Standard-bearers Guingamp dominate best rated U21 weekly XI
Here we round up the top WhoScored rated players from the weekend’s action in Europe’s top five leagues comprised of players aged 21 and under, added with additional information about some of their Football INDEX share prices.
Goalkeeper: Alex Meret (Napoli) - 8.30 rating
Alex Meret was one of three goalkeepers Napoli signed over the summer but the 21-year-old has been afforded less game time than the other two thus far. The 21-year-old was handed just his second league appearance of the season last time out and finished as the WhoScored Man of the Match against SPAL. Meret made six saves and kept a clean sheet to help Napoli to a narrow 1-0 win.
Left-back: Anthony Caci (Strasbourg) - 7.54 rating
Strasbourg finished 2018 with a 2-0 win at home to Nice to ensure an impressive seventh-place finish heading into the new year. French left-back Anthony Caci helped his side keep a clean sheet with eight tackles and interceptions combined, while also making two clearances. The 21-year-old also registered one key pass and completed two dribbles.
Centre-back: William Saliba (Saint-Etienne) - 8.07 rating
William Saliba is the youngest player in the best rated XI at the age of just 17. The Saint-Etienne defender turned in the best display of his young career in a 3-0 home win over Dijon on Saturday. Saliba completed more interceptions than any other team-mate (6) and also chipped in with two tackles and two clearances. The teenager also hit the target with both shots and impressively completed 92.1% of his passes.
Centre-back: Felix Eboa Eboa (Guingamp) - 8.49 rating
Felix Eboa Eboa is the first of three Guingamp players in the best U21 XI. Guingamp ended a nine-game winless run in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory away to Monaco, piling further misery on Thierry Henry. Eboa Eboa finished as the WhoScored Man of the Match after winning nine tackles and interceptions combined, as well as blocking two shots and making seven clearances. The 21-year-old also won five aerial duels. He also helped alleviate pressure on the Guingamp goal by winning four fouls.
Right-back: Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina) - 7.84 rating
Fiorentina are now right back in the mix in the race to finish fourth after winning two games on the spin, impressively winning away to top-four rivals AC Milan at the weekend. Nikola Milenkovic features in our best rated XI once more after helping the Viola keep a clean sheet at San Siro. The 21-year-old won five aerial duels, made four clearances and won three tackles and interceptions combined. Milenkovic was a rumoured Manchester United target prior to Jose Mourinho's sacking and it may be time to cash in on the versatile defender on Football INDEX before his £1.96 share price plummets
Left midfield: Marcus Thuram (Guingamp) - 8.35 rating
Marcus Thuram, son of legendary French defender Lilian, is the second Guingamp representative after capping off an impressive 2018 with his seven league goal of the season. The 21-year-old had three attempts in total, registered one key pass and completed four dribbles from left midfield to help Guingamp further embarrass strugglers Monaco. Thuram also contributed with Guingamp did not have the ball, completing three tackles and making two clearances. Think Thuram will enjoy a similar career to his father? Back him on Football INDEX at £1.88 a share.
Central midfield: Ludovic Blas (Guingamp) - 8.12 rating
Ludovic Blas completes the hat-trick of Guingamp players in the best rated XI after playing a direct hand in both of their goals against Monaco. Blas assisted Marcus Thuram for the opener and provided the ball for Nolan Roux to secure all three points with 15 minutes remaining. Like team-mate, Felix Eboa Eboa, Blas also won five aerial duels. Blas, 20, completed two dribbles to cap off a fine all-round performance.
Central midfield: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.12 rating
A 3-1 victory over Hertha Berlin was not enough to save Heiko Herrlich’s job at Bayer Leverkusen but Kai Havertz can be proud of his display. The 19-year-old scored a brace from three shots to take his league tally to six for the season. Havertz, who is one of the most highly rated German prospects, also set up one goalscoring chance for a team-mate and made two tackles and interceptions combined. Seemingly destined for the top, his Football INDEX share price is a juicy £4.09.
Right midfield: David Brooks (Bournemouth) - 9.10 rating
David Brooks has been one of the unsung heroes of the Premier League campaign thus far. Signed from Sheffield United in the summer, Brooks has adjusted to life in England’s top-flight seamlessly and ended a nine-game run without a goal for club and country with both of Bournemouth’s goals in a 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. Brooks now has five for the season in the Premier League. He also completed two dribbles and was fouled four times by Brighton players. His Football INDEX share price is currently £2.51, suggesting several traders think he could make a big-money move sooner rather than later.
Striker: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) - 7.72 rating
Marcus Rashford scored the first goal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s rain as interim Manchester United manager with a well-struck long range free-kick after just three minutes. The England international linked up well with his United team-mates in a vibrant attack force and was perhaps unfortunate to have conceded a penalty for hand ball. Rashford had four shots in total, registered one key pass and completed one dribble from his position as United’s No.9. The 21-year-old was also fouled three times. Since Mourinho's sacking, Rashford's Football INDEX share price has jumped 23.18%.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - 8.13 rating
Kylian Mbappe still has the entire second half of the season to play and the Paris Saint-Germain striker has already matched his Ligue 1 tally from last season (13), doing so in 15 fewer appearances this time around. Mbappe proved the difference-maker in a 1-0 win over Nantes at the weekend, earning the WhoScored Man of the Match following his winning-goal. The 20-year-old had four shots in total and also completed five dribbles to terrorise Nantes’ defence all evening. Only Neymar (£19.25) and Lionel Messi (£15.69) cost more per share than Mbappe (£13.96) on Football INDEX
