Europa League Team of the Week: Cherki Shines Brightly as Fernandes Steers Man Utd Forward

The last 16 matches of the UEFA Europa League have unfolded over the past two weeks and have now concluded. Here’s our Team of the Round compiled from the Flashscore Ratings.

Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper from Bodo/Glimt truly stood out during the knockout phase with some remarkable performances. He achieved a clean sheet against Olympiacos, making five vital saves in the first leg before conceding in the return fixture. Nonetheless, he still managed to thwart six shots to keep his team’s ambitions alive.

Defenders

Yuri Berchiche (Athletic Bilbao) – 8.0

Against Roma, Berchiche demonstrated excellent form both defensively and offensively. The full-back triumphed in 16 duels across the two matches and successfully completed 91.5% of his passes. He made an impact by scoring the team’s second goal in the 68th minute of the second leg and later assisted Nico Williams with a crucial goal just before the end, thoroughly nullifying Roma’s chances.

Alessio Romagnoli (Lazio) – 8.3

Romagnoli was the standout player for Lazio in the first leg, netting the opener against Viktoria Plzen before repeating the feat in the return match. He claimed victory in 25 duels and completed 89% of his passes, playing a significant role in Lazio’s 3-2 aggregate triumph over the Czech side.

Milan Skriniar (Fenerbahce) – 7.3

Despite being far from his best at PSG, Skriniar proved reliable throughout the Round of 16. He excelled in winning 25 duels and completed four tackles across both matches, showcasing his defensive prowess. Additionally, he boasted an impressive pass completion rate of 97%, contributing significantly to Fenerbahce’s efforts despite their penalty shootout loss to Rangers.

Mert Muldur (Fenerbahce) – 7.4

Jose Mourinho had reasons to be pleased with his defenders, including the exceptional Muldur, who stood out during the last two Thursdays. He claimed 16 duels and executed eight tackles effectively, while also providing an assist for Sebastian Szymanski’s second goal in the return leg.

Midfielders

Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao) – 7.8

Another Basque player to impress, Williams would not be denied as he dismantled Roma’s defence in the second leg. Winning 27 duels in total, he scored twice at San Mames, leading to Roma’s elimination and Bilbao’s progression. With such stats, he emerges as one of the round’s brightest talents.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – 8.0

Fernandes was undoubtedly the outstanding player in this Europa League tie for United. As a commendable captain, he remained composed to convert two penalties against Real Sociedad, further quelling the Spanish side’s ambitions with a late goal in the 87th minute of the second leg. He demonstrated his playmaking ability and intelligence throughout both matches, despite falling slightly short at Anoeta.

Jean-Matteo Bahoya (Eintracht Frankfurt) – 8.0

Initially quiet in attack, Bahoya turned the tide in the second leg against Ajax (6-2 on aggregate) by scoring the opening goal and then assisting Hugo Ekitike to condemn their opponents. He claimed a total of 25 duels across both fixtures, firmly establishing himself as one of the standout midfielders of the Round of 16.

Forwards

Malick Fofana (Lyon) – 7.9

Coming off the bench twice, Fofana emerged as a dynamic presence for Paulo Fonseca. Despite Lyon’s resounding 7-1 aggregate victory over FCSB, his later contributions revitalised the team. He scored two goals in the first leg and showcased his involvement in four duels during the return leg, proving he belongs in the starting XI in future matches.

Sebastian Szymanski (Fenerbahce) – 8.1

While he had a modest debut against Rangers in the first leg, Szymanski more than made up for it in the return fixture, netting two goals. Unfortunately for the Turkish side, the Scots prevailed in the end, rendering his efforts fruitless. Nonetheless, he remained one of the most prominent players on the field during the two encounters.

Rayan Cherki (Lyon) – 8.4

Cherki delivered a mesmerising performance on the right flank this knockout round, demonstrating superb agility in his dribbling. He won 23 duels and completed 90.5% of his passes, while providing four assists—two for Fofana in the first leg and two for Mikautadze in the return fixture—solidifying Lyon’s strong showing in Europe.