With the second international break of the 2021/22 campaign upon us and with a decent number of club games under our belt, now is the perfect time to take stock of the campaign thus far and find out what players are in the best form.
Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI in Europe's top 5 leagues using our form ratings. Our form ratings are based on a six-game period, weighted chronologically with the most recent outing carrying greater significance and so on. Each player must have played in two of the last three league matches available for their club.
Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) - 7.23 form rating
Of the three goals Edouard Mendy has conceded in the Premier League this season, two were from the penalty spot including this past weekend's effort from James Ward-Prowse for Southampton. Unlike the start of Mendy's Chelsea career where he picked up a lot of clean sheets without having to do a great deal, the 29-year-old is currently averaging 3.2 saves per game in the Premier League this season.
Right-back: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) - 7.34 form rating
Whether he is playing as a thrid centre-back or at right-back, Cesar Azpilicueta is Chelsea's Mr. Consistent. The 32-year-old has worked his way back into contention with the Spanish national team as a result of his performances in 2021. He has two assists in the Premier League this season and was denied his first goal of the campaign by the frame of the goal on Saturday. A return of 3.1 tackles per game this season also ranks in the top 10 in the Premier League this season.
Centre-back: Bremer (Torino) - 7.42 form rating
Torino have only won two of their opening seven games in Serie A this season but they have one of the best defensive records in Italy. In fact, only Napoli (3) and AC Milan (5) have conceded fewer goals than 11th-place Torino (7) and Bremer has played a major role in that. The 24-year-old certainly has a proactive take to defending averaging 4 interceptions per game, which is the most in Europe's top 5 leagues.
Centre-back: Dino Mavropanos (Stuttgart) - 7.42 form rating
After a quiet start to the season, former Arsenal defender Dino Mavropanos has really come on strong for Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart. The Greece international has two goals in his last six league appearances and has earned a WhoScored rating in excess of 7.00 in each of his last four. Mavropanos has won 21 of the 26 aerial duels he has contested this season. In the right place at the right time, the 23-year-old is averaging 1.9 tackles per game, 2 interceptions per game and 4.7 clearances per game.
Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.57 form rating
After standards dropped last season, Alphonso Davies has made a terrific start to the current campaign. Davies has matched his tally for assists from the whole of last season in his last six league appearances (2) and is back to his rampaging best down the left flank. In fact, only Adama Traore (7) and Allan Saint-Maximin (4.7) average more dribbles per game than Davies (4.3) in Europe's top 5 leagues. Moreover, tackles per game are also up from last term (1.7) to this season (2.1).
Right wing: Mo Salah (Liverpool) - 8.03 form rating
Mohamed Salah takes his spot in the right wing in our form XI after netting for the fifth league game running for Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's side were held to a 2-2 draw against title rivals Manchester City, with Salah claiming the WhoScored Man of the Match award after setting up Liverpool's opener. The 29-year-old has played a direct hand in nine goals overall this season with six coming in his last six and an average of 3.8 shots per game in that sequence.
Central midfield: Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma) - 7.64 form rating
Lorenzo Pellegrini has taken his game to another level under new Roma manager Jose Mourinho and a bumper new deal is reportedly immiment. The Italy international has played a direct hand in five goals and assists in his first six appearances this season, despite also picking up a red card in that time. The 25-year-old is averaging 3.8 shots per game, 2.3 key passes per game and 1.5 dribbles per game. Moreover, Pellegrini ranks second in Europe's top 5 leagues for most WhoScored Man of the match awards (4) this season.
Central midfield: Nicolo Barella (Inter) - 7.64 form rating
Forming an all-Italian midfield, which only bodes well for the national team heading in to this week's UEFA Nations League semi-finals, is Inter's Nicolo Barella. The 24-year-old has racked up six goal involvements already this season, with five assists from 2.3 key passes per game.
Left wing: Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) - 8.02 form rating
RB Leipzig have endured a tough start under new manager Jesse Marsch but Christopher Nkunku has really flourished and was unfortunate not to make Didier Deschamps' France squad for the current squad. Nkunku has been electric in the Champions League too with four goals in two games but in the Bundesliga has scored a brace in back-to-back appearances. The 23-year-old averages 2.9 shots per game, 2.1 key passes per game and 1.7 successful dribbles per game in the league this season.
Striker: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - 8.43 form rating
Many are claiming Mo Salah as the best player in the world right now but fans of Karim Benzema will say otherwise. The Real Madrid striker is currently the most in-form player in Europe's top 5 leagues with 12 goal involvements in his last six games (five goals, seven assists). Benzema has remarkably been directly involved in 16 of Real Madrid's 22 league goals this season and his contributions have earned 10 points already.
Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 7.85 form rating
Robert Lewandowski rounds off our form XI in Europe's top 5 leagues. The Bayern Munich striker would have been challenging for top spot had he not failed to score in each of his last two matches, but he has still managed to score six goals in his last six with an assist in that spell also. It doesn't get much better than a Lewandowski and Benzema front line.
