Borussia Dortmund pair shine to make U23 team of the season

There is light at the end of the tunnel. The March international break always drags, but we’re close to a return to club action. Here, we take a closer look at the U23 WhoScored team of the season so far across Europe’s top five leagues… 

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) - 6.88 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £1.29 

AC Milan may have come not the international break on a downer following their 3-2 Milan Derby loss, but a 10-match unbeaten run prior to that loss improved their chances of a top four finish in Serie A. Key to that once more was young goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has once again impressed for the Milan side. He has kept nine clean sheets in Italy’s top tier this term, the third most in the league, as he continues to develop and enhance his reputation as one of the finest young goalkeepers in Europe. 

Right-back: Youcef Atal (Nice) - 7.44 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £1.96 

Nice picked a winner when they signed Youcef Atal from Paradou AC last summer, with the Algerian right-back thriving in the south of France. With a WhoScored rating of 7.44, the 22-year-old is the best-rated right-back in France’s top tier this term having returned 3.5 successful dribbles per game in Ligue 1 this season, comfortably better than any other defender. Should he continue to impress, teams may look to France to improve their right-back options this summer and that could push his Football INDEX buy price up. 

Centre-back: Jan Bednarek (Southampton) - 7.12 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £1.00 

Southampton have been a far stronger side with Jan Bednarek in the starting XI, with Saints’ win ratio increasing from 7.1% to 37.5% when the Polish defender features from the off. Indeed, it’s translated to a fine WhoScored rating of 7.12, securing the centre-back’s spot in this side. Returns of 1.9 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 6.7 clearances per game has helped land such a notable rating. 

Centre-back: Ibrahima Konate (RB Leipzig) - 7.19 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £1.67 

Partnering Bednarek at the heart of the defence is French teenager Ibrahima Konate, who has gained a WhoScored rating of 7.19. He has routinely exhibited WhoScored strengths of ‘tackling’ and ‘ball interception’ having made 1.7 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game for Champions League chasing RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga this season as the 19-year-old continues to impress in Germany’s top tier. 

Left-back: Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.14 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £2.85 

Rounding off the defence is youngster Achraf Hakimi, who has thrived for Borussia Dortmund in his loan spell from Real Madrid. The Moroccan has had a direct hand in six goals in his time with the Bundesliga outfit, who are far better with the 20-year-old in the starting XI as their win ratio increases from 42.9% to 78.9% when he features from the off. 35 successful dribbles reinforces a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’, with that ranking among the top 15 players in the Bundesliga this season, and has helped Hakimi return a WhoScored rating of 7.14. 

Right midfield: Nicolas Pepe (Lille) - 7.55 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £2.02 

One of the stars of the 2018/19 Ligue 1 season, Nicolas Pepe’s stock continues to soar. Lille are the surprise contenders for a Champions League finish with the Ivorian key. He has had a direct hand in 25 league goals this season, scoring 17, with his goals and assists earning them a whopping 25 points. Returns of 2.5 successful dribbles and 1.9 key passes per game has helped land a WhoScored rating of 7.55 and with a summer scramble for his signature expected, even accounting for reports of an impending move to Bayern, at £2.02 per share, he’s well worth adding to your Football INDEX portfolio. 

Central midfield: Marko Grujic (Hertha Berlin) - 7.36 rating 

Football INDEX share price - £0.47 

Liverpool fans will have been buoyed by Marko Grujic’s good form for Hertha Berlin. The 22-year-old has endured an ankle issue that has limited him to just 15 league starts this season, but his WhoScored rating (7.36) is the best of all players for the Bundesliga side. Hertha are a far better team with the youngster featuring with their win ratio increasing from 18.2% to 46.7% when he does start. Returns of 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game has capped off what has been a solid season so far. 

Central midfield: Rodrigo (Atletico Madrid) - 7.29 rating

Football INDEX share price - £0.76

Partnering Grujic in midfield is Atletico Madrid summer signing Rodrigo, who has become a mainstay in Diego Simeone’s side. The Spanish youngster dictates the tempo with ease with the 22-year-old finding a teammate with 90.2% of his 55.6 passes per game in La Liga this season. Off the ball, too, Rodrigo has excelled with his 3.3 tackles per game the third best return in Spain’s top tier this term.

Left midfield: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.53 rating

Football INDEX share price - £5.59

The second Borussia Dortmund player to make the cut is Jadon Sancho, who has been a revelation this season. He provided the assist for Raheem Sterling’s opener on his full England debut on Friday night with international recognition more than deserved for his flying club form. Indeed, no player has registered more assists than Sancho (12) in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with his excellent performances yielding a fine WhoScored rating of 7.53.

Striker: Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 8.06 rating

Football INDEX share price - £5.36

One of the stars of the season in Europe’s top five leagues, Kylian Mbappe continues to go from strength to strength and having had a direct hand in 32 league goals, netting 26, for French powerhouse PSG, the France international is good value for his WhoScored rating of 8.06. The scary thing, too, is that there is more to come from the 20-year-old, whose flying form continues to see his stock rise.

Striker: Joelinton (Hoffenheim) - 7.31 rating

Football INDEX share price - £0.86

Rounding off this XI is Hoffenheim star Joelinton, who is impressing having become a mainstay for the German side. The Brazilian has seven goals and five assists to his name for Hoffenheim, those coming from returns of 2.2 shots and 1.6 key passes per game, respectively, while the 22-year-old has been decent in the air as he wins 2.3 aerial duels per game to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.31.