The first leg of the Europa League playoff round has concluded. Teams like Celtic, Nottingham Forest, and Stuttgart were in action – but who made it into our team of the round?
After covering the Champions League playoffs, it’s time to highlight the standout players from the Europa League.
GK: Stefan Ortega
Stefan Ortega, the former Manchester City goalkeeper, had a flawless performance for Nottingham Forest in their strong win against Fenerbahce.
Playing at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, he remained composed and earned a clean sheet with relative ease.
RB: Son
Ludogorets faced Ferencvaros in a closely matched contest. Son took control on the right flank and scored in the second half.
CB: Murillo
Nottingham Forest’s Premier League struggles didn’t affect their Europa League form under new coach Vitor Peirera.
They won 3-0 against Fenerbahce, with Murillo scoring a goal while helping maintain a clean sheet.
CB: Jhon Lucumi
Jhon Lucumi showcased his skills for Bologna in freezing conditions against Brann, making significant clearances and tackles for the win and clean sheet.
LB: Zakaria El Ouahdi
Genk proved to be strong contenders in the Europa League, defeating Dinamo Zagreb 3-1.
Zakaria El Ouahdi shined, scoring two goals from the left-back position.
CM: Miguel Roman
Celta Vigo delivered a solid performance against PAOK, winning 2-1 with a convincing display.
Miguel Roman guided the midfield and provided an assist in their important victory at the Toumba Stadium.
CM: Bryan Heynen
Another standout for Genk was Bryan Heynen, contributing significantly to their performance.
Heynen scored the first goal of the game, marking his sixth goal of the season, making it one of his best seasons yet.
RW: Bilal El Khannouss
Celtic struggled against Stuttgart, suffering a defeat at home.
Bilal El Khannouss was a key player, netting two goals in the first half against the Hoops.
AM: Morgan Gibbs-White
This season has been tough for Morgan Gibbs-White, but he excelled against Fenerbahce.
He scored a goal and provided an assist against the Turkish team, raising questions about a potential spot in the England World Cup squad.
LW: Williot Swedberg
Williot Swedberg made a noticeable impact during Celta Vigo’s victory over PAOK, putting in a strong performance on the wing.
His hard work paid off with a goal in the first half.
ST: Andrews Tetteh
Panathinaikos faced a challenging match against Viktoria Plzen, but Andrews Tetteh stepped up to score twice in a 2-2 draw.
They will head to the Czech Republic with the scores tied.