Ligue 1 round-up: Former Manchester City target among top rated players

Paris Saint-Germain battled to a 1-0 victory over Bordeaux on Saturday but it came at a huge cost as Edinson Cavani joined Neymar on the sidelines for Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Manchester United. Lyon, meanwhile, lost ground on second place Lille after losing 1-0 away to Nice in the final game of the round.

Here, we round up the top WhoScored rated players from the weekend’s action in Ligue 1.

5. Walter Benitez (Nice) – 8.26 rating

Walter Benitez is the highest WhoScored rated goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues this season (10+ appearances) and illustrated his importance to Nice with another crucial showing against Lyon on Sunday. The 25-year-old made five saves, won one aerial duel and completed three clearances to help Nice keep a third clean sheet in a row in home league matches and sixth in seven at the Allianz Riviera.

4. Hatem Ben Arfa (Rennes) – 8.35 rating

Hatem Ben Arfa ended a nine-game goalless drought in all competitions to score in Rennes’ 3-0 win over Saint-Etienne. The former Paris Saint-Germain winger scored from one of two shots on goal, completed five dribbles and registered two key passes in the rout. Rennes’ victory means they are eighth in the table but only one point off fourth.

3. Jordan Ferri (Nimes) – 8.47 rating

Jordan Ferri scored his first goal of the campaign in Nimes’ comeback victory over Nantes at the weekend, while also winning his first WhoScored Man of the Match award in Ligue 1 this season in the process. Nimes came from 2-0 down at half-time to level in the 69th-minute before Ferri put them ahead for the first time in the match with five minutes remaining. As well as scoring, the 26-year-old completed three dribbles and won four fouls.

2. Rafael Leao (Lille) – 8.48 rating

After a poor start to the season, Rafael Leao, who was linked with a move to Manchester City last summer, has really hit his stride in Ligue 1 in the last two months. The 19-year-old has now scored in six of his last seven league appearances after netting in Lille’s 2-0 win away to Guingamp on Sunday. Leao, who also won the WhoScored Man of the Match award, had three attempts in total, while winning four aerial duels. The teenage forward also completed two dribbles.

1. Wilfried Kanga (Angers) – 8.57 rating

20-year-old Angers striker is the top WhoScored rated player from the weekend’s action in Ligue 1 after opening his account for the season with two goals in a 2-1 win away to Strasbourg on Saturday. Kanga scored on either side of half time to give Angers the lead before Strasbourg netted a consolation goal in the 87th-minute. The Angers youngster scored with both of his shots, while also registering three key passes.