Europa League Team of the Week: Nicolas Gaitan, Jonathan Soriano Catch the Eye
After yet another absolutely thrilling night of second-leg action from across the continent in the UEFA Europa League round of 32, we have selected our team of the week from the 16 absorbing ties.
And so lining up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, these are the 11 players who have been picked in our Europa League Team of the Week…
Petr Bolek (Viktoria Plzen)
1 of 11
The 29-year-old goalkeeper turned in a man-of-the-match display as Viktoria Plzen caused an upset by knocking out Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.
The Czech shot stopper was only playing because No. 1 Matus Kozacik was injured, however, the back-up keeper produced brilliant stops to keep out efforts from Darijo Srna, Alex Teixeira and Douglas Costa.
However, Bolek saved his best for last when somehow managing to tip Taras Stepanenko’s late header on to the underside of the crossbar.
Raul Albiol (Napoli)
2 of 11
Raul Albiol needed to use all his experience built up over the last decade to help Napoli see off a brave challenge from Premier League strugglers Swansea in Naples.
In particular, the 28-year-old was crucially in the right place at the right time just after the home side had taken a 17th-minute lead to clear Marvin Emnes' goalbound effort off the line and preserve the Italian’s slender lead.
And then when the Swans pressed for a second equaliser late on, the centre-back superbly marshalled the Serie A outfit’s back four to help see Rafa Benitez’s team over the line and into the round of 16.
"Raul Albiol has managed to get Napoli out of jail twice in quick succession. Good, composed start from Swansea.
— Simon Harrison (@simonhfootball) February 27, 2014"
Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto)
3 of 11
The imposing Frenchman is currently one of Europe’s most sought-after central defenders and on Thursday night the youngster further enhanced his already growing reputation by netting a second-half brace to help Porto squeeze past Eintracht Frankfurt in dramatic fashion on away goals.
And the centre back’s quick-fire double strike after the break, both of which were identical diving headers at the near post, could not have come at a better time for the Portuguese champions, trailing as they were by two goals at the time.
"2 - @Elia22Mangala scored with two of his three touches inside Frankfurt's penalty box tonight. Fox.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 27, 2014"
Nick Viergever (AZ Alkmaar)
4 of 11
AZ Alkmaar’s captain was the match-winner as his team left Slovan Liberec with a 1-0 win in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 32 clash last week.
However, incredibly the Oranje left-back was at it again seven days later in the return fixture in the Netherlands as Viergever opened the scoring 19 minutes in after neatly flicking Nemanja Gudelj's corner past visiting keeper Lukas Hrosso.
And that strike proved to be crucial as Dick Advocaat's side squeezed past the Czechs 2-1 on aggregate to set up a mouth-watering clash with Anzhi Makhachkala in the last 16.
Valentin Stocker (Basel)
5 of 11
The Switzerland international produced a fine all-round display as Basel overcame Maccabi Tel-Aviv 3-0 at St. Jakob-Park.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring just past the quarter-hour mark after anticipating well to head Behrang Safari’s centre past visiting keeper Juan Pablo at his near post.
And then the left winger was on hand to set up giant striker Marco Streller for his second goal late on that confirmed the Swiss champions’ safe passage through to the next round.
"Valentin Stocker enjoyed the "head tiki-taka" in Basel's win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, but said focus has already switched Salzburg.
— TNC Europe (@TNC_Europe) February 27, 2014"
Keita Balde (Lazio)
6 of 11
The 18-year-old really made a name for himself by scoring the second-fastest goal in the history of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening, although it was still not enough to prevent Lazio from losing to Ludogorets Razgrad 4-3 on aggregate.
The wide man picked up Vladislav Stoyanov's wayward clearance on the left flank, before cutting into the penalty area and somehow managing to beat the home 'keeper from the tightest of angles just 16.88 seconds into the match.
"Fastest goals in Europa League: [13 sec] Ismael Blanco (2009) [18 sec] BALDE KEITA (2014) [19 sec] Mata (2010), Taison (2012), Agüero (2012)
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) February 27, 2014"
Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica)
7 of 11
No wonder many of Europe’s top clubs are still regularly linked with the brilliant Argentina international, whose eye-catching free-kick sent Benfica on their way to a comfortable 3-0 win over PAOK in the second leg of their round of 32 tie.
The attacking midfielder, who was the best player on the night by some distance in the Portuguese capital, broke the deadlock after 70 minutes when he lifted the ball over the Greek outfit’s wall and past a helpless Panagiotis Glykos in the visitors’ goal.
"Goal of the night! Nicolas Gaitan 'Paneka' free kick vs PAOK (Video) http://t.co/aiiBaK0ZD5
— ThickAccent Football (@ThickAcc) February 27, 2014"
Josip Ilicic (Fiorentina)
8 of 11
The Slovenia international’s wonderful free-kick just after the interval helped to set up what is sure to be a tasty round of 16 clash between Fiorentina and arch-rivals Juventus.
With the Serie A outfit all but guaranteed their place in the next phase of the UEFA Europa League following their convincing 3-1 win in the first leg against Esbjerg last week, the pressure was in many ways off the home team’s shoulders.
However, that still did not take anything away from Ilicic’s moment of magic two minutes into the second half as the 26-year-old curled a delicious free-kick up and over the wall and past a diving Martin Dubravka.
"FT: #Fiorentina *1-1 #Esbjerg / #UefaEL Shots: 21(5) - 9(2) Possession: 63% - 37% Man of the Match: #JosipIlicic
— 10_remek (@remek_10) February 27, 2014"
Ruben Castro (Real Betis)
9 of 11
The Spanish wide man sealed Real Betis’ win over Rubin Kazan on Thursday night by scoring the home side’s second goal with a cheeky finish.
The La Liga outfit were already well on their way to the round of 16, however, Castro made absolutely sure of their progression when latching on to Leo Baptistao’s through ball midway through the second half, before the 32-year-old cleverly lobbed Rubin goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov.
"Great goal by Betis, 0-2! Fantastic run by Baptistao, and what a lob by Rubén Castro!!! Rubin need three now! Sevilla derby on the cards?
— SOCCER-SPAIN (@LoveLaLiga) February 27, 2014"
Emmanuel Adebayor
10 of 11
The lanky Togolese just cannot seem to stop scoring at the moment, with the newly invigorated forward’s quick-fire double in the second half helping the north London club to a stunning comeback victory against FC Dnipro.
Spurs were trailing 2-1 on aggregate and still needing two more goals with only 25 minutes remaining in their round of 32 clash on Thursday night before the in-form 30-year-old turned the tie on its head.
And Adebayor’s two close-range finishes that gave the home team a seemingly unlikely 3-2 win on aggregate took the attacker’s tally of goals to 11 in only 15 matches since manager Tim Sherwood replaced previous boss Andre Villas-Boas in the White Hart Lane hot seat in December.
"5 - Courtesy of his fourth brace of the season, Emmanuel Adebayor has now netted five goals in his last four games (in all comps). Streak.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 2014"
Jonathan Soriano (Red Bull Salzburg)
11 of 11
The Spanish striker continued his red-hot form in front of goal by netting his seventh goal so far in this season’s UEFA Europa League to make the Red Bull Salzburg player the competition’s top scorer.
"Jonatan Soriano of Salzburg heads the UEFA Europa League Goalscorer's Table with 7 from 397 minutes played #UEL http://t.co/lujMHuwLPK
— My Football Facts (@myfootballfacts) February 28, 2014"
Soriano, who had earlier thundered a fierce left-footed effort against the woodwork, finally got the Austrian champions’ third goal of the night against Ajax when he found himself in the right place at the right time to tap in Sadio Mane’s inch-perfect far-post cross.
