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EUROPA LEAGUE: Vecino set to star for Lazio again, Iglesias tipped to help Betis take control of Group C and more!

The Europa League returns to our screens this evening! Desh Parthab highlights five players to keep an eye on including Lazio’s Matias Vecino and Real Betis’ Borja Iglesias.
Matias Vecino of Lazio - Europa League
EPA/FABIO FRUSTACI

The Europa League returns to our screens this evening! Desh Parthab highlights five players to keep an eye on including Lazio’s Matias Vecino and Real Betis’ Borja Iglesias.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

The Europa League kicked off last week, with an interesting twist. Just seven of the 16 clubs playing host on the night saw victory. Lazio were one of those clubs, putting four past Feyenoord in a six-goal thriller.

Fellow Serie A side Roma, conceded in the 88th minute against Ludogorets, to go down 2-1. Jose Mourinho’s side have shipped seven goals across their previous three league outings, across all competitions and will need to tighten up when they face Finnish minnows HJK Helsinki.

Fenerbahce got off to winning ways, dispatching Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 whilst Nantes saw off Olympiacos by the same scoreline. Manchester United will be looking to bounce back against Sheriff Tiraspol, following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Real Sociedad. 

Here we take a look at five players who could help their teams secure victory this evening. 

Vecino aiming to repeat matchday 1 heroics

Matias Vecino stole the show at the Stadio Olimpico last time out. The Lazio midfielder attempted 3 shots, with all 3 being on target. He did return two goals from those three efforts, with the other one going down as a big chance missed. Furthermore, he bagged an assist during that 90, meaning he was involved in three of Lazio’s four goals. Maurizio Sarri’s side have seen defeat just once across all competitions this season.

Pellegrini must be more clinical this week

Lorenzo Pellegrini would have been left in disbelief, following his performance in Roma’s opening Europa League encounter. The forward attempted a whopping eight shots without finding the back of the net. The Roma captain did walk away with an assist, from his four chances created. That was actually his third assist in his previous six appearances, across all competitions. Roma come into this one on the back of two losses across their previous three outings, across all competitions. It’s worth mentioning that the skipper is at the heart of everything that Roma does well. In the last year, he ranks in the 99th percentile (across Europe’s top five leagues when compared to other midfielders) in non-penalty xG per 90, total shots per 90 and shot-creating actions. An all-round powerhouse.

Moses Simon to help pull Nantes out of their current slump?

Moses Simon has delivered three goals and an assist, across his previous four league appearances. Across his five appearances in the French top flight, the forward has attempted 10 shots, with four of them being on target, hitting the woodwork once. In the prior season, the Nigerian was involved in 14 goals, across his 30 league appearances. Nantes have won just two of their eight fixtures, across all competitions, this season and Simon could be the one to change that. Running through some of his stats, the one thing that really stands out is his dead-ball ability. He ranks in the 87th percentile of completed dead-ball passes that lead to a shot attempt per 90. Even more impressive, however, is that he ranks in the top 96th percentile for goals per shot on target. This when compared to all other wingers/attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in the last calendar year. 

Iglesias tipped to help Betis take control fo Group C

Borja Iglesias (G4 A1) has been involved in five goals in his five LaLiga appearances for Real Betis this season – only two players in the Spanish topflight have registered more. Real Betis have won five of their previous six outings, across all competitions, keeping 4 clean sheets during that period. The forward has attempted nine shots across his previous three appearances on home soil. Looking at some of his underlying numbers, he ranks in the 93rd percentile for goals per 90 over the last calendar year when compared to other forwards in Europe’s top five leagues. Basically, he scores 0.7 times per 90. Baller. 

Caio Henrique’s goal threat key as Monaco face red-hot Ferencvaros 

AS Monaco have won their previous three fixtures, across all competitions. Caio Henrique has delivered four assists across his five appearances in Ligue 1. The Brazilian has been an integral part of the French outfit, as seen by his 10 goal involvements in 34 league appearances, last season. The Monegasques’ come up against a Ferencvaros side who have won their last 5 fixtures, across all competitions. In terms of Henrique’s underlying numbers, he’s right up there with the best attacking full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues. He ranks in at least the 90th percentile for progressive passes per 90, assists per 90 and xG Assisted (expected goals [xG] which follows a pass that assists a shot).

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