European Team of the Week: Robert Lewandowski rewarded, Joao Felix and Bruno Fernandes light up attack

Every week we pick 22 of the best performing players in Europe’s top five leagues and, with your help, narrow it down to the best XI.

Using polls on our Instagram Stories, we pit players in each position against each other and let you decide who deserves to make the cut.

Joao Felix and Hakim Ziyech are joined in attack by Robert Lewandowski after his influential ‘Der Klassiker’ display, while Manchester United stars Bruno Fernandes and Fred man the midfield.

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Here’s what our latest European Team of the Week looks like:

GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

Argentina goalkeeper enjoyed a joyous return to former employers Arsenal after September’s £17 million exit, commanding his area and being alert to deny Thomas Partey in a memorable 3-0 triumph. Now has more Premier League clean sheets at Emirates Stadium (one) in 2020/21 than resident shot stopper Bernd Leno (none).

RB: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)

Roberto’s 15-month-long assist drought was ended by a pair in this weekend’s 5-2 victory against Real Betis. Remarkably, his last assists (two) came in August 2019’s 5-2 win against the same opponent.

CB: Wesley Fofana (Leicester City)

Worries caused by serious injury to Turkey warrior Caglar Soyuncu have been assuaged by Fofana’s resounding start to life in England. The 20-year-old ranked in the top three Leicester players during the hard-fought 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers for: tackles (joint second), interceptions (joint first), clearances (joint third) and key passes (joint second). The Foxes have, also, kept four clean sheets from his seven starts in all competitions.

CB: Roger Ibanez (Roma)

The Brazil Under-23 international was a key protagonist in Roma’s 3-1 victory at Genoa, setting the platform for Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s hat-trick. He completed all three long passes, won four out of five aerial duels and boasted a 92-per-cent pass accuracy. This followed his first goal in Giallorossi colours during Thursday’s 5-0 mauling of CFR Cluj in the Europa League.

LB: Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)

Bayern Munich’s 3-2 derby victory was not a great game for Dortmund’s defence. Guerreiro, however, impressed with a pair of assists. The Portugal international cut the ball back for Marco Reus’ first, before summoning his inner Ronaldinho to stylishly scoop the ball over the top to an on-rushing Erling Braut Haaland for a late consolation.

MF: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

The beating heart of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United delivered for his manager in this hour of need. His brace – a perfect header and fortunate over-hit cross – and selfless assist for Edinson Cavani’s opening goal in red saw the visitors roar back from a goal down, to defiantly win 3-1 at Everton. That’s now 13 goals and eight assists in 21 Premier League run-outs since January’s £47m switch from Sporting Lisbon.

MF: Fred (Manchester United)

If Fernandes is United’s beating heart, then Fred is their engine. The Brazil midfielder ran himself into the ground versus the Toffees alongside Scott McTominay in the pivot, outworking and outperforming compatriot Allan. Only West Bromwich Albion’s Conor Gallagher (13.5) can better Fred’s average of 12.8 defensive duels per 90 minutes in the Premier League this term.

MF: Carlos Soler (Valencia)

History was made in Valencia’s astounding 4-1 humiliation of ramshackle Real Madrid when Soler became La Liga’s first player in the 21st century to bag a hat-trick of penalties in the same game. These were his only attempts on goal of the match, though a tally of 38 passes was Los Che’s joint highest. This followed a 99th-minute spot-kick in last week’s 2-2 draw with Getafe.

RW: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)

The Morocco playmaker has been worth the wait. An assists double which lit up Chelsea’s 4-1 beating of Sheffield United moved him onto five goal contributions in his last four games, across all competitions. These latest efforts – fizzed crosses for headers from Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell – versus the Blades came via a fixture-leading tally of six key passes.

CF: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Dortmund continue to be haunted by their former hero. The Poland international put Bayern into the lead with a precise header, before teeing up Leroy Sane for the eventual winner. These interjections moved him onto 22 goals or assists in 22 meetings versus his ex-employers.

LW: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

The dam has burst and a flood of goals have flowed for Felix. A brace in Sunday’s 4-0 slaying of promoted Cadiz pushed him onto six goals in his last four appearances, as many as he registered in the prior 26 matches.