Team of the Week: Brazilians run the show as Lamine Yamal & Victor Osimhen make the cut

Lamine Yamal was in fine form in Barcelona's win at Elche
Lamine Yamal was in fine form in Barcelona's win at ElcheJose Breton / NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

It was one of those weekends of football when you just couldn't take your eyes off the action, from incredible drama to individual brilliance - it had it all. Amongst the stars of the show were Lamine Yamal and Casemiro, but who else makes our Team of the Week this time out?

As always, we've used our internal rating system to pick out a best XI from all the action. Here is our latest Team of the Week:

Team of the Week
Team of the WeekFlashscore

Goalkeeper

Bernardo (Tondela) 9.6

Having sensationally beaten Real Madrid on Wednesday night to book their place in the Champions League playoffs, Benfica would have been fancying their chances of a routine win on Sunday evening as they faced relegation-threatened Tondela. Bernardo in Tondela's goal had other ideas, however.

The Brazilian keeper delivered one of those rare goalkeeping masterclasses where it feels like the opposition could be taking shots all day and wouldn't have any luck. Bernardo was on a mission. He made 10 saves, four punches and two vital acts as a sweeper keeper en route to holding out Benfica's advances almost single-handedly.

According to Flashscore, Benfica produced an xGOT of 2.33, so Bernardo should have conceded two goals. Instead, he pulled off endless heroic moments to help his side to a crucial 0-0 draw. It was a richly deserved clean sheet for the talented Brazilian shot stopper.

Defence

Arthur Chaves (Augsburg) 9.1

From one Brazilian to another, Arthur Chaves played an equally crucial role for his side last weekend, just for different reasons. Chaves was a rock in a back three for Augsburg as they held off a dangerous St. Pauli side, stopping them from getting back into the game after taking a 2-1 lead.

Chaves finished the match having made three tackles, three ground duels and two aerial duels whilst also boasting an 88% pass accuracy, including two smart passes in the final third in an eye-catching display.

Simon Graves (Zwolle) 8.7

Danish centre-back Simon Graves was also awarded player of the match in Zwolle's 4-1 victory against Telstar, but he had a different kind of job to do than Chaves. Unlike Augsburg, Zwolle were the side dominating possession in front of their home supporters, and so a lot of Graves' positive work came on the ball rather than off it.

As well as finishing the match with a 87% pass success rate, he played six successful passes in the final third and rose highest in the box to set up former Manchester United academy prospect Shola Shoretire to score the opening goal from a corner.

Graves' pass map vs Telstar
Graves' pass map vs TelstarOpta by StatsPerform

Bremer (Juventus) 8.8

It is a team of the week dominated by Brazilian's, but Bremer is the first Brazilian international to make this week's team. Bremer has been a consistent performer at the heart of Juventus' defence for years now, but it was his role at the other side of the pitch that gave him a place in our Team of the Week.

The big defender gave Juventus the lead at Parma on Sunday evening from a corner after directing a bullet header into the ground and past the helpless Edoardo Corvi. In the second half, Bremer's day got even better.

The experienced Brazilian reacted quickest when a Jonathan David header came off the crossbar, stretching to direct the ball into an open goal and giving his side a 3-1 lead. Juventus went on to win 4-1 (with Bremer the star of the show) as the Old Lady continued their fine run of form.

Mohamed Simakan (Al Nassr) 8.8

Mohamed Simakan was another goal-scoring centre-back as the Frenchman netted Al Nassr's second goal in the Saudi giants' 3-0 win at Al Kholood on Friday night. In a similar vein to Bremer, Simakan won a header at the front post from a corner and directed it past the keeper in unstoppable fashion.

Aside from the goal, Simakan's 92% pass completion included six successful passes in the final third; he also won eight duels to help his side keep a clean sheet.

Midfield

Noni Madueke (Arsenal) 8.9

It is fair to say Noni Madueke has had a mixed start to life at the Emirates since joining from London rivals Chelsea in the summer. So his Player of the Match display, as Arsenal thrashed Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, was a timely one. The England international was a constant threat and was involved in Arsenal's first two goals before being subbed off just past the hour mark.

First of all, Madueke delivered a pinpoint cross for Martin Zubimendi to head home inside the box and give the visitors the lead. Then, bizarrely, Madueke scored directly from a corner when his curling effort was poorly dealt with by Leeds keeper Karl Darlow and the ball crept in.

Aside from his two goal involvements, Madueke made four dangerous dribbles as Arsenal often looked to the mazy winger as an outlet to get them into dangerous situations.

Madueke's heat map vs Leeds
Madueke's heat map vs LeedsČTK / imago sportfotodienst / IMAGO / Opta by StatsPerform

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) 8.8

Lamine Yamal is coming into form at the business end of the season, and that is a fact that will please Barcelona fans greatly. The teenage superstar played a crucial role in Barcelona's comfortable 3-1 win at Elche at the weekend.

Lamine put Barcelona ahead early on after being slipped through by Dani Olmo and then displayed immense composure to round the keeper and find the empty net. The Spain international would also play a big role in Barcelona's final goal as his trickery created space for him to whip a dangerous ball into the area.

Elche keeper Inaki Pena got a hand to it to deny him the assist, but Marcus Rashford was waiting to tap home from close range and put the game to bed.

Lamine Yamal's goal sequence vs Elche
Lamine Yamal's goal sequence vs ElcheJose Breton/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia / Opta by StatsPerform

Casemiro (Manchester United) 8.8

The resurgence of Casemiro at Manchester United is turning into one of the stories of the Premier League season. The Brazilian has been producing some excellent performances under interim manager Michael Carrick, but his best display so far came against Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

Casemiro proved how much of a threat he is from set pieces once again when his bullet header found the top corner after a teasing Bruno Fernandes free-kick. He then produced a moment of magic that prime Casemiro wouldn't have even tried as he played a cheeky no-look pass to slip Matheus Cunha through on goal, and his teammate for club and country did the rest.

It was a classy performance from the Brazilian before he was subbed off after 75 minutes, so classy in fact, it made his harshest critic apologise to him...

Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray) 8.7

Gabriel Sara continued his fine form at the heart of Galatasaray's midfield, helping the Turkish champions to a dominant 4-0 win against Kayserispor in their latest Super Lig clash. Sara scored Galatasaray's third goal to put the game to bed, but it was his all-around performance that was really impressive.

He made an incredible 39 passes in the final third with 95% success rate, and he won seven duels out of possession, including five ground duels and two tackles.

Shunsuke Mito (Sparta Rotterdam) 8.7

Shunsuke Mito was the hero for Sparta Rotterdam at the weekend and richly deserves his spot in this team. Mito's brace led his side to a 2-0 victory that helped to further cement their ambitions of qualifying for Europe next season.

His first goal just before the hour mark was smart wing play as he cut inside at pace and purpose before curling an effort on goal. Admitedly the keeper should have done better, but it had enough spin and power on it to cause problems and force a mistake. He was then found in space inside the box at the end of the match, and he tapped in from close range to put the match to bed and complete a match-winning brace.

Forward

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) 8.9

Victor Osimhen is well on his way to becoming a Galatasaray legend and was typically brilliant in his side's 4-0 win over Kayserispor. After doubling Gala's lead from the penalty spot (a penalty he won after taking the ball around the keeper), the Nigerian striker brilliantly set up Sara for the third goal after clever centre-forward play down the channel.

Aside from those two critical goal involvements, Osimhen was a handful as ever for the Kayserispor defence in what was another performance in which he ran the show and looked a level above his opposition.

Osimhen's touch map vs Kayserispor
Osimhen's touch map vs KayserisporOpta by StatsPerform

21+ | COMPETENT REGULATOR EEEP | RISK OF ADDICTION & LOSS OF PROPERTY | KETHEA HELPLINE: 210 9237777 | PLAY RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY |

Do you want to withdraw your consent to display betting ads?
Yes, change settings