Smalling shines to feature in European team of the week

Did Manchester United make a mistake in loaning Chris Smalling to Roma? The centre-back scored one and assisted another against Brescia and is our European player of the week to feature in XI with Arsenal, Tottenham, Barcelona and Real Madrid representatives. 

Goalkeeper: Robin Zentner (Mainz 05) - 8.81 rating 

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In arguably the surprise result of the weekend in Europe, Mainz 05 secured a 5-1 win at Hoffenheim as they made an impressive return from the international break. Achim Beierlorzer couldn't have wished for a better start, with goalkeeper Robin Zentner playing a key role between the sticks. He earned the man of the match award with a WhoScored rating of 8.81 as he made eight saves to kick off this XI. 

Right-back: Serge Aurier (Tottenham) - 8.20 rating 

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Another new manager got off to a winning start as Jose Mourinho masterminded a 3-2 win at West Ham on Saturday, that Tottenham's first away league victory since January. Serge Aurier provided the assist for what proved to be the winning goal as he found the head of Harry Kane early in the second half, that coming from one of two key passes, while five successful dribbles saw him land a WhoScored rating of 8.20. 

Centre-back: Chris Smalling (Roma) - 9.69 rating 

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With a WhoScored rating of 9.69, Chris Smalling is our European player of the week as he played a key role in Roma's 3-0 win over Brescia. The on-loan centre-back had a direct hand in two of the three goals, scoring one and assisting another, while six aerial duels won, five interceptions and a 96.1% pass success rate capped a man of the match display from the defender. 

Centre-back: Steve Cook (Bournemouth) - 8.59 rating 

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Bournemouth may have ended up losing 2-1 at home to Wolves on Saturday, but the game marked Steve Cook's first man of the match display of the season. The Cherries defender netted his first league goal of the campaign, while five aerial duels won and seven clearances saw Cook secure a WhoScored rating of 8.59. 

Left-back: Anthony Caci (Strasbourg) - 8.81 rating 

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Rounding off the defence in the best XI is Strasbourg's young left-back Anthony Caci with a WhoScored rating of 8.81. The 22-year-old scored his first goal and provided his first assist of the season in a comprehensive 4-0 win at Amiens on Saturday, those coming from respective returns of one shot and two key passes. Five tackles was also a fine return from the left-back in a clean sheet attaining performance. 

Right midfield: Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich) - 8.96 rating 

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Having put four past Borussia Dortmund prior to the international break, Bayern netted another four times as domestic duties resumed at the weekend as they eased past Fortuna Duesseldorf. Serge Gnabry was the star of the show as he scored one and assisted another from two shots and two key passes. An additional three successful dribbles contributed to a WhoScored rating of 8.96. 

Central midfield: Nicolas de Preville (Bordeaux) - 8.76 rating 

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Bordeaux made it back-to-back home league wins as they overcame Monaco 2-1 on Sunday with Nicolas de Preville central in the victory. Indeed, the Frenchman had a direct hand in their two goals, hitting the back of the net with one of his four shots and providing an assist with one of his four key passes. Four successful dribbles and two tackles meant De Preville was good value for his inclusion with a WhoScored rating of 8.76. 

Central midfield: Luka Modric (Real Madrid) - 8.75 rating

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The first of two Real Madrid players to feature, Luka Modric had a direct hand in all three Los Blancos goals on Saturday as he scored one and provided two assists in their home 3-1 win over Real Sociedad. With five key passes to his name, the Croat pried La Real apart with ease to help land a WhoScored rating of 8.75.

Left midfield: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) - 8.98 rating

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And completing the Real Madrid contingent, Eden Hazard earned his first WhoScored man of the match award in the 3-1 win over Real Sociedad. While the wing-wizard failed to have a direct hand in a goal in the victory, it wasn't for want of trying as the Belgian star mustered four shots and two key passes. He dazzled from the left, too, as he completed 10 dribbles to yield a WhoScored rating of 8.98.

Striker: Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) - 8.95 rating

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Alexandre Lacazette spared Arsenal's blushes with a late equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Southampton as the French striker netted his third and fourth Premier League goals of the season in the stalemate. With a WhoScored rating of 8.95, the Gunners forward is our player of the week from England's top tier as he hit the back of the net with his two shots on target, while four successful dribbles and three accurate crosses saw him land the man of the match award.

Striker: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 9.08 rating

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Finishing off this XI is Barcelona's prized asset Lionel Messi as he returned his fifth WhoScored man of the match award of the season from the Blaugrana's 2-1 win at Leganes. The Argentine provided the assist for Luis Suarez's equaliser in the narrow victory, that coming from one of six key passes, while six successful dribbles earned Messi a WhoScored rating of 9.08 and his place in the WhoScored European team of the week.