Juventus sensation Di Maria the star man from Europa League playoffs
With the Europa League playoffs done and dusted, it's time to take a look at the best XI from both legs. There is no room for Manchester United players, but European heavyweights Juventus, Sporting CP and Bayer Leverkusen are all represented.
Anatoliy Trubin (Shakhtar) - 7.85
The sole Shakhtar representative in the team of the round is young goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. The 21-year-old made a combined 12 saves across their two-legged meeting with Rennes, and saved three penalties in their shootout success on Thursday night, to return a WhoScored rating of 7.85.
Josip Juranovic (Union Berlin) - 8.21
Bundesliga side Union Berlin were superb in knocking Dutch powerhouse Ajax out of the competition at the playoff stage as they earned a 3-1 aggregate win. Josip Juranovic has made an immediate impact in the Europa League, earning a WhoScored rating of 8.21 across both legs, having been directly involved in two of Union's three goals against Ajax, with his one assist coming from a combined eight key passes.
Sebastian Coates (Sporting CP) - 8.17
The first of two Sporting CP representatives to feature, Sebastian Coates has scored two goals this season, both of which came in their Europa League playoff double header against FC Midtjylland. The Portuguese side earned a 5-1 aggregate win over their Danish counterparts, and Coates was key at both ends of the pitch. To go with his two goals, the centre-back made a combined 10 tackles and interceptions to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.17.
Monaco may have crashed out of the Europa League at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen, but with a WhoScored rating of 7.42, Axel Disasi did enough across both legs to feature alongside Coates. The 24-year-old netted in the two-legged affair, and made a combined 11 tackles and interceptions to contribute towards his inclusion.
Adrien Truffert (Rennes) - 7.59
Rounding off the backline is the first of two Rennes representatives. While the French side exited the Europa League at the hands of Shakhtar, Adrien Truffert impressed as he got forward well, completing nine dribbles, and was defensively sound as he made five tackles to land a WhoScored rating of 7.59.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.40
Only Dusan Tadic (10) made more key passes than Florian Wirtz (8) in the Europa League playoffs, though all eight of those chances created came in Bayer Leverkusen's 3-2 win at Monaco, a record in a Europa League match this season. Overall, Wirtz was directly involved in three of Bayer Leverkusen's five goals, scoring twice, as he gained a WhoScored rating of 8.40.
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen) - 8.18
The second Bayer Leverkusen representative, Exequiel Palacios was a ball-winning machine for the German side, particularly in Thursday's 3-2 win at Monaco. Indeed, Palacios broke four records in a Europa League match this season this week as he made 10 tackles, 27 ball recoveries, won 15 ground duels and possession in the midfield third 14 times and across both legs, landing an average WhoScored rating of 8.18 in the process.
Completing the midfield is Sporting CP star Pote. The Portugal international scored twice in a man of the match display at FC Midtjylland on Thursday night, and across both legs, made five tackles, four key passes and completed three dribbles to return an average rating of 8.24.
Angel Di Maria (Juventus) - 8.99
With a WhoScored rating of 8.99, Juventus star Angel Di Maria is the player of the Europa League playoffs. The Old Lady star scored more goals (3) and had more shots (10) than any other player in the playoff matches, while nine dribbles was the fourth most to cap two fine showings.
Leading the charge is Nantes frontman Ludovic Blas. The 25-year-old scored the French side's only goal in their aggregate 4-1 loss to Juventus, and completed the second most dribbles (11) in the Europa League playoffs. All in all, Blas garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.47 to feature.
Karl Toko Ekambi (Rennes) - 8.08
Featuring on the frontline alongside Di Maria and Blas is Rennes striker Karl Toko Ekambi. The 30-year-old scored two of Rennes' three goals against Shakhtar, and completed eight dribbles across both matches. The Cameroonian forward also worked hard out of possession as he made five tackles to make the cut with a WhoScored rating of 8.08.
