Youngsters from Dortmund, Roma, Arsenal and Milan feature in U21 best XI in Europe
Here we run through the best rated XI from Europe’s top five leagues, comprised of players aged 21 and under that featured over the weekend, with additional information about their Football INDEX share prices.
Goalkeeper – Alban Lafont (Fiorentina) – 7.79
Football INDEX share price - £0.82
Alban Lafont pips Gianluigi Donnarumma to a place in the best rated XI after keeping a clean sheet in Fiorentina’s 0-0 draw at home to Napoli on Saturday. The 20-year-old made four saves and made two clearances to keep his first clean sheet in Serie A since the end of December.
Left-back: Achraf Hakimi (Dortmund) – 8.03
Football INDEX share price - £3.18
Achraf Hakimi has been a revelation for Borussia Dortmund this season and you can imagine the Bundesliga leaders will do everything in their power to prolong his stay from Real Madrid in the summer. The 20-year-old incredibly weighed in with seven interceptions in their 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim on Saturday, which is a milestone that only one player has bettered in a Bundesliga game this season. He also completed five dribbles and won three fouls.
Centre-back: Gabriel (Lille) – 7.64
Football INDEX share price – N/A
21-year-old Lille centre-back Gabriel features in the best rated XI on his full league debut for the French side. Lille secured a 2-0 win away to Guingamp on Sunday to help strengthen their hold of second. Gabriel won seven aerial duels in a dominate defensive showing from the rookie.
Centre-back: Nordi Mukiele (RB Leipzig) – 7.74
Football INDEX share price - £0.94
RB Leipzig extended their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to three matches at the weekend after holding Frankfurt to a 0-0 draw at home. The 21-year-old won five aerial duels and completed nine tackles and interceptions combined, while also making three clearances to help his side keep a clean sheet.
Right-back: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) – 8.11
Football INDEX share price - £1.67
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has come in for criticism from Arsenal fans but was in fact crucial to their 2-1 win away to Huddersfield on Saturday. The 21-year-old provided the assist for Arsenal’s second goal, which turned out to be the match winner. Maitland-Niles completed five dribbles down Arsenal’s right-hand side and registered two further key passes. Maitland-Niles was also dependable in defence, making eight tackles and interceptions combined and two clearances.
Centre midfield: Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma)
Football INDEX share price - £4.68
Nicolo Zaniolo did not score or assist in Roma’s 3-0 win away to Chievo but it was another impressive outing from the youngster nonetheless. The Italian midfielder completed five dribbles and completed four tackles and interceptions combined, further illustrating his defensive capabilities.
Centre midfield: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) – 7.92
Football INDEX share price - £7.54
Bayer Leverkusen continued their fine form with a 5-1 thrashing of Mainz, with highly rated midfielder Kai Havertz playing another key role in their win. The 19-year-old scored his eighth league goal of the season, one more than his total from the last two league campaigns combined. The German teenager also registered two key passes, completed one dribble and made two tackles and interceptions combined.
Centre midfield: Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan) – 8.17
Football INDEX share price - £3.72
Lucas Paqueta has made an impressive start to life at AC Milan and even netted his first goal for the club in their 3-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday. The Brazilian also registered two key passes, completed two dribbles and won two fouls for Gennaro Gattuso’s side. Not only did Paqueta excel going forward, he completed four tackles and interceptions combined.
Forward: Youssef En-Nesyri (Leganes) – 9.87 rating
Football INDEX share price – £1.52
Youssef En-Nesyri’s purple patch continued at the weekend after scoring a hat-trick in Leganes’ surprise 3-0 win over Real Betis. The 21-year-old has now won the WhoScored Man of the Match award in three straight games and has played a direct hand in eight goals in his last five league games. The Moroccan striker had seven shots against Betis, while also winning two aerial duels and registered two key passes.
Forward: Dodi Lukebakio (Duesseldorf) – 8.64 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.52
On-loan Watford striker Dodi Lukebakio returns to the best rated XI after providing an assist in Duesseldorf’s 3-0 win at home to Stuttgart. The 21-year-old also had four shots, won two aerial duels and completed five dribbles.
Forward: Jadon Sancho (Dortmund) – 8.83 rating
Football INDEX share price - £12.52
Jadon Sancho’s display against Hoffenheim was billed as his best ever for Borussia Dortmund, though the teenager will have a sour taste in his mouth after they let a 3-0 lead slip to draw 3-3. Sancho netted his seventh league goal of the season from four shots on total, while impressively completing 94% of his passes. The 18-year-old also completed seven dribbles and registered two key passes.
