the typical team of the 5th day

More than 60% of the way traveled, and all our French clubs are still in the running to win, at a minimum, a play-off place in the Champions League. We wouldn't necessarily have imagined them in this order, with PSG as a bad student, and Lille as first in class, but whatever, French football is breathing better this season. And even if it wasn't THEIR biggest European week, we found at least one player from the French Championship in our eleven type for this 5th day of C1. For once, Lucas Chevalier is not one of them, despite a more than honorable performance against Bologna. But this time the credit goes to Liverpool's replacement goalkeeper, Kevin Kelleherauthor of an XXL performance against Real Madrid (2-0).

The rest after this ad

With three saves, including one on a penalty from Kylian Mbappé, the Irishman allowed the Reds to continue their flawless performance in the competition. Just like the other temporary worker at the right-back position, Conor Bradleywho also disgusted Kylian Mbappé, in addition to having delivered an assist on his team's first goal. For his first start in the Champions League, the 21-year-old Northern Irish defender still had quite a client in front of him, but he put him out of action. In the center, the Gunners defender Gabriel deserves its place. Intractable against Sporting, he limited the influence of the insatiable Viktor Gyökeres, and even allowed himself to tease him by miming his celebration after his goal. At his side, another left-hander, well known in the south of France: Sead Kolasinac. The 31-year-old Bosnian was making his return to Atalanta after a minor injury, and he reminded his coach Gian Piero Gasperini how essential he is. The ex-Marseillais even participated in the humiliation of Young Boys Bern (6-1) by scoring his goal. Finally, to complete this defense, Alejandro Grimaldo finds his place as in our typical team from the first day. The Spaniard continues to build on his huge last season with Leverkusen, and again scored a sublime free kick against Salzburg (5-0).

Mukau, sole representative in Ligue 1

In midfield, how can we not highlight the Liverpool trio Gravenberch, Jones and Mac Allister? But if we had to choose just one, it would be the Argentine world champion Alexis Mac Allisterso important for its orientations, its compensations, its recoveries and its projections. The former Brighton player even broke the deadlock after a superb move initiated with Bradley on the side. To support him, the Lille midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau didn't steal his place either. Before last night, the 20-year-old Congolese had never scored professionally. And so he struck twice against Bologna, in a number 10 role not necessarily usual for him. He could even have been a decisive passer if Matias Fernandez-Pardo had been more killer in front of goal. A notch higher than the two mentioned above, Charles De Ketelaere will be responsible for being the inventor, the creator of this team. The Belgian is one of those elegant people capable of unblocking a situation with an inspiration. And against Youngs Boys on Tuesday, he had more than one.

The rest after this ad

After 56 minutes of play, the left-hander already had 2 goals and 3 assists on his stats sheet. Evocative figures, but which do not say everything about his influence in the game of Atalanta, much more important than simple figures. To compose our attack, Angel Di Maria is logically the chosen one for the right winger position. The 36-year-old Argentinian still has it under his belt, and Monaco learned that the hard way yesterday. Always as unbalancing, unpredictable, the ex-Parisian put Caio Henrique through real torture. And it was he who was at the origin of the Portuguese comeback, with two devastating strikes to find Cabral (84th), then Amdouni (88th). To support him, the FM editorial team has chosen to name two players who are a bit “surprises“. At position number 9, it is Anis Hadj Moussa who was chosen. The Algerian international sounded the revolt during Feyenoord's incredible comeback against Manchester City (3-3). Although he was used more in a winger role, the 22-year-old attacker shone, causing serious headaches for Gvardiol with his changes of pace and dribbling. He was rewarded with this goal in the 75th minute of play, after playing past Ederson. Finally, its presence may surprise, but Nemanja Radonjić is our left winger. Entering in the 67th minute of play, the Serb scored twice, first on his first ball after a quick counterattack (69th, 4-1), then at the very end of the match after a number balancing act in the defense of Stuttgart (88th, 5-1). His presence, coupled with that of Kolašinac, puts the spotlight on OM, absent in the Champions League.