Messi and Hazard Star in WhoScored.com's European Team of the Month
With the first batch of international fixtures upon us, WhoScored.com take a look at the highest rated players from the first month of the new campaign. Players that have started at least two matches come into consideration from Europe’s big five leagues, so Bundesliga players aren’t included as they’re only one game into the new season.
GOALKEEPER - JON SERANTES (LEGANES)
Leganes’ shock 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid on Saturday ensured La Liga's newcomers’ dream start to their first top-flight campaign continued. No team is averaging less possession than Leganes in Spain's top tier (39.9%) and the defensive solidity they have shown thus far will be crucial to their chances of survival.
Only Roberto (4) has successfully claimed more crosses than Serantes (2) and the 26-year-old’s ability to alleviate pressure on his defenders where possible will be crucial over the course of the season. Leganes are the only team yet to concede a goal in La Liga, with Serantes (7.44) excelling for Asier Garitano’s side, keeping out 5 shots on his goal, all of which have come from inside the box.
LEFT BACK - FERNANDO MARCAL (GUINGAMP)
Guingamp spent most of last season embroiled in a relegation battle but have come out fighting at the start of this campaign under new manager Antoine Kombouare. New signing Fernando Marcal, on loan from Benfica, has particularly impressed at left back for the surprise Ligue 1 leaders.
The 27-year-old is the highest rated player in Ligue 1 through three matches (8.70). While solid at the back – averaging 7.5 tackles and interceptions per game combined and 4.5 clearances – he has also been an effective outlet going forward.No player has registered more assists (2), while only Yannis Salibur (3) is averaging more dribbles per game for Guingamp (Marcal - 2).
CENTRE BACK - CURTIS DAVIES (HULL)
Hull City’s heroic start to the season has been epitomised by the performances of their stand in captain. Curtis Davies has been colossal for Mike Phelan’s side and is currently the highest rated player in the Premier League (8.49). Hull are spending a league high 40% of matches entrenched in their own half and Davies' commitment and concentration has been crucial to ensuring they have six points after three matches.
The 31-year-old has blocked at least four more shots than any other Premier League player (10), also making the most clearances (31) and a league-high 21 interceptions. He finished as one of the Championship’s highest rated players last season and has started the new campaign in even stronger form.
CENTRE BACK - UNAI BUSTINZA (LEGANES)
The second of the Leganes players to feature in the first European Team of the Month this season comes in the shape of another fixture of Garitano’s rear guard. Bustinza, who made a switch from Athletic Club permanent over the summer, has, like Serantes, been pivotal to their perfect start at the back.
Despite averaging the least amount of possession in La Liga, Leganes have conceded just 10 shots per game, with Bustinza's ability to snuff out danger a contributing factor. In fact, only two players have completed more tackles and interceptions combined than the 24-year-old (19) in Spain's top-flight this season, while only Ivan Ramis of Eibar (2.5) is provoking more offside calls than the Leganes centre-back (2).
RIGHT BACK - KEVIN MALCUIT (ST. ETIENNE)
Kevin Malcuit only made nine appearances in his debut campaign for St. Etienne last season but if his early season performances are anything to by then it looks like he will be a fixture for les Verts this time around. Only Marcal and Alexandre Lacazette have gained a higher WhoScored rating in Ligue 1 after three matches than the full-back (8.40), who has demonstrated the ability to play in a four-man defence and back five already this season.
The 25-year-old right-back is averaging a staggering 8.5 tackles and interceptions per game, while only two players that have started at least two matches are averaging more dribbles per game in Europe’s big five leagues this season (Malcuit (5.5).
LEFT MIDFIELD - EDEN HAZARD (CHELSEA)
Last season’s woes appear to be well and truly out of Eden Hazard’s system, as the Belgium international looks back to his best under new manager Antonio Conte. Hazard required 34 matches to get his first league goals of the last campaign and has already matched that feat in the opening three games of this season (2 goals).
The Chelsea No.10 has completed at least four more dribbles than any other player among England's elite (17) and has hit the target with the most shots (7). His WhoScored rating (8.25) is only inferior to Davies in the Premier League and a huge improvement to the 7.01 rating he had secured at this stage of the previous campaign.
CENTRE MIDFIELD - IVAN RAKITIC (BARCELONA)
His future at Barcelona may have appeared up in the air at one point in the summer when La Liga's champions sealed deals for Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez but Rakitic has once again proven how indispensible his role is in the blaugrana's team with a string of solid displays.
Rakitic has won possession at least three more times than any other Barcelona player in the league thus far (11). Not only that, but he is attempting nearly double the amount of shots in the opening three matches (2.5) than he managed last season (1.3), creating almost three times as many chances for his teammates (2.5) and completing over seven times the amount of dribbles per game (3). It’s early doors but Rakitic is laying the foundations for his finest season at Camp Nou to date.
CENTRE MIDFIELD - MUSTAPHA DIALLO (GUINGAMP)
New Guingamp boss Kombouare has given Mustapha Diallo a new lease of life this season. The 30-year-old is not only seeing out the defensive responsibilities that have underlined his career but he has managed to add qualities going forward that could prove invaluable to the early Ligue 1 leaders.
In three matches the Senegalese midfielder has already matched his best return for goals in a top-flight campaign (2). An average of 3.3 shots per game represents an increase over five times greater than last season’s performances, while he is also completing more tackles and interceptions per game (5.9 from 4). A WhoScored rating of 8.07 earns him access to some illustrious company in midfield.
RIGHT MIDFIELD - LIONEL MESSI (BARCELONA)
Any fans that thought we might see a dip from Lionel Messi at the start of the season following further disappointment with Argentina in the summer have since been proven wrong.The Barcelona ace has started the season in tremendous form to secure his place in the XI (8.60 rating).
A direct hand in three goals (two goals, one assist) in Barcelona’s opening two matches have helped preserve their 100 per cent record to the league campaign, while his seven shots per game is more than any other player to have made at least two appearances across Europe’s big five leagues.
STRIKER - ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (LYON)
Arsenal fans were best to avoid Ligue 1 coverage in August. After failing to sign the Lyon striker, Lacazette has quickly raced into an early lead as Europe's top scorer.
Six goals in three matches have given OL a solid start to the campaign but an injury in his last outing should now allow his European rivals to cut into his lead. He has also earned the WhoScored.com Man of the Match award in two of Lyon’s three league matches this season.
STRIKER - ANDREA BELOTTI (TORINO)
One of those strikers that will profit from Lacazette's time on the sidelines is Andrea Belotti. The Torino striker has four goals from two matches this season and even missed a penalty in their 5-1 thumping of Bologna at the weekend, in which the Italy forward still scored a hat trick.
The 22-year-old managed 12 goals in 35 league appearances last season and has already made significant inroads into surpassing that tally this time around. Only Marcal has garnered a WhoScored.com rating as high as Belotti (both 8.70) after what has been a stunning start by the youngster.
Which players impressed you during the first month of the new season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
