Bundesliga teen sensations end final U21 form rankings on top
While the Premier League may have come to a close beforehand, the remainder of Europe’s top leagues were still in action over the weekend, so there’s one last batch of form rankings to bring you.
With no representatives from England’s top-flight there are a number of new faces in this week’s under-21 player form rankings, though there’s no displacing the teenager in red hot form at the top.
10. Merih Demiral (Sassuolo) - Weighted rating 7.11
Having dropped out of the leaderboard at the start of the month, Turkish international Demiral returns at ten this time around having helped Sassuolo to a 0-0 draw against Roma. The 21-year-old won seven aerial duels and completed 87 per cent of his passes as the hosts all but ended their visitors’ hopes of a top four finish.
9. Adria Pedrosa (Espanyol) - Weighted rating 7.16
With a European finish looking like an impossible dream a matter of months ago, Espanyol secured seventh spot on the final day and their impressive unbeaten run coincided with Pedrosa’s introduction at left-back. The 21-year-old is a new qualifier having started six of the last eight league games available, with the Catalan club unbeaten in that run and earning a third consecutive clean sheet at the weekend.
8. William Saliba (Saint-Etienne) - Weighted rating 7.22
Showing his versatility to fill in at right-back against Nice, 18-year-old Saliba has now started the last eight league matches for Sainte, of which they have won six. A 3-0 win at the weekend ensured a Europa League finish, with the teenager making two tackles and two interceptions to keep Patrick Vieira’s side at bay.
7. Ismael Bennacer (Empoli) - Weighted rating 7.33
A regular feature in these rankings for some time now, Bennacer put in another impressive shift to give Empoli a great chance of avoiding the drop. The former Arsenal midfielder made three tackles and three interceptions as well as creating two chances and completing two dribbles in a 4-1 win over Torino.
6. Houssem Aouar (Lyon) - Weighted rating 7.34
As Lyon romped to a 4-0 win over Caen to confirm their place in next season’s Champions League qualifiers, Aouar turned creator once more to register his fifth assist in as many games. Playing from a deep role in midfield the 20-year-old created three chances in total in his 77 minutes on the pitch.
5. Hamed Junior Traore (Empoli) - Weighted rating 7.37
Another new face on the leaderboard this week, 19-year-old Traore will be attracting interest given his impressive displays in the midfield for Empoli, dominating that area of the pitch against Torino. The teenager mustered three shots, two key passes and two dribbles as well as six tackles and three interceptions in an excellent all round performance.
4. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Mainz) - Weighted rating 7.54
Ending the season a fantastic form, Mateta netted an injury time goal as Mainz came from two down at half time to beat Hoffenheim on the final day. The striker ended the season with 14 goals as a result, seven of which came in his last seven appearances.
3. Bartlomiej Dragowski (Empoli) - Weighted rating 7.57
Playing a crucial role in Empoli’s push for survival since his arrival from Fiorentina in January, Dragowski made four saves as Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side earned an excellent result against Torino. The Polish keeper has now kept out 43 attempts on his goal in his last six appearances.
2. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - Weighted rating 7.60
While it was a disappointing end to the campaign for Borussia Dortmund, Sancho signed off in a style with his twelfth league goal of the campaign and six dribbles in victory at Gladbach. It was the teenager’s fourth league goal in his last six appearances, though that is no match for a fellow Bundesliga starlet.
1. Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) - Weighted rating 7.90
Scoring for a fourth league game running, and his seventh goal in as many games, at 19 Havertz became the youngest ever Bundesliga player to reach 17 goals in a single season. He did so having also completed over 90 per cent of his passes for a fourth game running, firing Leverkusen into the Champions League with a 5-1 win at Hertha Berlin.
Qualifying Rules
Only ratings from each player’s last six league matches are considered, weighted chronologically, with the most recent match carrying greater importance and so on. To qualify each player must have featured in their side’s last league match and started at least six of the last eight available.
