Could he really do better? Difficult. In a meeting far from complicated, the Red Devil scored a double and delivered an assist, a first for him in a single match since his arrival in Saudi Arabia. After a first blocked shot and a free kick into the wall, the winger showed his sense of goal by positioning himself perfectly twice to find a shooting angle that was not complicated at all. Each time, most of the work was done beforehand. He also showed his determination by saving a ball from the outlet on the line thanks to a tackle which turned into an assist. The only downside: his fifteen lost balloons.
Loïs Openda (Leipzig): 8/10
There's no stopping Loïs Openda. With a new goal this weekend, the Red Devil has been decisive six times in the last three Bundesliga meetings. For his first season in Germany, he now has 23 league goals, 27 in all competitions, figures above his best seasons.
Rather discreet in the first period against Heidenheim, the scorer initially came close to delivering twenty minutes from the end when he was perfectly launched in depth and managed to find an angle to strike but the opposing goalkeeper did not respond. It's not surprising. But Openda still managed to find the opening at the end of the match when the opposing defense was fooled and Openda found himself in front of an empty goal and therefore only had to push the ball to the back of the net to give victory to his team.
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal): 7.5/10
“He's a little magician.” These are the words of Mikel Arteta after the match against Wolves. And when we see the attacker's goal, we understand why. After a little mess initiated by Gabriel Jesus, the Louvaniste sent a magnificent ball from outside which found the post and then entered the goal. Great art.
“He is capable of scoring in any position,” the Spanish coach also said. Once again, it's hard to contradict him.
Apart from that, he was invaluable for his team to keep the leather. Like this good pass for a direct shot from Rice which licked the post. Clearly, we will remember this ninth achievement in the championship which put his team on track to seize first place in the Premier League.
“He’s a little magician”: Trossard, De Bruyne and Doku have digested the European failure well
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa): 7.5/10
In the heart of the game, the midfield was a real treat. Especially thanks to his long game where Watkins reveled in his openings several times. Technically, he was also very clean, losing very few balls and always using them wisely.
For Unai Emery, the midfielder is a godsend thanks to his versatility and his understanding of the game. He also showed his physical teeth by winning more than 75% of his duels. Solid and technical, the perfect modern environment.
Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta): 7/10
Volunteer, CDK found its way back to the net after two months of drought in the championship. However, the Red Devil was well taken on the corner on which he placed a header into the ceiling of the Monza goal. A few minutes earlier, he had tried his luck for the first time from a tight angle which did not allow him to believe in the opening of the score.
Timothy Castagne (Fulham): 7/10
His infectious joy was beautiful to see. It's not every day that the full-back will score against Liverpool. For his first goal with the Londoners, Gaumais found himself on the lookout to perfectly finish the action with a powerful right shot.
For the rest, the actions of the Reds often came from his side. But it's not really his fault as he didn't get much help from Iwobi. Like the second goal scored by Gravenberch. Klopp's players therefore often looked for diagonals behind his back. And it could have hurt one or the other time via this same Gravenberch or Jota. Good meeting all the same thanks to his dynamism and this first goal therefore.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): 7/10
Clearly, it wasn't his best encounter. But through the door or the window, he always manages to appear important. It could have been sooner than Bernardo Silva's goal. He notably put Foden into orbit thanks to a pass of which he has the secret.
For the rest, he missed his actions more than the other way around. Except in this 84th minute where, found by Doku, he crossed hard at the far post for the Portuguese who scored the only goal of the match against Chelsea.
If this will not be counted as a decisive pass, it is mainly physically that he reassured. After being drained of juice against Real Madrid during the week, he was able to continue in the Cup semi-final. Obviously reassuring for a player who has experienced a lot of physical problems in recent years.
Wout Faes (Leicester City): 7/10
Surprise among the Foxes: the hairy was positioned… left back. A change which was seen at the start of the meeting where he was rather messy. Then he started winning more and more duels. He also felt more comfortable in the game.
Like his cross for Ndidi who deceives the opposing goalkeeper in two stages. Is not involved in his team's goal. A good experience, even if it should not have a continuation in the national team.
Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor): 7/10
Well installed on the right side of the defense, the Red Devil is still entitled to 86 minutes of playing time and therefore continues to play one match after another. The former Dortmund man even took the opportunity to sign his fourth assist of the season after a good combination on the side and a good cross to the far post. Successful on his passes (93%) and his crosses (2/2), he just had a little heat in the first half when the referee designated the penalty spot after a duel concerning him. After viewing the images, the man in black reversed his decision, thus making it clear that Meunier's intervention was impeccable.
Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg): 6.5/10
No longer the holder for several weeks, the midfielder had a second start in a row and did not leave his partners in a crucial meeting in the race to maintain his position. Discreet, the midfielder made no less than twenty recoveries, his best total since he was in Germany. A true passing metronome (86% successful), he only won half of his duels and lost the ball eleven times.
Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest): 5/10
Two similar goals where he can't do much. Even if Gueye's first strike seemed takeable. McNeil's second came from further away, but was more powerful. For the rest, he wasn't very reassuring either. Like on this huge opportunity from a corner where he hesitates to come out.
On a shot from McNeil, he fails to catch the floating ball. This defeat puts a little pressure on his club, which will have to fight until the end to avoid going down. And he will need a big Sels to achieve this.
They didn't play much:
Up for the last 24 minutes in the Cup, Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) put the same energy as in the Champions League during the week. Still as untenable, he could have scored on an individual action. But his shot was well kicked out by the opposing goalkeeper. He still proved important by launching Kevin De Bruyne perfectly for his team's only goal.
After his big rant last week, Arthur Theat (Rennes) the defender started on the bench. And he came on in stoppage time as his team won against Nantes.
For the third time in a row, Olivier Deman (Werder Bremen) could only nibble at the end of the match. This weekend, the former Cercle player entered the game for the last minute of play.
Napoli lost on the road to Empoli by the narrowest margin. Cyril Ngonge rose twenty minutes from time without managing to reverse the trend.
They didn't play
Amadou Onana (Everton) remained on the bench the entire match against Nottingham Forest just like Leander Dendoncker on the Naples side.
New meeting on the bench for Orel Mangala who can slowly worry about his playing time which is starving with OL. He has not started since March 3. Worrying.
No matches were scheduled for this weekend in the Eredivisie, Johan Bakayoko (PSV) was therefore at rest. On their side, Dodi Lukebakio (Seville) and Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce) will only play this Monday. AS Roma and Bologna also face each other this Monday evening. This will be the opportunity for Alexis Saelemaekers and Romelu Lukaku, two former Anderlecht players, to cross swords for a European place.
The weeks follow one another and unfortunately look the same for Arthur Vermeeren who had a sixth meeting in a row without the slightest minute of playing time with Atlético de Madrid.
They are injured
Touched in the shoulder, Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg) resumed training a few days ago but was not in sufficient condition to hope to return to the field. He hasn't played since March 10.
After his new knee injury, Thibaut Courtois has resumed training with Real Madrid but is not yet ready to return to the field.
