European Team of the Week | 31 March – 2 April

GK: Lennart Grill (1. Fußballclub Union Berlin)

Bundesliga darkhorse Union Berlin continues to rediscover their form of late while banking their second consecutive win at the weekend against Stuttgart, due in large part to the performance of shot-stopper Lennart Grill who posted seven saves while keeping a clean sheet that sees the capital side close the gap to second.

Lennart Grill. That’s it. That’s the tweet.

— 1. FC Union Berlin (@fcunion) April 1, 2023

RCB: Stefan Posch (Bologna Football Club 1909)

Bologna is enjoying an uptick in form across Serie A of late, giving them an outside chance at qualifying for European football in 2023-24. A big 3-0 win over Udinese at home featured a long-range strike from defender Stefan Posch as the Austrian put in an all-action performance for I Rossoblù.

🚀💥 Stefan Posch with a rocket of a strike for Bologna over the weekend!pic.twitter.com/cCQqOxE1Da

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 3, 2023

CB: Stefan Bell (1. Fußball-und Sportverein Mainz 05)

Mainz bagged a vengeful result against German upstarts RB Leipzig during a 3-0 away win in Saxony at the weekend to end the club’s dire form against Die Roten Bullen. Stefan Bell put in a top-class performance in the heart of the defense to help keep Marco Rose’s men off the scoresheet, with Mainz now the in-form side in the Bundesliga.

Finally! 😬#RBLM05 #Mainz05 pic.twitter.com/Awprd6Gdc7

— 1. FSV Mainz 05 (@1FSVMainz05) April 1, 2023

LCB: Sinaly Diomandé (Olympique Lyonnais)

Keeping French giants Paris Saint-Germain off the scoresheet is no easy feat, but not only did Olympique Lyonnais manage to do so at the weekend, but they also did it in the capital during a key 1-0 win while aiding their chances of a late push into the European places. Ivorian defender Sinaly Diomandé was vital in that effort as part of a young back three who put in career performances to silence Mbappé and company.

Lyon beat PSG away with this young trio all helping to keep the clean sheet:

🇫🇷 Castello Lukeba (20)
❌ 6 interceptions
💪 6 ball recoveries

🇨🇮 Sinaly Diomandé (21)
⚔️ 5/5 tackles won
❌ 4 interception
💪 6 ball recoveries

🇫🇷 Saël Kumbedi (18)
🅰️ 1 assist
💪 8 ball recoveries pic.twitter.com/8MalezKrth

— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) April 2, 2023

RM: Rodrygo (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol)

While so much of the hype surrounding Real Madrid’s forward line falls at the feet of Brazilian wonderkid Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo has become an undeniable key cog in the wheel in his own right under Carlo Ancelotti, and his influential display against Real Valladolid proved as much. A goal and two assists took his tally of helpers to the top of the club’s assist chart while helping the Spanish giants to a massive win.

Rodrygo has now provided more assists than any other Real Madrid player in LaLiga this season:

◎ 24 appearances
◉ 7 assists
◎ 5 goals

It’s his best ever assist tally in a LaLiga season. 💪 pic.twitter.com/rlpub9x1XS

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 2, 2023

RCM: Nikola Moro (Bologna Football Club 1909)

Croatian international midfielder Nikola Moro scored a sublime solo goal during Bologna’s 3-0 win over Udinese in front of home support at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara at the weekend as part of a fantastic team-wide performance under budding manager Thiago Motta. It was Moro’s first goal of the season during his loan spell away from Dinamo Moscow, but it may have been enough to secure a full move to Emilia-Romagna.

Dribbling secco e palla in rete, semplicemente Nikola #Moro 🙌 🎱#BolognaUdinese #ForzaBFC #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/mPcSzbVzxh

— Bologna Fc 1909 (@Bolognafc1909) April 3, 2023

LCM: Sandro Tonali (Associazione Calcio Milan)

🇮🇹 Sandro Tonali vs Napoli:

🅰 1 assist
🏹 25/32 passes completed
🔑 3 key passes
💪 7/9 duels won
🛡 5 tackles, 2 blocks, 2 interceptions

Complete performance. pic.twitter.com/Frx5XU9gc5

— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) April 3, 2023

LM: Alexis Flips (Stade de Reims)

One of the unsung heroes of Will Still’s vaunted Stade de Reims side that continues to push for European football next season, Lille-born Alexis Flips continues to be quietly influential under the young Belgian tactician. His 2 goals helped Reims secure their 11th win of the season in a 3-0 away win at Nantes.

The upturn in the fortunes of Stade de Reims in L1 is not just due to Will Still’s managerial qualities and Falorin Balogun’s goals. This young man – Alexis Flips, 23 – has been superb throughout. Another two (beautiful) goals for him this weekend. So bright, so skilful. pic.twitter.com/DQGUIerMIc

— Philippe Auclair (@PhilippeAuclair) April 3, 2023

RF: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol)

French veteran forward Karim Benzema threw the clock back to recent previous seasons that saw him remain one of the most feared strikers in all of Europe when he hit a seven-minute hat trick against Real Valladolid ina thumping 6-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, taking his tally to 14 on the season and up to second in the chart behind Robert Lewandowski.

KARIM BENZEMA SCORES A SEVEN-MINUTE HAT-TRICK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kvQcqIwmhk

— GOAL (@goal) April 2, 2023

CF: Robert Lewandowski (Futbol Club Barcelona)

Suggestions that Polish star Robert Lewandowski would flop outside of the Bundesliga have been well and truly dismissed this season after the forward was once again among the goals for Barcelona at the weekend in their 4-0 win at Elche, bagging a brace and adding assist, which sees him remain atop the La Liga goal chart with 17 on the season.

Two goals and an assist for Robert Lewandowski against Elche 🔥

He leads LaLiga with 17 goals this season 😤 pic.twitter.com/TmGYbv3B76

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 1, 2023

LF: Rafael Leão (Associazione Calcio Milan)

One of the brightest forward talents anywhere in Europe, Portuguese winger Rafael Leão added further value to his name ahead of a possible move away from AC Milan in the summer thanks two a brace during the club’s 4-0 win over Napoli, including a fantastic strike to make it 3-0 after 60-minutes. He’s sure to field a few phone calls from bigger fish after the season.

RAFAEL LEAO REMINDING NAPOLI WHY HE’S THE REIGNING SERIE A MVP. 😤

He silences the Maradona AND hits the griddy. 🕺 pic.twitter.com/YUCQdDEywj

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 2, 2023