Messi gears up for crunch Champions League clash in style

Two players in our European team of the week bagged hat-tricks at the weekend as we run through the best XI from another exciting round of games. 

Goalkeeper: Benoit Costil (Bordeaux) - 8.26 rating 

A rejuvenated Monaco were unable to make home advantage count when they welcomed Bordeaux to the Stade Louis II. The home side were held to a 1-1 draw with Benoit Costil in inspired form between the sticks as he made eight saves and two successful cross claims to return a WhoScored rating of 8.26 in a man of the match outing. 

Right-back: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern) - 8.52 rating 

Bayern Munich romped to a 6-0 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday to move to the top of the Bundesliga on goal difference. Joshua Kimmich is the first of two Bayern players, with the German star moving back to right-back for the German giants. Here, he scored his second league goal of the campaign and made three tackles and one interception to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.52. 

Centre-back: Marquinhos (PSG) - 8.37 rating 

With their match against Nantes postponed at the weekend, PSG capitalised on the extra rest to put Dijon to the sword as they secured a comfortable 4-0 win away from home. Marquinhos netted his third league goal of the season in the victory and was typically impressive on the ball as he found a teammate with 94.9% of his 99 passes. Two interceptions and two clearances saw the Brazilian return a WhoScored rating of 8.37. 

Centre-back: Almamy Toure (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 8.16 rating 

On just his third league start since moving to Eintracht Frankfurt, Almamy Toure was impressive in their 3-0 win at Fortuna Dusseldorf as he landed a WhoScored rating of 8.16 in the comfortable victory. He made four tackles and seven clearances in the win while on the ball, the defender was comfortable in possession to return a 92.1% pass success rate. 

Left-back: Erik Pieters (Amiens) - 8.64 rating 

Amiens squeezed out a 2-1 win over Nimes as he scored a crucial goal, his first since his move to France, in a man of the match display in the narrow victory. He managed three shots in the victory, while a whopping eight tackles helped land a WhoScored rating of 8.64. 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 9.53 rating 

Rarely a week goes by where Lionel Messi isn’t included in a team of the week and this week is no exception. The Argentine had a direct hand in two of the three goals Barcelona scored in their 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano, scoring from one of six shots and assisting from one of three key passes, while additional returns of six successful dribbles and three crosses saw him garner a WhoScored rating of 9.53. 

Central midfield: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.68 rating 

The only Bayer Leverkusen player to make the cut, Julian Brandt has now had a direct hand in a goal in five of his last seven Bundesliga appearances with his two assists in Saturday’s narrow 3-2 win over Hannover 96 returning a WhoScored rating of 8.68 in the process. Those came from four key passes, while three successful dribbles, three tackles and one interception capped off a fine afternoon’s showing. 

Central midfield: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus) - 8.67 rating 

Partnering Brandt in the middle of the park is Juventus’ Rodrigo Bentancur. Max Allegri named a much-changed side for their welcome of Udinese, but the Old Lady managed to sweep to a 4-1 win with Bentancur providing an assist in the comfortable home victory, that coming from one of three key passes. Udinese struggled to rob the midfielder of possession as he completed four dribbles to help land a WhoScored rating of 8.67. 

Left midfield: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) - 9.42 rating 

Rounding off the midfield is Manchester City star Raheem Sterling. The 24-year-old geared up for their comfortable 7-0 win over Schalke with a hat-trick in their 3-1 win over Watford as he landed a WhoScored rating of 9.42 to return the Premier League player of the week award. 

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 9.85 rating 

Robert Lewandowski enjoys playing Wolfsburg. The Pole has scored 20 league goals against the German side in his career and his brace at the weekend means he has scored in each of his last eight Bundesliga outings against the 2008/09 German champions. Lewandowski picked up the WhoScored man of the match award with a 9.85 rating as he scored with two of his four shots and completed four dribbles. Be wary, Liverpool. 

Striker: Wissam Ben Yedder (Sevilla) - 10.0 rating 

Completing the best XI of the week is Sevilla’s star striker Wissam Ben Yedder. The Frenchman has now had a direct hand in seven of his last eight appearances with his hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad helping him land a perfect 10 rating.