Kovacic joins Arsenal star Saka in European Team of the Week
Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal and Manchester City each have one player make the European team of the week. Nantes, Monaco, Udinese, Lille, Verona, Atalanta, Marseille, Inter and Rennes are also represented in the XI.
Nantes held Toulouse to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, with goalkeeper Alban Lafont the star. Indeed, the French goalkeeper made six saves in a clean-sheet attaining display that returned a WhoScored rating of 8.64.
Vanderson was key as Monaco got their season off to a winning start. The young Brazilian provided the assist for Takumi Minamino's first half winner against Saint-Etienne, that coming from one of two key passes, while the 23-year-old also made three tackles and two interceptions on his way to a WhoScored rating of 8.40.
Lautaro Giannetti (Udinese) - 8.33
Udinese held Bologna to a 1-1 draw at the weekend in a backs-to-the-wall performance at the Renato Dall'Ara. Centre-back Lautaro Giannetti was the star performer in the stalemate having claimed a WhoScored rating of 8.33. The Argentine scored Udinese's second half equaliser and made four interceptions in a fine showing.
Lille celebrated progression to the next round of the Champions League qualification with a 2-0 win at Reims on Saturday night. Bafode Diakite claimed the player of the match award as he scored the opening goal on their way to victory in first half stoppage time. The 23-year-old also made three clearances and returned a 97.8% pass success rate in a standout display.
Verona inflicted a 3-0 defeat upon Napoli in their first game under the watchful eye of Antonio Conte, with Darko Lazovic directly involved in two of three goals. The 33-year-old registered a brace of assists from two key passes and he defended well, too, making five tackles to round off the defence with a WhoScored rating of 8.06.
Title hopefuls Arsenal got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start as they secured a 2-0 win over Wolves. Bukayo Saka was key in the home success, netting with one of five shots and providing one assist from five key passes to feature with a WhoScored rating of 8.72.
Marco Brescianini (Atalanta) - 8.42
Marco Brescianini marked his Atalanta debut with a brace in Monday's 4-0 win at Lecce. The 24-year-old netted with both efforts on goal, while additional returns of one key pass and one successful dribble saw the Italian earn a WhoScored rating of 8.42.
Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City) - 8.48
Partnering Brescianini in the middle of the park is Manchester City star Mateo Kovacic, who earned a WhoScored rating of 8.48 in Sunday's 2-0 win at Chelsea. The Croat scored City's second with one of two shots and he excelled off the ball, too, as he made six tackles to make the XI.
Luis Henrique (Marseille) - 8.94
Roberto De Zerbi got off to a flying start as Marseille boss, with L'OM romping to a 5-1 win at Brest. Luis Henrique netted twice in the away triumph, scoring with two of three shots, while the 22-year-old also completed two dribbles and made one key pass in a player of the match performance.
With a WhoScored rating of 9.38, Marcus Thuram is the European player of the week. While Inter could only manage a 2-2 draw at Genoa over the weekend, the Frenchman struck with two of five shots. Thuram also won five aerial duels and made two key passes as the France international made a superb start to the season.
Joining Thuram on the frontline is Rennes forward Amine Gouiri, who earned a WhoScored rating of 8.84 in Sunday's 3-0 win over Lyon. The 24-year-old was directly involved in two of Rennes' three goals, netting with one of seven shots and providing one assist from two key passes.
