European Team of the Week: Cristiano Ronaldo Edges Messi and Bale as Star Man

Cristiano Ronaldo is WhoScored.com’s European player of the week. The Portuguese was at his dominant best when Real Madrid travelled to the Estadio Riazor at the weekend, netting a hat-trick in Los Blancos’ 8-2 thumping of Deportivo de La Coruna. Injury has perhaps hindered his form this season, but Ronaldo’s performance on Saturday earned him a WhoScored.com rating of 10.

Gareth Bale features on the right flank, having bagged two goals prior to his 77th-minute withdrawal for Javier Hernandez. Football’s most expensive player hit the target with each of his four efforts on goal and played two key passes during his time on the pitch against Deportivo.

Madrid summer arrival James Rodriguez takes his place in the middle of the park after scoring his first league goal for the club following his big-money move from Monaco. The Colombian then registered the assist for Ronaldo’s third goal and Madrid’s sixth in the 78th minute to cap off a notable performance.

Malaga’s Ignacio Camacho completes the midfield and ensures it is an all-Liga middle four this week. Camacho bagged a first-half equaliser for his side and put in an efficient midfield performance, making four tackles and five interceptions as Malaga twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Espanyol.

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Lionel Messi was the highest-rated striker in Europe’s top five leagues this week, and for good reason.

The Argentine was at his best, despite a penalty miss, in Barcelona’s 5-0 away win at Levante, with Messi adding the fifth late on. With two assists to his name in the victory, the 27-year-old has now directly contributed to seven of Barcelona’s 11 league goals this season (three goals and four assists).

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A resurgent Andre-Pierre Gignac partners Messi in attack after a dominant display for Marseille this weekend. The burly Frenchman netted a brace after the interval in the 3-0 win over Rennes and displayed the defensive side of his game to make a clearance off the line to help L’OM secure a clean sheet in the Ligue 1 encounter.

Ricardo Rodriguez is the second Rodriguez and only Bundesliga participant to feature in the team of the week. The Swiss, arguably one of the best left-backs in the world at present, was on song in Wolfsburg’s 4-1 thumping of Bayer Leverkusen, netting two and providing one assist to pick up the WhoScored.com man of the match award. The 22-year-old played three key passes and completed three successful dribbles in a hugely impressive showing.

Ritchie de Laet is the only Premier League player in WhoScored.com’s European team of the week this time around. The Belgian registered one assist from just two key passes in Leicester’s 5-3 win over Manchester United and ensured the Foxes picked up all three points with seven tackles, three interceptions and six clearances. Forty-seven percent of Leicester’s attacks came down the right side, with De Laet an offensive outlet on his side of the pitch.

Raul Albentosa and Hilton make up the back four following commendable displays for Eibar and Montpellier, respectively. Albentosa netted Eibar’s second in the 2-0 away win at Elche and made three tackles, seven interceptions and five clearances to guarantee the victory and a clean sheet. Hilton, meanwhile, played a key role in the 0-0 draw at Lille, making 17 clearances as Montpellier landed a hard-fought point away from home.

Rafael completes the XI as Verona secured a notable win away at Torino. The Brazilian saved a late Omar El Kaddouri penalty to guarantee the three points for Verona, made one cross claim, one punch clear and found a teammate with 10 of his goal kicks in the victory.

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.