A regular feature on our website is the Talent Radar Team of the Week with the best young players compiled into an XI from across Europe’s top seven leagues. You can read this for all details on Talent Radar, who is eligible under it and what else we publish within this feature.
[Max. Age Limit: 22 years old on match-day for outfield players, 23 years old for goalkeepers]
Thomas Didillon who featured heavily in our Talent Radar Team of the Week at the start of last season before eventually fading away, is in goal early this season as well following a commendable performance in an away win to Angers. His confidence in the box to claim any balls was the striking difference from last season; hopefully the Frenchman continues this consistently for the rest of the campaign.
Bayern Munich’s Mr. Reliable & Versatile, Joshua Kimmich, is at right back following impressive performances both in mid-week against Anderlecht and on the weekend against Mainz. The German international got a goal and an assist in continental competition in the 3-0 win following that up with a perfect cross for Robert Lewandowski’s second in the 4-0 win domestically.
Staying in Germany, newly promoted Timo Baumgartl impressed in his sides’ 1-0 win at home to Wolfsburg, a result that saw the opponents lose their manager. Partnering him is Inter’s Milan Skriniar who scored a late goal in his side’s 2-0 away win over Crotone, besides a solid defensive showing at the back; it was the Slovak’s second team of the week appearance this season. At left back is Monaco’s Jorge, who along with Skriniar is one of only two players to feature twice already. The Brazilian made a fantastic run into the channels to set up Falcao’s second goal in the 3-0 win over Strasbourg.
Our 4-4-2 continues with the central midfielders, starting off with Stuttgart’s Santiago Ascacibar who put in a fantastic shift defensively to ensure his side’s win over Wolfsburg. The Argentinian has settled well into life in Europe. He’s partnered by NAC Breda’s Rai Vloet whose two goals in the space of two minutes helped his side to a 2-1 home victory over Groningen.
In the wide areas is Samu Castillejo who was instrumental in Villarreal’s 3-0 away win over Deportivo Alaves. First he showcased some fantastic footwork in the box and got a shot away that was trickling into the box before Carlos Bacca made sure. Moments later his perfectly weighted through ball found Cedric Bakumbu for the games’ final goal. 19-year-old Federico Chiesa is on the other side; the Italian cut inside six minutes into the second half and got an aesthetically beautiful shot curled into the top right corner from the edge of the box for the opening goal. Though Bologna equalised a minute later, Fiorentina went on to secure a 2-1 win.
Up front was 16-year-old record-breaker Pietro Pellegri. The teenager got his side back from behind twice before ultimately they fell 3-2 at home to Lazio. But the Italian who celebrated his historic moment emotionally with his father is bound to be a regular in our Talent Radar features for years to come.
And finally, partnering him up front is Real Madrid’s 20-year-old Borja Mayoral who re-paid Zinedine Zidane’s faith in starting him upfront in the 3-1 win over Sociedad with a first half goal. Later in the opening half the Spaniard recovered possession at the half way line and made a run into the box before finally getting a low cross across that was turned into his own net by Kevin Rodrigues.
