Youth Watch: High-flying Barcelona winger Yamal ranked Europe's top teenager
There's an Eredivisie feel to the top rated teens rundown this week with no fewer than six players from the Dutch top tier represented in the top 10, which includes stars from Ajax and PSV. However, it's a Barcelona winger that tops the leaderboard as we run down the best performing teenagers across Europe this past weekend.
10. Ayman Kari (Lorient) - 7.21 vs Reims
Ayman Kari put in a solid display as Lorient beat Reims 2-0 at the weekend, returning a WhoScored rating of 7.21 on his fourth start of the season. The 19-year-old managed one shot, one key pass and one successful dribble, and impressed off the ball as he chipped in with three interceptions and two tackles.
9. Stijn Bultman (Heracles) - 7.23 vs Vitesse
Stijn Bultman came on in the 20th minute as Heracles earned a 3-2 win over Vitesse, and put in a shift as evidenced by a WhoScored rating of 7.23. The young centre-back was key in earning all the spoils having made six tackles and two clearances following his first half introduction.
8. Mio Backhaus (Volendam) - 7.25 vs PSV
Volendam were smashed 5-1 by Eredivisie leaders PSV over the weekend but even so; goalkeeper Mio Backhaus did enough to land a WhoScored rating of 7.25 in the home loss. The 19-year-old did all he could to help his side having made eight saves in the heavy defeat.
7. Nick Fichtinger (PEC Zwolle) - 7.32 vs Go Ahead Eagles
PEC Zwolle held Go Ahead Eagles to a 1-1 draw in Sunday's early Eredivisie clash with midfielder Nick Fichtinger key to the away side's defensive resolve. Indeed, Fichtinger made five tackles and two clearances prior to his 70th-minute withdrawal in the stalemate.
6. Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal) - 7.33 vs Alaves
Over to La Liga now, Ilias Akhomach did all he could to help Villarreal to victory in their eventual 1-1 draw at Alaves. The 19-year-old chipped in with four key passes, four dribbles and two shots up to his late withdrawal to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.33.
5. Tristan Gooijer (Ajax) - 7.64 vs Heerenveen
Ajax may have lost 3-2 at Heerenveen on Sunday however Tristan Gooijer did enough from right-back to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.64. Gooijer provided the assist for Chuba Akpom's 79th-minute strike, that coming from his only key pass, and he did all he could to limit the Heerenveen offensive having returned a 100% tackle success rate from six attempted tackles.
4. Isaac Babadi (PSV) - 7.72 vs Volendam
Back to the Kras Stadion now and Isaac Babadi replaced Joey Veerman at the break and impressed off the bench as evidenced by a WhoScored rating of 7.72. The 18-year-old scored his first Eredivisie goal of his career from one of four shots and chipped in with additional returns of one dribble and one tackle in a fine cameo.
3. Yankuba Minteh (Feyenoord) - 7.76 vs Sparta Rotterdam
Feyenoord claimed the bragging rights in Sunday's Rotterdam Derby having earned a 2-0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam. Yankuba Minteh was unable to directly contribute to a goal in the win but it wasn't for want of trying having fired off four shots and created four goalscoring chances. Three additional dribbles saw Minteh return a WhoScored rating of 7.76.
2. Max Finkgrafe (FC Koeln) - 8.25 vs Hoffenheim
Featuring for the third week running, Max Finkgrafe won his second player of the match award of the season as FC Koeln came away from the PreZero Arena with a point in their 1-1 draw at Hoffenheim. Finkgrafe scored his side's goal in the stalemate, netting with one of two shots, and made five clearances, two tackles and two successful dribbles.
1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) - 8.32 vs Granada
The best rated teenager in Europe this week, Lamine Yamal earned a WhoScored rating of 8.32 in Barcelona's entertaining 3-3 draw with Granada. The 16-year-old bagged his second and third league goals of the season, his brace coming from two shots, and made two tackles, one key pass and one successful dribble in his second best rated performance of the season.