ASSISTKINGS VOL. VI:

ASSISTKINGS QUARTERLY 

VOL. VI

            As the winter months come harsh and slow, the matches also come thick and fast...to the point we wonder how all of us can maintain the commitment, the drive, the passion...wait, who are we kidding, the obsession all year long?
            For the elite football reporter probably copious amounts of espresso and cocaine, for the typical blogger Cheetos and Grammarly and for some, reefer helps.
             But herein is a place where obsession never dies, excitement never wavers and the uncorking of our collective sporting unconsciousness is the only pursuit.


10.
BRUNO FERNANDES (SPORTING)

9 assists 
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 47
 -PER 90: 1.8 (EUR) 3.5 (LIGANOS)
UDGC: 2
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 1 (Bolasie)

                    Bruno "Mr. Transfer-Market Hostage" Fernandes has taken Europe by storm, as they say, but he's doing it against lesser competition it must be said, for both club and country. 
                    For Portugal, he looks phenomenal alongside Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo among a host of others, yet while taking shot after shot, he's failed to notch goals against any serious competition other than Algeria (0 goals, 0 assists in the Nations League vs the Netherlands & Switzerland, 0 & 0 vs Ukraine).
                    Against PSV he ripped in 2 goals and 2 assists with high octane class and precision, delighting Twitter to their knees, though we all fail to realize how porous and befuddled the Eredivisie defense seemed that night in the Europa League.
                    This is a guy who already has a 3 assist match this season in Liga NOS play (his 2nd in under a calender year 12/9/18-8/25/19) and has ripped in a hat trick of goals last season, created 4 vs Maritmo in 2018 with 2 shots on goal and 2 assists...we could go on and on about how much the guy has slaughtered LIGA Nos like Al Pacino vacuuming lines of cocaine and mowing down the parade of guards coming up to attack him in the last 20 minutes of Scarface.
                  Fernandes clearly needs a bigger challenge, however does the guy really want a headache like dealing with Ed Woodward and Solsjkaer at Manchester United??? 
               Or could City grab this guy from the clutches of their town rivals??
                 Be assured, the Portugal man will be playing his football in the Premier League and look for him to suit up alongside at least one other Portugal teammate to help him...adjust.


9.
DAVID SILVA (CITY)

6 assists 
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 35
 -PER 90: 1.3 (UCL), 1 (EPL)
UDGC: 1
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 2

             The Spaniard had been far too quiet as of late, for both Spain and City, settling for the odd goal in a scattered appearance schedule as Pep Guardiola tries his best to rotate the injuries out of his squad.
             Silva has only created a few chances in his last couple appearances, nearly being rendered ineffective until his split second decision making and impeccable touch stopped his cold assist streak.
             After some sexy passing from City opened Newcastle, the ball ended up behind the World Cup winner; In a brilliant move, David Silva touched the ball out from behind himself with an illustrious back heel straight into Raheem Sterling's path inside the Toon box, the English talisman making no mistake as he thrashed his team into the back of the net from Silva's one touch mastery.
               It was a touch, an assist and a goal so rampant in its execution that we weren't entirely sure what had happened until numerous replays showed Silva's moonage daydream pass.
             Welcome back David Silva.
                

8.
LORENZO PELLEGRINI (ROMA)

8 assists 
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 32
 -PER 90: 3.5 (EUR), 3.1 (SERIE A)
UDGC: 1
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 0
  
              Pellegrini was unstoppable before his injury sidelined him for the last few months. Since his return, he's resumed his disgusting through ball invention, setting up 3 goals, 10 chances and earning a penalty with a shot blocked by an outstretched hand in the last 2 matches.
               The Italian has wasted no time making sure he's on the plane to Euro 2020, pushing Roma up the Serie A table and in definitive Europa League contention in the process.

7.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIVERPOOL)

6 assists 
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 51
 -PER 90: 2.55 (all comps. inc. Comm, UEFASuper)
UDGC: 3
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 2

                Trent Alexander-Arnold's pair of freakish set pieces straight to the forehead of Virgil Van Dijk stole the match away from Brighton in a 6 minute period early in the 1st half, but it was unsung heroes like Sadio Mane who's nonstop danger and final third threats provided the set piece opportunities for TAA in the first place. 
                The young man is having the best year of his early career: he's already got a Champions League title in his pocket, an eye on the Premier League title, he became the defender with the most EPL assists in a season, he went to the semifinals with England, he played a lot for a teenager in the World Cup and now he may start for Southgate's Three Lions at the Euros (with a final at Wembley perhaps)...the sky is the limit for the British youngster.
           The kid exploded on to the Liverpool scene thanks to the early promotion and care given to him by ex-Reds / current Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers, although it was under Jurgen Klopp where the lad began to fully utilize all of his maniacally versatile powers in all areas of the pitch.
                 Whether he grabs a goal, he sets one up, or doesn't, you can be assured TAA affects every match he plays in, settling the scores out wide in the tackle, keeping world class fullbacks pinned deep trying to stop him from sending in his mastercraft crosses or dead-eye cutbacks into the box...it can be draining and tiring to try and combat him for 90-120 minutes, but Trent, he's got allll day.
                  He's a true AssistKing and we're happy to see him back in the top 10.


6.
THOMAS MULLER (BAYERN)

9 assists
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 35
 -PER 90: 1.75 (all comps.) 2 (UCL), 1.7 (BUND) 
UDGC: 1
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 1 (Coman)

                The stereotypically consistent, machine-like German is back.
         Thomas Muller has dropped classy assists as of late: from laying a shot on Serge Gnabry's plate with his back to goal or laying off the ball for Kimmich to hit from outside the box vs Dusseldorf, or grabbing another brace in the 4-0 demolition of the eternal enemy, Dortmund, Muller created 4 in 2 consecutive matches.
                 Muller got lucky on his 1st, with his original target Robert Lewandowski falling to the floor as the ball raced past him, however Serge Gnabry was in the right place to latch on to the loose pass and finish it home (a goal controversially disallowed and then allowed after numerous VAR checks). The Gnabry goal was massive in its timing, killing BVB's spirits right on the stroke of halftime.
        The next assist wasn't lucky: it was a dedicated moment of pure hair of the dog spinal precision from Muller, exacting a little chipped ball through the innards of the Dortmund defense and floating the ball on to the legs of Lewandowski, the Pole finishing as he always does and the Allianz Arena breaking out in mass bacchanal.
               He may not start for Germany and if Bayern were in the final tomorrow, he'd probably sit for 65 minutes, but this is a player who's guile, experience and combination play with Serge Gnabry, Lewandowski, Kimmich, Kingsley Coman has been pure filth, regardless of his pecking order.
               Perhaps a Sane, Muller, Reus & Gnabry front with Muller and Reus alternating roles in the center could get Germany out of the Group of Death they've been drawn in vs France and Portugal and potentially Iceland or Hungary.
               There's no time left for any of these managers within the doomy, Mordor-ashen Group F of Euro 2020...the bolder will survive. It's time for Thomas Muller and Marco Reus to reunite their partnership in the middle of Die Mannschaft's attack.


5. 
LUIS ALBERTO (LAZIO)

10 assists
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 49
 -PER 90: 2.9 (all comps)
UDGC: 1
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 1 (Caicedo)

                      Luis Alberto, rarely picked by Spain, hardly ever discussed in the transfer market, never talked about when comparing the best assist-men in the game already has 10 assists and 2 goals in 17 appearances at Lazio and the 27 year old must be growing restless.
                     For such a dynamic talent, Luis Alberto's rise in his latter 20s wasn't always guaranteed. 
                     Coming from Sevilla's youth academy, he was loaned to Barcelona and there, starting for their B team, Luis Alberto became a star during the 2012/2013 season. To follow, Alberto returned to Sevilla and the mistake was made to rush off to Liverpool, a stacked squad  (who had no room for his raw capabilities in that historic 2nd placed Gerrard-Suarez led 2013/14 unit). They were already carrying two sparkling / unproven passengers in the physical side of the game in a young Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, thus there was no reason for Brendan Rodgers to gamble on Alberto unless a catastrophic injury happened to any of his young stars.
                      Liverpool came a slip away from the title that year, but Alberto was nowhere near the pitch as none of those slips led to injuries and playing time.
                      He was labeled and crucified as a flop and castaway to the doldrums of the lower La Liga sides Malaga and Deportivo, thirsting away as he tried to play his way back to the top of the wave he crested at Barca B.
                      It wasn't until he came to Lazio, surrounded by Sergej-Milinkovic-Savic, Ciro Immobile, Joaquin Correa and Senad Lulic and Franco Acerbi (as fantastic set piece targets) that Alberto really began to rack up the numbers his talent deserved. First came the stats, then finally a year ago, the performances arrived and a well-rounded definitive Luis Alberto ascended: scoring free kicks, penalties, setting up goals with backheels and corner kicks or sick dragbacks he let roll into the ether...Alberto has some style and the single Spanish cap is a disgrace.       
                     But maybe he doesn't want to leave Lazio...maybe he's comfortable there with his pals, setting up beautiful goals and pushing for the Serie A title every season?

4.
LIONEL MESSI (BARCA)

8 assists
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 37
 -PER 90: 2.6 (all comps)
UDGC: 1
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 1 (Pique)

                  Messi has racked up the assists and goals since his return from the double-injury that marred the beginning of his 19/20 season, yet he has still mustered the strength to appear in every Champions League match (3 apps. before he'd recovered fully) and impact every game, helping Barcelona survive the Group of Death (and Ernesto Valverde to survive with his job intact, sadly).
                 He finished off Borussia Dortmund with two renegade assists in the Champions League, but it really should've been 3. 
                 Had it not been for an awful offsides call on an expertly timed give-and-go move (that would be repeated to devastation only minutes later), Messi would've had his first Champions League hat trick of assists, setting up Suarez early with the offside give and go and then minutes later setting his Uruguyan pal up for the real deal, except this time there was no mistake. 
                 But the beauty was in Messi setting up Pique to hit the post from a corner kick or his silky wide through ball for an onrushing Antoine Griezmann to dagger home with a killer finish straight out of a Spike Lee joint.
                 Against Atletico, Messi set up a disgusting Rakitic chance through the legs of Suarez, but the Croatian slipped in the rain on the finish and the shot was straight at Oblak.                     With the score 0-0 late, it was the same give-and-go magic around the box between Messi and Suarez which unlocked Dortmund and would be the savior for Barcelona against Atletico. Suarez backed in and received the ball, stretching out and hooking the ball out of the way of any defenders to Messi's left, making sure only Messi could get to the ball. And only Leo did, barreling the ball around the Slovenian goalkeeeper's outstretched Sasquatch paws and into the net, giving Barcelona the 1-0 win and Ter Stegen the hardest-earned and sweetest clean sheet of his career.
              We have our phenomenon back, but let it be known, we are all just jesters In the Court of this Crimson King.
                 
3. 
KEVIN DE BRUYNE (CITY) 

10 assists
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 69
 -PER 90: 4.0 (EPL), 3.0 (UCL)
UDGC: 3
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 3 (Aguero x2, Angelino)
   
             De Bruyne may not have an official assist for Manchester City since October 26th, but the talisman has expanded his role to big-time goalscorer for the Citizens when he smashed an absolute howitzer off the underside of the bar late against Newcastle, a goal many fans believed was the winner but instead turned into the safety net for a draw.
             Still, there was De Bruyne to save his club yet again, running and commanding the attack with venom and urgency as they try to catch Liverpool (City forced 76 clearances from Southampton a match or two ago in the 2-1 win). The Citizens were just as convincing as they were against Chelsea, not much and only by a fine margin did they grab a result.
              Many would point to "they're the positive team they should get the points, they were more deserving, more attacking, blah etc", but that's a fallacy when you take in the massive City payroll compared to these smaller clubs. It's by divine right they should be steamrolling everyone in their path, however when they don't, we take notice and criticize unjustly due to the fact this is football, a cruel game where the best don't always win. 
               Beyond the payroll, many things point to City's success: the OCD discipline in which they're managed by Pep Guardiola, the leadership from players like Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Ederson and Raheem Sterling, the telepathy they play with on the pitch...it's a scary offering for any opponent and the last club anyone would want to play against in the Champions League.
                Although the injuries are beginning to mount and debilitate City at the back, forcing them to drop points they had no business letting go of; and now the hold on the ladder is getting sweatier and the grip's loosening, the hands are beginning to let go...but there still is hope...not only from De Bruyne himself, but the return of Benjamin Mendy out wide will soon make City unstoppable.
                 For those worried about assists, De Bruyne maintained his excellent rate of dishing assists not with City, but in the last international break before Euro 2020 was drawn. De Bruyne set up 3 goals and scored 2, both goals scored vs Cyprus and another brace of assists vs Russia, one of those a wondrous goal set up for Eden Hazard.
                Who knows how far Belgium can go with a healthy, fit and firing De Bruyne and Hazard, but if the last World Cup is any indication of their progression  (or their 40 goals scored and only 3 allowed in qualifying speaks to their current pedigree) they'll be on the doorstep of the final, no matter who may lie in their path along the way.


2. 
DUSAN TADIC (AJAX)

14 assists
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 68
 -PER 90: 2.72 (all comps)
UDGC: 2
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 5 (Veltman, Ziyech x2, Neres, Dest)

               Yeah it looked a little ridiculous when Tadic was credited with an assist on Sunday for a Donny Van De Beek cross deflecting on to the Serb's chest or body and flashing quickly and luckily into the path of Noa Lang, the 20 year old Dutchman scoring his first ever hat trick...how is that an assist and some of these others aren't and I have to go through all the trouble of calling them UDGC's and.....never mind.....where were we?

               Oh yes, discussing the brilliance and Serbian body language of Dusan Tadic, a player who once anointed himself "the real Assist King" when he played for Southampton; and though he grabbed 3 and 4 vs Manchester City and Sunderland in his EPL career (joining elite company such as Thierry Henry to have two or more matches of 3+ assists) the rest of his time on the South Coast of England was inconsistent and became a tenure we all knew would never receive its full due thanks to Southampton's notorious willingness to offload any and all talent  (Sadio Mane, Virgil Van Dijk, Nathaniel Clyne, Toby Alderweireld).
               But at Ajax, Tadic has been born again in a reign of horror for his opponents, dominating back-lines in his bizarre False 9 position up top...and just like his teammate Hakim Ziyech, Tadic is close to the top or sits top in nearly every AssistKings Quarterly category. He's assisted the most chances that've hit the post (5), he's second only to Ziyech in assists (14), he's created 2 UDGC and has rode this recent wave of lukewarm form and inconsistency by impacting matches through his brutish hard work pressing up top.
               While performing well under his usually high-flying standards, Tadic has still assisted 6 goals in his last 7 appearances. And over the course of his unbelievable 2019/2020 campaign, he already has 4 multi-assist matches, also grabbing 2 assists for Serbia in a qualifier vs Portugal.
                Alongside Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Quincy Promes and finisher Klaas-Jan Huuntelaar (yes he's still playing), Dusan Tadic and Hakim Ziyech should take full advantage of this record-shattering platform they've already established, posting half-season statistics and putting on blazing performances and we're just into December. Ajax have reloaded this season and their European quest isn't over yet...that is until they've finally let go of Tadic and Ziyech.


1.
HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX)

17 assists
KEY PASSES
 -TOTAL: 74
 -PER 90: 3.08
UDGC: 7
KEY PASSES ON TO POST: 3

         Ziyech has been frighteningly good, beyond categorization...he's been great, no...this cat is 26 now and he's been producing magic year in and year out for a long time at small clubs like Twente and Heerenveen while a whole host of other players got a look from bigger clubs. 
      After last season's epic run to the semifinals with Ajax, many believed the time was right for a move to one of the big boys..but the move never happened, whether on Hakim himself or a lack of interest from outside clubs (we know Ajax weren't getting in Ziyech's way out, they'd respected his service to the club enough to grant him that courtesy, as they do most players). 
         But here he is again...destroying the Dutch leagues, of course, but also disturbing a variety of opponents in the Champions League group stage, ranking 1st in assists in the competition now, posting 2 goals to go with it and hitting the post twice; including qualifiers, the UCL is once again Ziyech's favorite competition, grabbing 7 altogether and 3 UDGC in his UCL exploits.
          Many would say "the Dutch leagues are too small, it doesn't mean anything," regarding Hakim's ridiculous 17 assists on the season, but he's also leading all of European football in chances created (for the 2nd year running), UDGC (for the second year running) and has helped himself to a smattering of goals all while setting teammates up for shots off the woodwork, the Moroccan has been a freight train against the biggest clubs and we have a feeling the Champions League is fast becoming his, Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi's competition in 19/20 with the displays he's been putting on.
           I guarantee the rumors for a Ziyech move to Bayern or Arsenal or somewhere else will materialize in January's bone-crushing frost, but he's not that kind of guy: he's not one to jump ship.
           When offered the chance to finally integrate into the Dutch National Team after playing for years in their U-21 and younger south system, Hakim Ziyech received overtures for Morocco, the country of his parents and his heritage. He rejected the Dutch FA's offer...a shocking decision at the time and one that's most likely damned the Dutch National Team to the abyss they've been in until Ronald Koeman, Memphis Depay and VVD came and dragged them along to Euro 2020.
           He's staying with Ajax for one more long ride through the Champions League and as a Barcelona fan, I'm hoping to whatever god exists that they win their group...I don't wanna play them...in fact, they're a team that'd relish in blowing Valverde's conservative mishmash apart with their enthusiasm and thunderous quality on and off the ball.
          And Ziyech must be #1 on this list...he is a true Assist King and he proves it when he rips apart defenses from every league and experience level possible...if he were in the Premier League or Bundesliga he'd still be establishing this menacing artistry, conducting these orchestras of blissful play...of course as long as he doesn't go to Barcelona he'll be fine...in fact, it seems Manchester City are needing a spark...
          With 4 multi-assist matches this campaign (2 unofficial hat tricks of assists, 1 vs Chelsea, where his ridiculous free kick pinged off the bar and hit poor Kepa in the face on its way into goal and the other from a goal scored by David Neres vs Zwolle) leading all of Europe in chances created, already high near the century mark and it's not even Xmas, leading in uncredited direct goal contributions (UDGC) where his stunning play cannot be quantified and bamboozles the statisticians to the point that we watch and we record what greatness has transpired that has gone unnoticed...the Moroccan is a master and a badass: 
          The way he greeted the child who invaded the pitch in Lille, hugging him and almost trying to shield him from the stewards running towards Ziyech, was very kind hearted, promising the little pitch invader his kit after the match and he definitely kept up on his promise, finding the kid's father.

           Ziyech said after the match it was a "tribute I was not used to," well, here we are Hakim...here we are...we've been lovin you for years baby! Can we get a signed kit??? Please??
      
once again, 
by
LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN     
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MOST ASSISTS
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 18
2. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 15
3. CALVIN STENGS (AZ): 11
4a. KEVIN DE BRUYNE (CITY): 10
4b. LUIS ALBERTO (LAZIO): 10
5.  THOMAS MULLER (MUN): 9
6a. LIONEL MESSI (BAR): 8
6b. JADON SANCHO (BVB): 8
6c. BRUNO FERNANDES (SPORT): 8
6d. LORENZO PELLEGRINI (ROMA): 8
7a. ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIV): 7
7b. THORGAN HAZARD (BVB): 7
7c. ISLAM SLIMANI (MONACO): 7
7d.  SON-HEUNG MIN (TOTT): 7
8a. RIYAD MAHREZ (MAN CITY): 6
8b. DONNY VAN DE BEEK (AJAX): 6
8c. ALE "PAPU" GOMEZ (ATA): 6
8d. TIMO WERNER (LEIP): 6
8e. SERGE GNABRY (MUN): 6
8f. KARIM BENZEMA (RMAD): 6
8g. MYRON BOADU (AZ): 6
8h. TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIV): 6
8i. DAVID SILVA (CITY): 6
8j. CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU: (LEIP): 6
9a. MARCEL SABITZER (LEIP): 5
9b. MOHAMED SALAH (LIV): 5
9c. CIRO IMMOBILE (LAZ): 5
9d. JOSHUA KIMMICH (MUN): 5
9e. ANDREW ROBERTSON (LIV): 5
9f. PHIL COUTINHO (MUN): 5
9g. KEVIN VOLLAND (LEVER): 5
9h. SERGEJ-MILINKOVIC-SAVIC (LAZ): 5
10a. SANTI CAZORLA (VILLA): 4 
10b. RAHEEM STERLING (CITY): 4
10c. JULIAN BRANDT (DORT): 4
10d. HOUSSEM AOUAR (LYON): 4
10e. NICOLAS PEPE (ARS): 4
10f. LUKA MODRIC (RMAD): 4
10g. BUKAYO SAKA (ARS): 4 
11. ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (BAR): 3


MOST CHANCES CREATED
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 74
2. KEVIN DE BRUYNE (CITY): 69
3. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 68
4. JOSHUA KIMMICH (BAY): 57
5a. ANGEL DI MARIA (PSG): 54
5b. TONI KROOS (RMAD): 54
6. TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIV): 51
7. LUIS ALBERTO (LAZIO): 49
8. BRUNO FERNANDES (SPORT): 47
9. CALVIN STENGS (AZ): 46
10.  MARCEL SABITZER (LEIP): 44
11a. ALE "PAPU" GOMEZ (ATA): 40
11b. THORGAN HAZARD (BVB): 40
12. RAHEEM STERLING (MANC): 39
13. SANTI CAZORLA (VILLA) 38
14a. TIMO WERNER (LEIP): 37
14b. DONNY VAN DE BEEK  (AJAX): 37
14c LIONEL MESSI (BARCA): 37
15. DAVID SILVA (CITY): 35
16. ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIVER): 33
17. LORENZO PELLEGRINI (ROM): 32
18a. RIYAD MAHREZ (MANC): 31
18b. YOURI TIELEMANS (LEIC): 31
18c. JADON SANCHO (DORT): 31
18d. SERGE GNABRY (BAYERN): 31
19. JOAQUIN (BETIS): 28
20a. BERNARDO SILVA (CITY): 25
20b. MOHAMED SALAH (LIVER): 25
20c. MYRON BOADU (AZ): 25
21. JULIAN BRANDT (DORT): 21
22. THIAGO ALCANTARA (BAYERN): 18

MOST UDGC
(Uncredited Direct Goal Contributions)
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 7 (unofficial assist for Neres v Zwolle, v Emmen, Kepa O.G v CHE, handballl v PAOK, O.G vs PAOK,) deflected pass v Twe)
2. RIYAD MAHREZ (CITY): 5    (1 earned pen) 
3. TIMO WERNER (LEIP): 4   (shot rebound & created chance scored from rebound vs Wolfsburg, rebounded shot vs Onnsabruck, created Sabitzer shot rebound vs Mainz)
4a. ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIV): 3 (Mane goal v Southhampton, shot rebounded into goal v Genk?)
4b. JOSHUA KIMMICH (BAYERN): 3
4c. TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIV): 3
4d. RAHEEM STERLING (CITY): 3 (2 earned pens)
4e. MYRON BOADU (AZ): 3 (earned pen vs Willem, deflected pass vs Ast, created chance vs Fortuna)
5a. ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (BARCA): 2
5b. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 2 
5c. MARCEL SABITZER (LEIP): 2
5d. JOAQUIN CORREA (LAZ): 2 (2 earned pens vs Udi)
5e. CIRO IMMOBILE (LAZ): 2  (2 earned penalties, both vs ATA)
5f. THOMAS MULLER (BAYERN) 2 (shot on goal v Olympiakos)
5h. KINGSLEY COMAN (BAY): 2  (earned pen,  )
5i. PIERRE AUBAMEYANG (ARS): 2  (barely deflected pass to Torreira v Liverpool, shot deflected to Laca v Sou)
5j. CALVIN STENGS (AZ): 2 (Boadu goal v Ast, Vlaar goal vs Fort)
5k. YANNICK BOLASIE (SPO): 2
5l. BRUNO FERNANDES (SPO): 2 (shot handball pen, corner deflected)
5m. NABIL FEKIR (BETIS): 2 (earned pen v Mall,   )
5n. CHRISTIAN PULISIC (CHE): 2 (both vs AJAX)
6a. PABLO SARABIA (PSG): 1      
6b. THIAGO MENDES (LYON): 1
6c. JADON SANCHO (DORT): 1   
6d. ILKAY GUNDOGAN (CITY): 1 (shot off bar rebound)
6e. MOHAMED SALAH (LIV): 1  (1 earned pen)
6f. ANGEL DI MARIA (PSG): 1 (cross rebound)
7a. ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (ARS): 1  
7b. BUKAYO SAKA (ARS): 1  (shot rebounded)
7c. NELSON SEMEDO (BARCA): 1 (1 earned pen)
7d. LIONEL MESSI (BARCA): 1 (free kick O.G Slav)
7e. ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN (LIV): 1
7f. LUIS ALBERTO (LAZIO): 1 (Sirigu own goal)
8a. MESUT OZIL (ARS): 1 (chance to Saka rebounded)
8b. QUINCY PROMES (AJAX): 1 (1st O.G vs CHE)
8c. HARRY KANE (TOTT): 1 (Created shot off post)
9a. SON HEUNG MIN (TOTT): 1 (shot off post rebounded)
9b. EDEN HAZARD (RMAD): 1 (earned pen vs Eibar)
10a. ANGELINO (CITY): 1
10b. OUSMANE DEMBELE (BARCA): 1 (fantastic corner not dealt with, Vidal goal)
10c. KIERNAN TIERNEY (ARS): 1 (cross for Auba shot blocked to Laca)
10d. GABRIELLE MARTINELLI (ARS): 1 (cross blocked into Laca's path)
11a. LORENZO PELLEGRINI (ROM): 1 (shot handball earns pen)
11b. BENJAMIN MENDY (CITY): 1 
12. DONNY VAN DE BEEK (AJAX): 1 (2nd goal v Twente)

MOST CHANCES ON POST
1. DUSAN TADIC (AJAX): 5 (Veltman vs Waalwijk, Neres vs Emmen, Ziyech x2, Dest vs PSV)
2a. ANGEL DI MARIA (PSG): 3 (Marquinhos, 
2b. KEVIN DE BRUYNE (CITY): 3 (Aguero x 2 v Wat, Angelino)
2c. KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG): 3 (Icardi , Dagba, Draxler, in his last 3 matches consecutively)
2d. FREDRIK MIDTSJO (AZ): 3 (Boadu, Wijndal, Idrissi)
2e. HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX): 3  (Blind, Neres vs Heerenveen, Promes vs Emmen)
2f. QUINCY PROMES (AJAX): 3 (Martinez, Alvarez vs CHE, Donny)
2g. JOSHUA KIMMICH (MUN): 3 (Perisic, Goretzka, Lewandowski)
3a. TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIV): 2 
3c. ROBERTO FIRMINO (LIV): 2 (VVD, Mane)
3d. EMIL FORSBERG (LEIPZ): 2 
3e. TIMO WERNER (LEIPZ): 2
3f. JOAQUIN (BETIS): 2 
3g. DAVID SILVA (CITY): 2 (Sterling, Gundogan)
3h. KINGSLEY COMAN (MUN): 2 (Tolisso, Coutinho)
3i. GABRIEL JESUS (CITY): 2  (Gundogan, Sterling)
3j. LORENZO INSIGNE (NAPOLI): 2 
3k. HARRY KANE (TOTT): 2
3l.  DAVID ALABA (MUN): 2 
3m. PHILIPPE COUTINHO (MUN): 2 (Kimmich & Perisic)
3o. MARIO PASALIC (ATA): 2 (both vs Zagreb)
4i. ARTHUR (BARCA): 2 (Griezmann, Pique)
4a. PABLO SARABIA (PSG): 1
4b. JORDAN HENDERSON (LIV): 1
4c. SADIO MANE (LIV): 1
4d. NABIL FEKIR (BETIS): 1 (Moron)
4e. RAHEEM STERLING (CITY): 1 (Foden)
4f. DANI CEBALLOS  (ARS): 1
4g. BERNARDO (CITY): 1
4h. ANGELINO (CITY): 1
4j. CARLES PEREZ (BARCA): 1 (Semedo)
4l. PHIL FODEN (CITY): 1 
4m. DODI LUKEBAKIO (BER): 1
4n. MARIUS WOLF (BER): 1
4o. NELSON SEMEDO (BARCA): 1 (Perez)

4p. ILKAY GUNDOGAN (CITY): 1
4q. LUIS ALBERTO (LAZIO): 1

4r. CHRISTIAN ERISKSEN (TOTT): 1 (Kane)
4s. RIYAD MAHREZ (CITY): 1 (Gundogan)
4t. DELE ALLI (TOTT): 1
4u. JAMES RODRIGUEZ (REAL): 1 (Benzema)
4v. SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC (LAZ): 1
4w.DRIES MERTENS (NAPOLI): 1 
4x. GIO LO CELSO (TOTT): 1
4y. SANTI CAZORLA (VILLA): 1 (v Barcelona in a MOTM display)
4z. THOMAS MULLER (MUN): 1 (Coman)
5a. LIONEL MESSI (BARCA): 1 (Pique) 
5b. ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (MUN): 1 (Gnabry)
5c. KIERNAN TIERNEY (ARS): 1 (Pepe)
5d. CALVIN STENGS (AZ): 1 (Sugawara)
5e. OUSSAMA IDRISSI (AZ): 1 (Wijndal)
5f. HARVEY BARNES (LEIC): 1 (Perez)
5g. EDEN HAZARD (RMAD): 1 (Varane)
5h. BRUNO FERNANDES (SPORT): 1 (Bolasie)