by United it seemed Kompany was out to block. He also made 2
interceptions and his sprint down the park for the fourth goal typifies the
Belgian’s character and lead by example nature. The overall amazing part was
that out of his 12 clearances all 12 managed to find its way to another blue
shirt.
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