He is back ! For his first match of the season, the Devil achieved what he does best: return a clean sheet. Little called upon by Cadiz, Courtois however proved decisive by winning a crucial face-to-face just after returning from the locker room. Better still, Carlo Ancelotti's men opened the scoring almost straight away before winning three goals to nothing.
Even better, Casa Blanca will be sacred champion of Spain later in the evening after Barça's defeat against Girona.
“I had imagined this day several times”: Thibaut Courtois talks about his return to Real MadridThibaut Courtois, a comeback, a first in front of Ellie, a decisive stop and already champion: “A very nice day to come back”
Johan Bakayoko (PSV): 8.5/10
New week and new goal for the Devil! With his rose planted against Sparta Rotterdam, the Belgian scored his sixth goal in as many matches. Well served by de Jong on a back cross, the 21-year-old winger deceives the goalkeeper with an unstoppable ground shot. The men from Eindhoven finally won four goals to two.
Like Courtois, Bakayoko is also crowned champion this weekend. This is the fifth title of his career. Which season !
Best averages in Europe and national records: the crazy numbers from PSV and Johan Bakayoko's season
Romelu Lukaku (AS Roma): 8/10
Back in the starting eleven after thigh discomfort, the number ten of the Devils was decisive during the clash against Juventus. How ? By scoring the only Roman goal of the matcha quarter of an hour into the game. A good surface fox, Big Rom is in the right place at the right time to push the ball into the back of the net after a shot from Cristante repelled by Szczęsny. This is his 20th goal in the colors of the capital club.
The Belgian left shortly after the hour mark, while the two teams left back to back (1-1). Next goal for Roma? Overcome the two-goal deficit in the Europa League semi-final against Leverkusen next Thursday.
Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab): 8/10
The Devil found the net this weekend in Al-Shabab's victory against Al-Raed. And what a goal from the Belgian! Found near the central circle, the former Atlético player grabbed the ball before crossing the field with the ball and deceiving the goalkeeper with an unstoppable ground shot at the edge of the area.
This is his tenth goal since his arrival in Saudi Arabia, while he has just been voted best player of the month for April in the Saudi championship. Cristiano Ronaldo.
In good shape with Al-Shabab, can Yannick Carrasco still start at the Euro?
Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest): 7/10
A great performance at the best of times. Without him, it is not certain that Forest will win this meeting. He can't do much about the penalty conceded, but provides the essentials with three other very important saves. He punctuated his performance with four saves as important as they were valuable since this victory against Sheffield moved them away from the relegation zone.
Timothy Castagne (Fulham): 7/10
A Castagne-style match: serious and diligent against Brentford. Sometimes beaten by Lewis-Potter, he never gave up to finish strong. Reliable, he has won the majority of his duels and his stability allows his team to maintain a certain balance in the defensive block. On the other hand, he didn't show much offensively since he was mainly content to defend well. His two crosses did not find a taker even if his first was dangerous by leading to a strike from Iwobi.
Leandro Trossard (Arsenal): 7/10
A liberating goal that does a lot of good. The winger was rather clumsy at the finish until his goal which delivered his entire team. Apart from that, it was not his best performance where he was rather discreet. But his eleventh goal of the season is gold and completely broke the match.
Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg): 6.5/10
He too was back after an injury. Already started last week, the Devils goalkeeper achieved his first clean sheet since his return to the Wolfsburg cages, the fourth this season. The Wolves finally won three goals to nothing.
For his part, Aster Vranckx was absent due to injury.
Loïs Openda (Leipzig): 6/10
After four consecutive meetings where he was decisive, the Devil remained silent when sharing a goal everywhere against Hoffenheim. Little found, the striker, who has 24 goals in the league, was replaced a quarter of an hour from time, while his side were reduced to ten after the exclusion of Xavi Simons.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): 6/10
Yes, City can win 5-1 without needing a big KDB. Although he was useful, the midfielder did not have his best part of the season. He had his moments of quality, but he was not decisive. Like his only key pass of the match, a fairly meager total for a player of his caliber.
Wout Faes (Leicester City): 6/10
The trained central defender was once again aligned on the left in a four-man defense. An unusual position, but one he does well in. As usual, he defended better than attacked. Like on this angry header which allows his team to revive in the first period. He also won 80% of his ground duels and was not passed once. A generally positive meeting.
Alexis Saelemaekers (Bologna): 5/10
Very good in recent weeks, he started again on the left against Torino. But he didn't have a big impact on this meeting. Very often lectured by Thiago Motta, the Belgian was taken out in the 69th without any notable action in the legs.
Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor): 5/10
For the fourth time since his arrival in Türkiye, the Devil lost with Trabzonspor. Starting for the eleventh time and on the pitch for the ninety minutes for the ninth time, the Belgian was unable to make an impact offensively.
If Samsunspor brought a lot of danger to Meunier's side, the former Dortmund player has no responsibility for the goals conceded.
Trabzonspor ultimately lost three goals to one.
Arthur Theate (Rennes): 5/10
Paradoxical encounter for the Belgian. If Rennes won three goals to two, the defender is responsible for the two goals conceded. Caught ahead of the opener, he was too easily surprised by an aerial ball which led to Metz's second goal.
But the former Ostender made up for it in the second half by saving a headed ball on the line. A crucial save which allowed the Bretons to come back into the lead before winning in stoppage time.
The 23-year-old defender also received his fourth yellow of the season in Ligue 1.
They didn't play much:
Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) came into play for the last ten minutes.
Amadou Onana (Everton) came into the game in the 55th and has not started for almost a month.
Olivier Deman only managed seven minutes with Werder Bremen in a two-goal split against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Belgian has not been a starter since March 30.
Dodi Lukebakio wanted to make up for his unconvincing performance last week. And it’s done! Coming up with a quarter of an hour to go, the Devil sealed the score of the match for Seville with a magnificent goal. In possession of the ball in the area, the Belgian shows all colors to the Granada defender before sending the ball into the top corner. Final score? Three goals to nothing.
They didn't play:
Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) was still missing from the squad after his injury last week.
Michy Batshuayi and Fenerbahçe play this Monday at Konyaspor.
Orel Mangala faces Lille with Lyon but should not start as a starter.
Leander Dendoncker and Cyril Ngonge play with Naples against Udinese this Monday evening.
Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta) will play this evening against Salernitana.
The weeks follow one another and are similar for Arthur Vermeerenwho did not come off the bench during Atlético Madrid's victory against Mallorca.
