Barcelona ace Messi our European player of the week

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the European player of the week once again after the Blaugrana secured a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo. The Argentine is joined in the team of the week by stars from Juventus, Real  Madrid and Bayern Munich... 

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus) - 8.94 rating 

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Juventus were far from covincing in their 1-0 win over AC Milan to retain top spot coming into the international break with Wojciech Szczesny vital in the victory. The Poland international saved all seven shots on target the away side mustered in Turin, while one additional high ball claimed was enough to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.94. 

Right-back: Youcef Atal (Nice) - 8.80 rating 

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Nice may have been held to a 1-1 draw by Bordeaux on Friday night, but the stalemate marked another fine showing from Youcef Atal. The Algerian makes the best XI this week with a WhoScored rating of 8.80 having provided one assist from his three key passes. A whopping nine successful dribbles from right-back reinforced a WhoScored strength of 'dribbling' with Atal more than deserving of a place in the side. 

Centre-back: Daniel Congre (Montpellier) - 8.43 rating 

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Montpellier head into the international break just two points off fourth after a comfortable 3-0 win over Toulouse ended a three-match winless run. Daniel Congre put in a man of the match display as he had a direct hand in a goal for the first time this season, providing the assist for Damien Le Tallec's first half strike. Six interceptions, four tackles and three clearances helped the experienced centre-back to a WhoScored rating of 8.43 over the weekend. 

Centre-back: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) - 8.33 rating 

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Sergio Ramos helped himself to his third goal from his last four Real Madrid outings in a fine 4-0 win at Eibar. That goal came from one shot, while the Spaniard could've had an assist to his name too having provided one key pass. A pass success rate of 89.3% from 56 passes and nine clearances in a clean sheet attaining performance saw Ramos make this XI with a WhoScored rating of 8.33. 

Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 8.72 rating 

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One of the beneficiaries of Bayern Munich's injury crisis in defence, Alphonso Davies enjoyed his best rated performance of the season as he landed a WhoScored rating of 8.72 from left-back in their 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. The Canadian was defensively solid as he made an impressive seven tackles and got forward well, too, having made two key passes and completed three dribbles. 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 9.68 rating 

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Our European player of the week with a WhoScored rating of 9.68, Lionel Messi's hat-trick against Celta Vigo saw Barcelona bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 loss at Levante with a 4-1 win over Celta at Camp Nou. The Argentine netted two free-kicks in the victory to notch his fourth man of the match award in LaLiga this season, while two key passes and two successfull dribbles capped another commendable display from the mercurial Messi. 

Central midfield: Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari) - 9.58 rating 

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Cagliari are the surprise top four occupants in Serie A coming into the international break with Radja Nainggolan the star man from their 5-2 win over Fiorentina. Indeed, the Belgian had a direct hand in four of the five goals scored with his one goal coming from three shots and three assists from three key passes. An additional two tackles and the summer arrival makes the team of the week with a WhoScored rating of 9.58. 

Central midfield: Dimitri Lienard (Strasbourg) - 9.49 rating

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The first of two Strasbourg players to make the European team of the week after their 4-1 win over Nimes, Dimitri Lienard netted just his second league goal of the season in the victory with his strike coming from one of two shots. Three tackles and one clearance saw Lienard put in his defensive work from midfield, while seven successful dribbles and two key passes contributed towards a WhoScored rating of 9.48.

Left midfield: Dwight McNeil (Burnley) - 9.05 rating

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Burnley piled further misery upon a downbeat West Ham side as they secured a 3-0 win over the Hammers to bounce back from a three-match losing run. Dwight McNeil put in a man of the match shift in the victory having had a direct hand in his third goal from his last four league appearances. The teenager's assist was from one of four key passes as McNeil worked his way into good attacking positions having completed six dribbles to return a WhoScored rating of 9.05.

Striker: Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg) - 9.60 rating

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Scoring two of Strasbourg's four goals against Nimes, Lebo Mothiba's brace came about from seven shots as Le Racing made light work of Ligue 1's bottom side. In addition to his two goals, the South African completed three dribbles and won four aerial duels to help garner a WhoScored rating of 9.60.

Striker: Sebastian Andersson (Union Berlin) - 9.65 rating

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After earning themselves the capital bragging rights last week, Union Berlin followed up their 1-0 win over Hertha with a 3-2 victory at Mainz 05 to earn their third win from their last four league matches. Vital in the away triumph was Swedish striker Sebastian Andersson, who landed a WhoScored rating of 9.65. The 28-year-old notched twice from three shots and won a whopping 15 aerial duels to partner Mothiba in this XI.