European Team of the Week: Pablo Osvaldo Tops Charts as Inter Milan Dominate
Pablo Osvaldo is WhoScored.com’s European player of the week. The Inter Milan striker, a summer arrival from Southampton, put the Sassuolo back line to the sword with two goals and two assists as the Nerazzurri romped to a 7-0 win over their Serie A counterparts, repeating the emphatic scoreline secured in the reverse fixture from last season.
Team-mate Mauro Icardi partners the feisty frontman in attack after bagging himself a hat-trick in the aforementioned seven-goal thumping of Sassuolo, as both strikers secured perfect 10s this weekend.
Honourable mentions also go to Diego Costa and Jeremy Menez, who both landed WhoScored.com ratings of 10, but the Inter duo’s superior stats means they feature on the front line.
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Eden Hazard comes in on the left after his hugely impressive performance in Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Swansea.
While the tricky Belgian failed to net or provide an assist, Hazard was a constant menace over the 90 minutes, playing four key passes and finding a team-mate with 93 percent of his 68 attempted passes.
In an attempt to break through the Swansea back line, the young attacker also completed nine successful dribbles in the victory, as the Blues maintained their 100 percent start to the Premier League season.
However, Hazard’s dribbling exploits were overshadowed by Premier League counterpart Jack Wilshere.
The England international has come under staunch criticism in the past, but he silenced the doubters with a fine display in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Wilshere completed 10 successful dribbles, more than any other player in a single Premier League match this term, one of which resulted in him netting the equaliser after ghosting past Gael Clichy.
The midfielder also played two key passes in the draw at the Emirates, with one of those being an assist for Alexis Sanchez to volley past Joe Hart and put Arsenal ahead in the second half.
Ander Herrera partners Wilshere in the middle of the park after playing a big role in Louis van Gaal’s first league win as Manchester United boss.
The Spaniard netted United’s second in the 4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers and ran the show in the midfield, playing four key passes, making eight tackles and registering the assist for Wayne Rooney’s goal on the stroke of half-time.
Lazio’s Antonio Candreva completes the midfield to ensure it isn’t an all-Premier League four in the middle of the park.
The winger was at his very best for the Rome side in their weekend 3-0 victory over Cesena, netting in the first half before turning provider for Marco Parolo 10 minutes into the second.
Team-mate Dusan Basta comes in at right-back on the back of an imperious performance in the same game.
Forty-one percent of Lazio’s attacks came down the right side, but it was Basta’s defensive performance that caught the eye.
The Serb made five tackles, nine interceptions and three clearances to ensure Lazio secured a clean sheet to go with their three points.
At the heart of the back line, Michael Dawson features following a commanding performance in Hull’s 2-2 draw with West Ham.
With one tackle, six interceptions and 11 clearances, the former Spurs centre-back was able to frequently deny the Hammers attack, while his clearance off the line to deny Enner Valencia late on ensured the Tigers picked up a point.
Andrea Ranocchia partners Dawson in defence and is the third Inter player to feature in the European team of the week.
Winning five aerial duels and maintaining an impressive pass success of 91 percent, Ranocchia was a defensive rock in the win over Sassuolo, helping Inter to a clean sheet in a solid display alongside Juan Jesus and Marco Andreolli.
Junior Diaz completes the back four on the back of a notable display in Mainz’s 3-1 away win over Hertha Berlin.
The left-back played just two key passes in the victory, but he was able to register an assist with one of those, while his three tackles, four interceptions and five clearances helped his side to victory.
Young goalkeeper Francesco Bardi completes WhoScored.com’s highest-rated XI this week after a perfect-10 display in Chievo’s shock win at Napoli.
Rafael Benitez’s side were expected to romp to victory, but Bardi was on hand to make nine saves, including a penalty stop from Gonzalo Higuain, as Chievo picked up a surprise three points at the Stadio San Paolo.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.
