European Team of the Month: Bundesliga dominates best XI

 

Goalkeeper: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari) - 7.80 rating 

 

Kicking off the European team of the month is Cagliari shotstopper Alessio Cragno, who was in flying form for the Serie A side in March. The 24-year-old landed a WhoScored rating of 7.80, picking up man of the match awards in meetings with Bologna and Chievo. He made more saves (20) than any other player in Italy’s top tier in March to secure his spot in this XI. 

 

Right-back: Youcef Atal (Nice) - 7.69 rating 

 

The sole Ligue 1 representative in this XI comes from the south of France, where Youcef Atal continues to shine. Nice may have won only one of three matches in March, but the Algerian once more proved why he is considered one of the finest right-backs on the continent with a series of solid outings, including a man of the match display in a 1-0 win over Strasbourg. 11 tackles, three interceptions, three key passes and 14 successful dribbles helped him land a WhoScored rating of 7.69. 

 

Centre-back: Willi Orban (RB Leipzig) - 7.83 rating 

 

The first of two RB Leipzig players to make the cut, the Bundesliga side were superb in March as they went through the month unbeaten. Winning 10 of 12 points, RB Leipzig didn’t concede a goal in March with Willi Orban crucial in their solid rearguard. The Hungarian defender secured the man of the match award in their 1-0 win at Schalke, while a whopping 35 clearances helped secure a WhoScored rating of 7.83. 

 

Centre-back: Roman Saiss (Wolves) - 7.86 rating 

 

Partnering Orban in defence is Wolves man Roman Saiss, who was deployed in defence for two of their three matches in March, while a fine midfield showing in a 2-0 win over Cardiff saw the Moroccan return a WhoScored rating of 7.86. Saiss won a total of 23 aerial duels in March, while 21 clearances, 12 tackles and six interceptions capped off a solid month for the 29-year-old. 

 

Left-back: Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig) - 7.86 rating 

 

Another whose performances have gone somewhat under the radar, Marcel Halstenberg is having a low-key fine campaign for RB Leipzig with the German landing a WhoScored rating of 7.86 in March. The left-back earned the WhoScored man of the match in a 0-0 draw with Augsburg and played a key role in a backline that kept four clean sheets from four matches last month. 

 

 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 9.16 rating 

 

Landing a stunning WhoScored rating of 9.16 in March, Lionel Messi was sensational for Barcelona last month. The Argentine netted six goals in four appearances, including a stunning hat-trick against Real Betis, and returned 22 successful dribbles and nine key passes, the latter yielding one assist, as he once again shone. 

 

Central midfield: James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich) - 8.68 rating 

 

The first of two Bayern players in this XI, James Rodriguez’s WhoScored rating dipped below an 8.00 just the once in his four appearances, and even then, he secured a 7.91, that coming in a 5-1 win at Gladbach. All in all, the Colombian had a direct hand in five goals in four outings, which included a stunning hat-trick in 6-0 win over Mainz to land a perfect 10 rating. An additional 16 key passes and six dribbles saw Rodriguez gain a WhoScored rating of 8.68 in March. 

 

Central midfield: Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 8.17 rating 

 

Linking up in midfield with Rodriguez is Atalanta’s pint-sized star Alejandro Gomez. The Argentine has won five WhoScored man of the match awards in Serie A this season, three of those came in March, as Atalanta went the month unbeaten. The Serie A player of the month made more key passes (14) than any other player in Italy’s top tier to help garner a WhoScored rating of 8.17. 

 

Left midfield: Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 8.31 rating 

 

The fourth of six Bundesliga players to make the grade, there has been ample focus on Luka Jovic this season, but it’s Eintracht Frankfurt teammate Filip Kostic who features in this XI. The winger had a direct hand in five goals in March, scoring three and assisting two, while solid returns of 10 successful dribbles, eight key passes and seven tackles landed him a WhoScored rating of 8.31 as he won the man of the match award in three of four appearances. 

 

European Team of the Month: Bundesliga dominates best XI

 

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.61 

 

Bayern ended March on a sour note as they were held 1-1 draw with Freiburg that saw them forfeit top spot, but the month was a prolific one for Robert Lewandowski, who hit the back of the net in all four league outings and secured WhoScored man of the match awards in wins over Gladbach and Wolfsburg. His six goals came from 27 shots to help land a WhoScored rating of 8.61. 

 

Striker: Max Kruse (Werder Bremen) - 8.82 rating 

 

Rounding off this XI is Werder Bremen sensation Max Kruse, who was in flying form in March. The experienced German secured the Bundesliga player of the month award as he had a direct hand in a goal in every appearance in March, scoring six and assisting three to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.82.

European Team of the Month: Bundesliga dominates best XI