A regular feature on our website is the Talent Radar Young Players Team of the Week with the best young players compiled into an XI from across Europe’s top six leagues. You can read this for all details on Talent Radar, who is eligible under it and what else we publish within this feature.
The eighth Talent Radar Team of the Week includes two Premier League players, one Bundesliga Player, two from the La Liga, two from the Serie A, two from Ligue 1 and two from the Eredivisie.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Loris Karius | Mainz | Germany | 21 | Goalkeeper: Aren’t you tired of seeing him in the Team of the Week yet? Probably. But Loris Karius has certainly earned his place for the third time after a superb display ensuring Mainz come away with a point from Gladbach. After the scores were tied at 1-1, the Gladbach onslaught kicked off and somehow they failed to find a second. Save after save was required from Karius (10 in total), including a superb one -on-one denying Thorgan Hazard before Rafael somehow missed in stoppage time with Stefan Bell clearing off the line.
Daniele Rugani | Empoli | Italy | 20 | Defender: He put an impressive shift as Empoli beat Palermo 3-0; nothing spectacular but a simple assured performance from the centre-back forming a good partnership with Lorenzo Tonelli. He even a got a few shots off on goal, but it was how solid he kept at the back in defence, completely in control of otherwise high flying Paulo Dybala & Andrea Belotti, restricting Palermo to just 2 shots on target.
Terrence Kongolo | Feyenoord | Netherlands | 20 | Defender: Speaking of being in control and keeping it tight at the back, Terrence Kongolo put in a similarly impressive shift, though under much less pressure, as Feyenoord overcame Groningen 4-0. The away side failed to get any short on target, as the young pairing of Sven Van Beek & Kongolo were able to comfortably see out the result.
Andrew Robertson | Hull City | Scotland | 20 | Defender: The Scotsman’s impressive start to life in the Premier League continues, this being his second appearance in the Talent Radar Team of the Week. Regularly looking to get into attacking positions down the left side, he created three good chances for Hull to score, one was poorly executed by Abel Hernandez but the second was a perfect cross to an unmarked Mohamed Diame to open the scoring in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. Though a left-back, he has been positionally adjusted in a three man defence here.
Abdoulaye Doucouré | Stade Rennais | France | 21 | Central Midfielder: The Frenchman combined well with another player who makes an appearances in this week’s Team of the Week. For the sake of suspense, it won’t be revealed in this write-up, so scroll down. But Doucoure set-up both the goals for this said player as Rennains comfortably beat Lens 2-0. The first was simple pass, though Doucoure had the composure not to be tempted by a shot from a central position, instead finding the free man. The second was a driving run, and again while many may have been tempted by the shot, he played a neat ball through to the striker.
Hakim Ziyech | Twente | Netherlands | 21 | Central Midfielder: Hakim Ziyech has this incredible record of either assisting or scoring nearly every goal of his side this season, right from Heereveen at the start of the season, to Twente after he earned a move in the transfer window. That trend continued as Twente got a good 2-2 draw at AZ Alkmaar. Ziyech first set-up the opening goal from a free-kick, Kyle Ebecilio finishing off the move. He went on to give his side the lead after some neat trickery inside the box got him past two and curled it low to the far corner. He’s been high up in our Talent Radar Player Rankings for his consistency, but never made the Team of the Week until now.
Moi Gomez | Villarreal | Spain | 20 | Attacking Midfielder: The young Villarreal man originally played at right wing in the side’s 3-1 win over Celta Vigo, but has been positionally adjusted here to appear more centrally. He opened the scoring after some good work down the right by Denis Cheryshev, laying it on a plate for Gomez to score. The youngster then doubled that scoreline after an impressive run and shot from outside the box, grabbing a brace as Villarreal eventually won 3-1.
Gerard Deulofeu | Sevilla (on loan from Barcelona) | Spain | 20 | Right-Winger: The Spaniard on loan from the Catalan giants had a significant part to play in Sevilla’s 4-1 win over Deportivo. He set-up the opening goal with a solid corner, Stephane Mbia headed home. His second assist was even sweeter, a chip/lob from deep in midfield found Carlos Bacca perfectly, and the Colombian did well after the chance initially seemed to have gone.
Conor Wickham | Sunderland | England | 21 | Left-Winger: He made regular Talent Radar Team of the Week appearances on the back end of last season, this was his first of this season though. Starting in a wider position, Steven Flecther set him up for the opener as the ex-Ipswich man ran into the box and had an easy header to finish. He returned the favour late in the second half, driving at the Stoke defence getting past a few before eventually being pushed far wide. He did somehow get a cross through which Jack Rodwell missed but Steven Fletcher was able to finish for a 3-1 win.
Khouma Babacar | Fiorentina | Senegal | 21 | Forward: Fiorentina were in complete control as they beat Inter Milan 3-0 at home. Khouma Babacar opened the scoring with a super striker from outside the box that gave the keeper no chance. It was his pass to Cuadrado that got the second goal as well, another beautiful strike from the Colombian. Babacar was very active besides as well, getting into good positions and combining well with Cuadrado, specifically one instance where a quick one two with a back-heel from the Senegales man nearly got Cuadrado’s second.
Paul-Georges Ntep | Stade Rennais | France | 22 | Forward: And finally, the man who combined with the aforementioned Doucoure. The first pass to left flank saw Ntep curl from outside the box to the top corner for the opening goal, the second was from closer out showing immense composure and calmness as he rounder the keeper and finished it for his brace. It was also the Frenchman’s second Talent Radar Team of the Week appearance.
Head this way for all our Talent Radar Team of the Week pieces.
Written by Sami Faizullah. Chief Editor of this Website.
