Team of the Week: Guirassy’s Goals Galore and Nelson’s Flawless Ten Steal the Spotlight

This weekend’s football action spanned from the Bundesliga to MLS, showcasing an array of impressive performances. Let’s take a look at our top XI selections and see who just missed out.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Torino) – 8.3

In a thrilling match, Torino defeated AC Milan 2-1 this weekend, with goalkeeper Milinkovic-Savic receiving significant credit for the win.

The Serbian shot-stopper executed seven saves out of eight on Saturday night, denying AC Milan, who posted an xG of 2.45.

AC Milan’s winless run at Torino stretches back to 2021, thanks to Milinkovic-Savic’s heroics, ensuring that it continues until next season.

Defence

Givairo Read (Feyenoord) – 9.1

After facing a red card – off the pitch – midweek during his side’s historic Champions League victory over AC Milan, Read shone as Feyenoord rallied from behind to beat Almere City 2-1 at De Kuip.

The young talent was crucial, assisting both goals, with the second coming in stoppage time. His deep cross found David Hancko, who finished with a delightful volley to secure the win.

Throughout the match, Read created five chances, boasting a pass accuracy of 89.1%, showcasing his immense potential.

Jubal Junior (Auxerre) – 9.4

In a stunning upset, Auxerre triumphed over high-flying Marseille with a resounding 3-0 win, marking their first victory since November across all competitions.

Jubal, the Brazilian centre-back, played a pivotal role, scoring twice — once from the penalty spot and again in stoppage time.

Solid defensively, he won three out of four tackles and made 11 clearances, proving to be a formidable presence at the back.

Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta) – 9.2

The veteran centre-back was instrumental in Atalanta’s 5-0 victory against Empoli, helping the team rebound after their mid-week Champions League exit to Club Brugge.

Djimsiti not only contributed to a clean sheet but also assisted Mateo Retegui, showcasing his ability to impact both ends of the pitch.

This marks his third goal involvement in three Serie A matches, a notable turnaround after not contributing in 21 consecutive games.

Midfield

Jayden Nelson (Vancouver Whitecaps) – 10.0

Kicking off the MLS season, Nelson earned a perfect score as he led the Vancouver Whitecaps to an emphatic 4-1 victory over the Portland Timbers, who finished the match with ten men.

Nelson was a key player in both halves, displaying his speed in the second half by sprinting nearly the full length of the pitch to set up the Whitecaps’ third goal. He concluded the match with three assists and a goal, demonstrating poise and quickness to start the season with a bang.

Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund) – 9.2

The first of two Borussia Dortmund players on our list, Gross was pivotal in their 6-0 rout over Union Berlin.

The ex-Brighton playmaker delivered four assists during the match, with a standout moment being his exquisite cross to Maxi Beier, triggering a masterful performance from the German international.

Remarkably, Gross is still on the hunt for his first Bundesliga goal with Dortmund, but his recent performance indicates he won’t be bothered by that for now.

Mikel Jauregizar (Athletic Club) – 9.2

In an impressive victory, Athletic Club dismantled LaLiga’s bottom team, Valladolid, with a 7-1 scoreline.

Jauregizar, similar to Gross, was integral, netting the opener in the 10th minute before assisting Oihen Sancet for Athletic Club’s fourth goal of the first half.

Jauregizar was a constant threat, launching three shots with 100% accuracy, completing 84.8% of his passes before being substituted in the 64th minute.

Nico Williams (Athletic Club) – 9.5

Athletic Club’s second star of the week is the well-known Nico Williams, whose significant contributions to the victory over Valladolid included netting twice before his substitution midway through the second half.

Despite only having three goals in LaLiga this season before this match, the brace marked his first league goal since September—something that could be pivotal for Athletic Club’s Champions League aspirations.

Forwards

Alexis Claude-Maurice (Augsburg) – 9.6

Augsburg maintained an unbeaten streak of six matches with a commanding 3-0 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach, thanks to Claude-Maurice’s hat-trick.

The French forward demonstrated lethal finishing, scoring with three of his four shots and exceeding his xG of 0.49 by an impressive 2.51.

With nine league goals this season, he leads Augsburg’s scoring charts, keeping his team’s European ambitions alive.

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) – 9.2

Lookman, who faced criticism midweek from his manager for taking a penalty, showcased his quality on the pitch during Atalanta’s win over Empoli, scoring two quality goals.

He demonstrated skillful control to round the goalkeeper for the first and rifled a powerful shot into the net for the second, offering his manager some food for thought.

Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) – 10.0

While Claude-Maurice seemed set to steal the headlines, Guirassy’s four-goal haul in Borussia Dortmund’s 6-0 victory over Union Berlin stole the show.

Guirassy found the net with four close-range efforts, demonstrating his finishing ability as the Guinea international now boasts an impressive tally of 13 league goals—four clear of any other player in black and yellow.