Top 10 Performances from Around the World for Weekend of September 13
Domestic football returned with a bang this weekend. As usual, there were a number of impressive performances throughout Europe.
There were debuts to be proud of, goalscoring to delight in and a couple of brilliant rearguard displays to ensure unlikely wins and unexpected clean sheets.
Click on for 10 of the best individual performances from around European football last weekend.
Jeremy Menez
1 of 10
Everyone in the world has seen the same six seconds of Jeremy Menez's performance in AC Milan's 5-4 victory over Parma on Sunday evening.
The Frenchman could have been absolutely horrible the entire rest of the 89 minutes and 54 seconds for all I know—but, frankly, who cares when he did something like this?
"Jeremy Menez with a sick back heel http://t.co/KucONhRjfO
— Football Vines (@FootballVines) September 14, 2014"
(N.B. Considering he had also scored earlier in the game, it seems he wasn't absolutely horrible in the rest of the game. Just to clarify that.)
Daley Blind
2 of 10
On his Manchester United debut, Daley Blind slotted into a role just in front of the defence and proceeded to dictate the game against QPR, completing 107 of 112 passes and putting any danger out almost before it arrived.
It was a supremely composed performance from the Dutchman—Angel Di Maria and others may have grabbed the headlines as United rediscovered their attacking verve, but Blind's presence was every bit as important in laying the foundation for a much-needed result.
"Daley Blind played a blinder! #MUFC #QPR pic.twitter.com/Deji1Z4KLI
— Who Ate All The Pies (@waatpies) September 14, 2014"
Andre Hahn
3 of 10
After just missing out on Germany's World Cup squad, Andre Hahn made a statement of his ambitions for the new season as he grabbed his first goals for new side Borussia Monchengladbach in their comfortable victory over an out-of-sorts Schalke side.
Hahn, a new signing from Augsburg, showed his eye for goal and movement to twice beat Ralf Fahrmann to put Gladbach into a commanding position before Raffael and Max Kruse rounded off the scoring in an emphatic 4-1 triumph.
Schalke were undoubtedly very poor, but it was Hahn who set the tone.
Diego Costa
4 of 10
You score a hat-trick, you get in B/R's Performances of the Week roundup. That's just science, man.
Diego Costa now has seven goals in four Premier League appearances, a phenomenal strike rate to the start the season. Even if he cannot quite keep up that ratio, how many goals can he go on to score in a Blues side that seems set up to provide him with as many gilt-edged chances as he can reasonably handle?
Neymar
5 of 10
He is still coming back from full fitness and only played a few minutes in Saturday's game against Athletic Bilbao, but Neymar was the difference as he struck twice to give Barcelona a 2-0 win.
He made need a few more weeks to fully find his groove again, but it appears the Brazilian could thrive in the slightly modified tactical system new head coach Luis Enrique has in mind for the side.
". @neymarjr : "I’m happy with my two goals, and for coming on to help the team to win” #Neymar http://t.co/qFZtn8zMQS
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 14, 2014"
Divock Origi
6 of 10
At least one Liverpool striker was on target this weekend. Divock Origi might currently be back on loan at former club Lille, but Reds officials will have been pleased to see the young Belgian scored once and set up a second to drive his side to a 2-0 win over Nantes in Ligue 1.
Breaking the deadlock with a header after half-time, Origi then turned provider as Marcos Lopes sealed the points.
Loaned back to his old club to continue his development at a steadier pace, the arrangement already seems to be working out nicely for all concerned—as long as the forwards Liverpool did keep hold of find their scoring boots soon that is.
Philippe Senderos
7 of 10
When you get the opportunity to put Philippe Senderos in B/R's Performances of the Week roundup, you shouldn't really pass it up—you never know if you will get the chance to do it again.
The Swiss defender's methods of dealing with Mario Balotelli were not always above board, but Senderos did a great job of frustrating the Italian and keeping him quiet as Liverpool struggled to create any clear-cut chances at Anfield on Saturday. The result was surprising: A 1-0 win for Villa, thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor's snatched close-range strike.
Senderos will not have too many afternoons like this, but—ably assisted by Nathan Baker—it was a performance he will be able to look on with much fondness. Unlike Balotelli, whose legs might need a few days before the bruising disappears.
"Senderos winding up Balotelli, he should have got a card for that. Absolutely disgraceful https://t.co/0CbD79soOA
— NowFootball (@NowFootbaII) September 14, 2014"
Tiago
8 of 10
One of the few players not to leave Atletico Madrid for Chelsea during the summer (or so it seemed), the ex-Blues midfielder made his continued presence for Los Colchoneros known as he helped guide Diego Simeone's side to a victory in the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The midfielder's goal—a powerful header from a corner—understandably caught the eye, but it was his diligence and awareness in the heart of the midfield that played an equally crucial role in the victory; the Portuguese hounding Real and, along with the rest of the midfield unit, exposing the frailties that currently exist after so much off-season turmoil.
A great display, and a memorable win.
Radja Nainggolan
9 of 10
Radja Nainggolan seemed to be everywhere on Saturday, as Roma struggled to a hard-fought 1-0 away win over Empoli.
Luigi Sepe's own goal just after half-time was ultimately the difference between the two sides, but it was Nainggolan who deserved to be credited with the goal; the Belgian's shot hitting the post and then trickling in off the unfortunate goalkeeper's back.
But even beside that moment, he was clearly the best player on the pitch, showing all his attributes in an all-action performance from the heart of Rudi Garcia's midfield.
Ben Hamer
10 of 10
Ben Hamer makes the list after a number of important saves helped Leicester City to a 1-0 victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
Hamer's performance was impressive in its own right, but when you consider he was stepping in for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, that makes it almost doubly so. The Englishman made six saves and claimed a further four crosses to preserve the clean sheet for his side and enable them to grab a valuable three points. Does Schmeichel now have serious competition?
Oh, and that is a very impressive beard too. Bonus points for that.
.jpg?w=600 "Shedeur not currently in line for Browns QB1")
