Juventus starlet De Ligt makes U21 best rated XI for first time
Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI across the weekend's action in Europe's top five leagues of players aged 21 and under.
Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth) - 7.22 rating
Manchester United's revival only lasted a week after they were beaten 1-0 away to Bournemouth on Saturday. Aaron Ramsdale made four saves to deny Untied a share of the points and kept his third clean sheet in a row in the process.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 8.26 rating
Liverpool scored twice late on, including in injury time, to come from behind and beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday. Sadio Mane superbly headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner in stoppage time to secure all three points for Liveprool, but it was the England international that took the WhoScored Man of the Match award. The right-back registered three shots, three key passes and completed six tackles and interceptions combined.
Centre-back: Jules Kounde (Sevilla) - 7.69 rating
Jules Kounde turned in his best display of the season thus far in Sevilla's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Saturday. The 20-year-old played a key role at the back for Sevilla to help ensure his side earned a point. Kounde completed five tackles and interceptions combined and won as many aerial duels.
Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus) - 8.37 rating
Matthijs de Ligt has endured a turbulent start to life at Juventus and will hope to have turned a page following his match-winning display in the Turin derby on Saturday. De Ligt scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Torino, his first goal for the club. Furthermore, the 20-year-old set personal records in a Serie A match for both clearances and aerials won (both seven).
Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.77 rating
Bayern Munich losing 5-1 to Frankfurt and the departure of head coach Niko Kovac understandably dominated the headlines in Germany this weekend but Alphonso Davies turned in another impressive display amidst the chaos. Davies registered his first assist of the season in the defeat and completed five tackles and interceptions combined.
Central midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni (Bordeaux) - 7.81 rating
19-year-old Aurelien Tchouameni makes the U21 best rated XI for the first time in his career after playing an important role in Bordeaux's 2-0 win over Nantes. The teenage midfielder set personal records for most shots (3) and most aerial duels won (3) in a Ligue 1 match this season, while also completing seven tackles and interceptions combined.
Central midfield: Boubacar Kamara (Marseille) - 7.81 rating
Usually deployed at centre-back, Boubacar Kamara was asked to play in central midfield this past weekend and did his reputation no harm at all. The 19-year-old registered an assist in Marseille's 2-1 win over Lille and also completed seven tackles and interceptions combined to see his side over the line for all three points.
Central midfield: Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo) - 7.63 rating
Sassuolo twice had to come from behind to draw 2-2 away to Lecce on Sunday, with Manuel Locatelli playing a key role in their performance. The former AC Milan midfielder registered the assist for Sassuolo's first goal, coming from one of four key passes registered. Locatelli also completed three dribbles and managed one shot before coming off with five minutes left to play.
Right wing: Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.88 rating
Achraf Hakimi is becoming a regular in our best rated U21 XIs as his performances go from strength to strength. The 21-year-old registered an assist in Borussia Dortmund's 3-0 win over Wolfsburg, his second of the campaign. Hakimi also completed three dribbles, had three attempts on goal and registered as many key passes.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - 8.77 rating
Paris Saint-Germain fell to a shock defeat to bottom side Dijon on Friday but it wasn't for a lack of trying on Kylian Mbappe's behalf. The France international scored PSG's only goal of the game and set a personal record more dribbles completed in a Ligue 1 game this season (7). Mbappe also registered three key passes and completed two tackles and interceptions combined.
Left wing: Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) - 10.0 rating
Saving the best until last, RB Leipzig winger Christopher Nkunku recorded a perfect WhoScored 10 rating in an 8-0 thrashing of Mainz on Saturday. Nkunku played a direct hand in three of Leipzig's goals (one goal, two assists), as many goal involvements as his previous seven league outings combined. Nkunku impressively also completed 93.9% of his passes and completed four dribbles.
