Once the transfer window closes, new signings strive to make an immediate impact with their team and impress the supporters. However, a familiar face has won the adulation of fans for his performances in September. Cristiano Ronaldo was WhoScored’s highest rated player (8.99) in Europe’s top 5 leagues last month having returned to his goalscoring best for Real Madrid.
The Portuguese scored more goals (9) than any other player in Europe’s big 5 divisions in September, including hat-tricks in wins over Deportivo La Coruña and Elche. As Carlo Ancelotti’s expensive squad strives to wrestle the domestic title away from Atlético Madrid, Ronaldo has dragged the team through the mire after a tumultuous start to the campaign and they now look unstoppable, with the attacker to thank for their upturn in form.
It wouldn’t quite be a team of the month without the mercurial Lionel Messi. Ronaldo’s adversary, in both La Liga and on the world stage, may not have netted as many goals (3) as the Madrid star, but instead turned provider, registering more assists (6) and playing more key passes (17) than any player on the continent last month. Some feel Messi may have lost his spark, but his WhoScored rating in September (8.80) suggests otherwise.
Chelsea’s and the Premier League’s top goalscorer Diego Costa partners Messi in attack in the best-rated team of the month. The Blues endured their fair share of striker troubles last season, but Costa has hit the ground running since his big-money move to west London. What makes his performances all the more impressive is that manager José Mourinho insists the Spaniard is not yet fully fit, but having netted 4 goals from just 9 shots on target in September; opposition sides are dreading the day when a fully fit Costa prowls the plains of the Premier League.
It’s likely Costa would thrive with a player of Dimitri Payet’s ilk supporting him. Chelsea have their fair share of creative superstars, but Payet has been a revelation for Marseille since Marcelo Bielsa took over the reigns at the Stade Velodrome. Messi (17) may have played more key passes, but Payet’s return (14) is not to be scoffed at, considering 8 of those came in Marseille’s 5-0 thumping of Reims, more than any player in a single Ligue 1 match this season. As the Bielsa revolution begins to gain a head of steam, players such as Payet will be crucial if L’OM are to win their first Ligue 1 title since 2010.
Ander Herrera joins Payet in the heart of the midfield having put in 3 highly impressive performances for Manchester United over the past month. A summer arrival from Athletic Club, Herrera bagged 2 goals and registered 1 assist in September as United look to adjust to the demands of recently-appointed manager Louis van Gaal. Making 14 tackles - only James Milner (15) made more of all Premier League players - Herrera is capable of breaking up play, providing and scoring for his team and his recent rib injury will significantly hinder United’s plans to become England's best once more.
Gareth Bale completes the midfield having, like teammate Ronaldo, impressed in September. Though his rating (8.02) was not as high as his fellow Madrid star, the Welshmen netted 3 and assisted 1 as Los Blancos strive to return to the summit of La Liga. Bale continues to exhibit his qualities in Spain’s top tier and a place in the European team of the month is more than deserved for the former Tottenham star.
Ricardo Rodriguez is in some quarters regarded as one of the best left-backs in world football at present and it’s no shock to see him feature in the XI. 3 goals and 1 assist is a notable return for a player in his position, while only Ronaldo and Messi (both 3) won more WhoScored man of the match awards than Rodriguez (2) in Europe’s top 5 leagues last month.
Jeremy Mathieu and Jan-Ingwar Callsen-Bracker form the centre-back pairing having performed well for Barcelona and Augsburg, respectively, in September. Only three players made more headed clearances in Europe than Callsen-Bracker (25) last month, while Mathieu has slotted seamlessly into his new surroundings, with Barcelona yet to concede a league goal this season and the Frenchman has been key to that.
Sebastian Rudy completes the backline as Hoffenheim appear to have tightened up defensively. The Bundesliga side shipped just the 4 league goals in September as they look to secure a European berth this season, with Rudy playing a big part in the 2-0 win over VfB Stuttgart and draws with Freiburg and Mainz 05, netting 1 goal, registering 1 assist and securing a man of the match award in each respective outing.
Only three goalkeepers in Europe made more saves than Mattia Perin (19) in September, keeping 2 clean sheets in his 4 appearances for Genoa. Man of the match awards in meetings with Fiorentina and Lazio helped Perin’s cause, with the Italian able to secure a WhoScored rating of 7.68, taking his place in between the sticks in the XI in the process.
However, Ronaldo stole the limelight in September in a series of commendable outings for Real Madrid. 9 goals in 4 league appearances was an unbelievable return for the 29-year-old, who continues to break records on a weekly basis for the reigning European champions.
Which player in Europe's top 5 leagues impressed you in September? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
