Youth Watch: Promising Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal again shines

 

The first in a new series on WhoScored, we run through the top performing teens across Europe this past weekend. Youngsters from Barcelona, Girona, Brighton and Ajax all impressed but it's an Alaves striker who leads the way. 

 

10. Savio (Girona) - 7.50 vs Celta Vigo 

 

Girona maintained their surprise title push with a 1-0 win at Celta Vigo over the weekend with Savio putting in a big shift down the left for the La Liga leaders. The Brazilian may have failed to directly contribute to a goal for the Spanish outfit but he still completed five dribbles and made two tackles to return a WhoScored rating of 7.50. 

 

9. Carlos Forbs (Ajax) - 7.57 vs Heracles 

 

Ajax extended their unbeaten run to 11 games with a 4-2 win at Heracles, a victory in which Carlos Forbs returned a WhoScored rating of 7.57. Forbs was unfortunate not to register an assist having provided four key passes and he worked hard off the ball, too, as he made three tackles. 

 

8. Desire Doue (Rennes) - 7.68 vs Lyon 

 

Rennes inflicted further misery upon a downtrodden Lyon side as they earned a 3-2 win at Parc OL on Friday night. 18-year-old Desire Doue was directly involved in two of Rennes' three goals, following up his assist for Martin Terrier's 22nd-minute strike with a goal of his own 10 minutes before the break from respective returns of two key passes and two shots. 

 

7. Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton) - 7.79 vs Sheffield United 

 

Joao Pedro was the star of the show in Brighton's 5-2 win at Sheffield United on Saturday but the victory marked another fine showing from Facundo Buonanotte. The Argentine scored Brighton's opening goal from one of two shots and chipped in with two tackles and one interception to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.79. 

 

6. Ben Nelson (Leicester) - 7.90 vs Birmingham 

 

Remaining with the FA Cup fourth round ties, Ben Nelson put in a solid shift at the back for Leicester in their 3-0 win over Birmingham. The young centre-back won all eight attempted tackles and made an additional seven clearances as the Foxes booked their fifth round spot with ease. 

 

5. Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal) - 8.07 vs Barcelona 

 

Villarreal secured a hugely impressive 5-3 win at Barcelona on Saturday evening, with Xavi confirming after the game that he'll be stepping down as Blaugrana boss at the end of the season. Ilias Akhomach scored his first league game of the season at Camp Nou, hitting the back of the net with one of two shots, and completed four dribbles in a memorable display. 

 

4. Ayman Kari (Lorient) - 8.13 vs Le Havre 

 

On just his second league start of his career, Ayman Kari put in a player of the match performance in Lorient's entertaining 3-3 draw with Le Havre. Kari followed up his assist for Imran Louza's 33rd minute strike with a goal of his own shortly after the restart. Those came from respective returns of two key passes and one shot on his way to a WhoScored rating of 8.13. 

 

3. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) - 8.18 vs Villarreal 

 

Lamine Yamal may have ended up on the losing side in Barcelona's defeat to Villarreal but the Spain international maintained his impressive development with his third best rated display of the La Liga campaign. Indeed, Yamal fired off seven shots and completed six dribbles, while an additional four tackles and interceptions combined saw the 16-year-old land a WhoScored rating of 8.18. 

 

 

2. Max Finkgrafe (FC Koln) - 8.29 vs Wolfsburg 

 

Max Finkgrafe is shining in his debut senior campaign for FC Koln as he returned a WhoScored rating of 8.29 in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg. Finkgrafe made a total of seven tackles in the stalemate, one of which was a last-man challenge, and three interceptions in a fine showing from the teenager. 

 

1. Samu Omorodion (Alaves) - 9.11 vs Almeria 

 

With a WhoScored rating of 9.11, Samu Omorodion put in the best rated display of teenagers across the continent this past weekend. The 19-year-old scored either side of half time in Alaves' 3-0 win at Almeria, with his brace coming from two of four shots. Omorodion also completed three dribbles in a player of the match outing.

Youth Watch: Promising Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal again shines