X

European Team of the Week 17-18, March 2012

Amogha Sahu@@sahuthegoonerX.com LogoCorrespondent IIIMarch 19, 2012

BOLOGNA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 26: Samir Handanovic goalkeeper of Udinese Calcio talks to his teamates  during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on February 26, 2012 in Bologna, Italy.  (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images)
Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images


It has been an eventful week in Europe, as new developments have shaken the races for the various titles. Manchester United battered a lackluster Wolves, and a high-flying Newcastle side unconvincingly defeated Norwich City courtesy of a goal by winter signing Papiss Demba Cisse.

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich smashed Hertha Berlin 6-0, accompanied by a majestic performance by Arjen Robben, who scored three times against Hertha. Borussia Dortmund also scraped a win against rivals Werder Bremen, the lone goal coming from Shinji Kagawa.

The key clash in Serie A this weekend was Udinese-Napoli, both of whom are counter-attacking sides, and the game accordingly went end to end. Udinese went up 2-0 but ended up drawing thanks to a late double by Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan also missed a penalty during the course of the game.

Real Madrid have finally dropped points! They dropped two points thanks to a late free-kick from Santiago Cazorla. They now sit on top of La Liga, eight points clear of second-place Barcelona. The Catalans still have to host Los Merengues at the Nou Camp but are resigned to losing the Spanish First Division to Madrid.

Team of the Week 

Goalkeeper: Samir Handanovic

The Slovenian had a great week, saving a penalty from Edinson Cavani and saving five clear-cut chances. He ensured that Udinese managed to secure a draw against a Napoli side that were supremely motivated and looked like they were going to take the game to their opponents. 

Left-Back: Jordi Alba

Alba is an established Spanish International, one who is well-known for his overlapping runs from a full-back position. With this in mind, Alba was key in Valencia's 3-0  defeat of Athletic Bilbao, grabbing an assist and creating two chances, as well as blocking a shot from the six-yard box.

Centre-Back: Jonny Evans

The Northern Irishman has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts during United's title run-in and deserved his headed goal against Wolves. He complemented his goalscoring contribution with a solid defensive job at centre-back, where he has looked shaky previously but has now established himself as first choice.

Centre-Back: Kyriakos Papadopoulos

The Greek centre-back fully merits his place in my European team of the week, and he put in a great defensive shift against Kaiserslautern. Kyriakos is a bit of a throwback, aerially adept, a towering centre-back who's not very comfortable on the ball.

Right-Back: Rafael

The young right-back had a great game against Wolves, assisting a goal and putting in his fair share of tackles throughout.  The Brazilian is fast becoming one of the best right-backs in the Premier League, using his speed and crossing ability to great effect.

Right-Midfield: Antonio Valencia


The Ecuadorian deserved his man of the match award as United demolished Wolves. He grabbed a goal and two assists, providing great width for United, who focused their attacks down his side. Danny Welbeck on the other side came narrower, leading United to focus on Valencia, who hugged the touchline on the right. He made good use of the focus on him and did really well against Stephen Ward.

Centre-Midfield: Lewis Holtby


The Schalke midfielder helped take the game to Kaiserslautern, grabbing a goal and an assist. He had a very energetic game, intercepting the ball six times and laying it off to creators like Raul.

Holtby is not a defensive midfielder in a traditional sense, neither a holder nor a deep-lying distributor. In truth, he is more of a box to box midfielder,a s his game is more conducive to conclusion than progression. The statistics support this definition of Holtby's role, as he made less passes than three of the Schalke back four.

Centre-Midfield: Yohan Cabaye

Cabaye enjoyed a great game in an unfamiliar shuttling role on the side of a diamond midfield, where he was tasked with both creation and defensive work. It was his role to shield the forward runs of Jonas Gutierrez, who was placed at full-back by Alan Pardew, who is conscious of how necessary the full-backs are in a diamond midfield, as they provide attacking width.

Newcastle kept a clean sheet and won with Gutierrez assisting the lone goal with a cross, while Cabaye made three tackles, intercepted the ball four times, created four chances and completed the most passes of any Newcastle player.

Right-Midfield: Arjen Robben

The Dutchman put on another vintage display for Bayern, scoring three times, twice from the penalty spot. He used a lethal combination of speed, shooting and dribbling ability to tear Hertha Berlin to shreds. This is just one three-goal haul in a run of stunning form, as Robben has scored seven and assisted three in three games for Bayern.

Attacking Midfield: Santiago Cazorla

The Spaniard rescued a point for big-spending Malaga with a free-kick at the end of the game, cancelling out an early Karim Benzema goal. He has been the standout player in an expensively assembled Malaga side, scoring six goals and assisting four all season.

Cazorla has been playing on the wing for Malaga, as manager Manuel Pellegrini wanted to make use of his goal threat and his playmaking ability.

Striker: Roberto Soldado

Soldado is one of the best strikers in the world at the moment. He bagged a hat-trick against Athletic Bilbao and grabbed a deserved man of the match award. This only adds to his impressive goal tally, making it 19 goals for the season.

Honorable Mention: Kilmarnock Goalkeeper Cammy Bell

Bell made save after save as Kilmarnock denied Celtic the Scottish cup, and even made a double save by the end.

This article and more can be read at my blog:http://90minutesup.blogspot.com/