Fernandes Man Utd's sole representative in Europa League team of the round
Premier League pair Arsenal and Manchester United are represented in the Europa League team of the round, an XI dominated by Belgian side Union St. Gilloise and Dutch outfit Feyenoord. There is also room in the XI for Sporting CP and Bayer Leverkusen as we take a look at the side.
Antonio Adan (Sporting CP) - 7.40
Sporting's penalty shootout hero on Thursday night, Antonio Adan kicks off the XI having impressed across both legs against Arsenal. The 35-year-old made more saves (13) than any other goalkeeper in the last-16 to help return a WhoScored rating of 7.40.
Bart Nieuwkoop (Union St. Gilloise) - 7.37
The first of three representatives from Belgian side Union St. Gilloise, Bart Nieuwkoop was solid from right-back in their 6-3 aggregate win over German outfit Union Berlin. Nieuwkoop provided an assist in the first leg 3-3 draw in Germany, and was defensively sound as he made eight tackles and interceptions combined and seven clearances to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.37.
Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.24
Bayer Leverkusen earned a 4-0 aggregate win over Hungarian side Ferencvaros, with centre-back Edmond Tapsoba directly involved in two of those. Tapsoba scored in the first leg win, and provided the assist for Moussa Diaby's early strike in the second leg success. The 24-year-old won the WhoScored man of the match award in both games, with six clearances, six tackles and four interceptions contributing to a rating of 8.24.
Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.68
Tapsoba's Bayer Leverkusen teammate joins him at the heart of the defence. Piero Hincapie was solid across both legs against Ferencvaros, as noted by his WhoScored rating of 7.68, as the 21-year-old ranked fourth for tackles (9) in the last-16 of the Europa League. Six clearances and four interceptions helped Bayer Leverkusen to their quarter-final spot and Hincapie to a place in the team of the round.
Loic Lapoussin (Union St. Gilloise) - 7.60
Rounding off the backline is the second Union St. Gilloise player in the XI. Loic Lapoussin was directly involved in two of their six goals against Union Berlin as he provided the assist for Yorbe Vertessen's strike in the first leg, before netting his first goal of the competition in the second. The 26-year-old got forward well when needed, completing three dribbles and making three key passes, to return a WhoScored rating of 7.60.
Orkun Kokcu (Feyenoord) - 8.24
Pipping Tapsoba to the player of the round award, Feyenoord's Orkun Kokcu was directly invoved in three of their eight goals against Shakhtar in their 8-2 aggregate win, scoring twice. The youngster was impressive off the ball, as he made five tackles, and superb in possession as he made five key passes and completed three dribbles to return a WhoScored rating of 8.24.
Arsenal may have been knocked out of the competition by Sporting CP, but there is a place in the XI for midfielder Granit Xhaka. Xhaka scored the Gunners' goal on Thursday night at the Emirates, and made the second most tackles (10) in the round of 16. All in all, the Swiss star is good value for his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 7.82, despite Arsenal's last-16 exit.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 8.15
The sole Manchester United representative in this XI, Erik ten Hag's side did what was needed of them in the first leg as they romped to a 4-1 win over Real Betis at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes was named the WhoScored man of the match in that victory as he scored one and assisted another on home turf. Across both legs, Fernandes returned a WhoScored rating of 8.15 as he made more key passes (9) than any other player to feature.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord) - 8.08
Kicking off the frontline is Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh. The Iran international scored one and assisted another in Feyenoord's 7-1 dismantling of Shakhtar on Thursday night to help land an average WhoScored rating of 8.08. Jahanbakhsh completed five dribbles across both legs to warrant his inclusion in the side.
Victor Boniface (Union St. Gilloise) - 8.19
Spearheading the attack in this XI is Union St. Gilloise striker Victor Boniface. The 22-year-old netted twice in their 6-3 aggregate win over Union Berlin, finding the back of the net with two of six shots, while only Lazare Amani (9) was fouled more times than Boniface in the round of 16. Boniface's performance was enough to lead the charge with a WhoScored rating of 8.19.
Oussama Idrissi (Feyenoord) - 8.16
Of the three goals Oussama Idrissi has scored in the Europa League this season, two were netted in Feyenoord's 8-2 aggregate win over Shakhtar as the Dutch winger rounds off the XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.16. Additionally, Idrissi made four key passes and completed five dribbles to occupy the spot on the left flank.
