Manchester United star Marcus Rashford headlines our Europa League Team of the Week. The England winger delivered an impressive display as the Red Devils beat Omonia Nicosia.
Erik ten Hag needed a stoppage-time winner through Scott McTominay to beat the Cypriot side at Old Trafford. The Scotland midfielder came off the bench for just the closing stages on Thursday night, and connected with fellow substitute Jadon Sancho to secure a 1-0 win.
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The result kept Manchester United’s hopes of winning Group E alive, but they still trail Real Sociedad by three points. Los Txuri-Urdin claimed their fourth win in as many games with a 3-0 win over FC Sheriff. The Red Devils will visit Real Sociedad in fixture six on November 3.
Real Sociedad’s win over Sheriff guarantees the La Liga club a top-two finish in Group E. Fenerbahce, SC Freiburg, Real Betis and Stade Rennais have also secured their spots in the knockout stages. FC Zurich, Dynamo Kyiv, Malmo and Omonia cannot get top-two finishes.
So, with a total of 44 goals scored across 16 group stage games and five red cards issued on Thursday night, HITC Football takes a look at our Europa League Team of the Week…
Francis Uzoho (GK): The Omonia man frustrated Man Utd to make our TOTW
Francis Uzoho frustrated Manchester United as the 23-year-old built a brick wall between Omonia’s sticks. The Nigerian was in inspired form and could do little to deny McTominay. He saved 12 of the Red Devils’ 13 shots on target from 34 total attempts, per WhoScored.
Cicinho (RB): HJK Helsinki enjoyed little success against the Ludogorets ace
HJK Helsinki enjoyed no success against Cicinho as the Finnish side lost 2-0 at Ludogorets Razgrad. The 33-year-old locked down the right side of his Bulgarian outfit’s backline after winning five aerial duels, alongside pulling off two tackles and a clearance, per WhoScored.
Erik Sviatchenko (CB): The Danish star saved Midtjylland a point at Feyenoord
Erik Sviatchenko saved FC Midtjylland from defeat at Feyenoord as the Danish star scored their second in a 2-2 draw. The 31-year-old drew the game level in the 58th minute with a header from Evander’s free-kick. The Ulvene skipper also helped to keep Feyenoord away.
Diogo Leite (CB): Union Berlin’s hero makes our Europa League Team of the Week
Union Berlin needed an impressive performance from Diogo Leite to beat Malmo 1-0. The 23-year-old Portuguese won possession with a perfect three from three of his tackles. He also registered five clearances and won five of six defensive aerial duels, per WhoScored.
Ezgjan Alioski (LB): Fenerbahce booked a knockout stage place vs AEK Larnaca
Fenerbahce booked their place in the knockout stages with a 2-1 win away to AEK Larnaca. Ezgjan Alioski helped his Super Lig side break the deadlock after 16 minutes after he found Joao Pedro. It was the 30-year-old’s first assist in 11 games since joining on loan in August.
Joey Veerman (CM): The Dutch maestro pulled the strings as PSV beat Zurich
Joey Veerman pulled the strings as PSV Eindhoven thrashed FC Zurich 5-0. The Dutchman scored his side’s second and fourth goals with efforts on 15 and 55 minutes before taking an early rest straight after. He now has six goals in 17 games in all competitions this term.
Ibrahim Sangare (CM): The Liverpool target shone to make our Team of the Week
Ibrahim Sangare also shone in PSV’s demolition job at the Philips Stadion. The 24-year-old scored just after the half-hour mark and fed Veerman for the midfielder’s second. He also made the second-most successful dribbles (3) in the meeting to Savio (4), per WhoScored.
The holding midfielder also won his only aerial duel and made a successful tackle to make our Europa League Team of the Week. Calciomercato also recently credited Liverpool with an interest in the Ivorian, who Voetbal International linked with Chelsea late on in August.
Rick (RM): The Brazilian shone as Ludogorets beat HJK Helsinki
Brazilian winger Rick shone as Ludogorets beat Helsinki 2-0 at the Huvepharma Arena. The 23-year-old ended the night with a goal and an assist to show for his efforts. He fed Danny Gropper to break the deadlock in the 39th minute, before doubling their lead in the 64th.
Anastasios Bakasetas (CAM): Trabzonspor made light work of AS Monaco
Trabzonspor made light work of AS Monaco to beat the Ligue 1 club 4-0 at the Senol Gunes Spor Kompleksi. Anastasios Bakasetas fed Vitor Hugo to hit their second goal of the fixture. He also recorded a game-high six key passes, four more than anyone else, per WhoScored.
Marcus Rashford (LM): The sharpest forward in Manchester United’s attack
Rashford was the sharpest player in Manchester United’s attack and kept causing Omonia all sorts of issues. His movement was often too much for the Cypriot side to handle as the 24-year-old attempted 10 shots. Uzoho had to react particularly well to three of his strikes.
Vitor Oliveira (ST): Braga’s hat-trick hero leads our Europa League Team of the Week
Vitor Oliveira left Den Dreef as a hat-trick hero on Thursday after he scored each of Braga’s efforts in a 3-3 draw with Union Saint-Gilloise. The 22-year-old Portuguese scored the first goal of the game on 15 minutes, before striking further goals in the 36th and 41st minutes.
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