Europa League Team of the Week

Europa League team of the week for Matchday 1 features Juventus, Palace, Ferencváros and other standout performers as the first round of League matches was completed last night.

The 2026/27 UEFA Europa League opened on September 16 and 17 with wins, individual displays and surprise results. Juventus smashed NEC Nijmegen 5-0, Crystal Palace swept aside Lech Poznań 4-0, while Ferencváros stunned Celtic 3-1 in Glasgow. Omonia beat Celta Vigo 1-0 and Bournemouth won their debut in the Europa League. Against that backdrop, my Europa League team of the week rewards players who changed matches through goals, saves, creation or defensive work.

Defence

1. Žan-Luk Leban, Celje – goalkeeper

Leverkusen won 2-0, yet Leban kept Celje in the contest with important saves. He kept the scoreline respectable despite Leverkusen’s control.

2. Amir Murillo, Beşiktaş – right-back

Beşiktaş beat Marseille 4-1 after a dominant second half. Murillo scored the third goal and helped the hosts keep Marseille pinned back.

3. Tobias Guddal, Sparta Praha – centre-back

Guddal produced one of Matchday 1’s standout defensive displays. He scored twice inside two minutes from set pieces as Sparta Praha beat Ararat-Armenia 4-1.

4. Chris Richards, Crystal Palace – centre-back

Palace delivered a convincing 4-0 win over Lech Poznań. Richards scored the second goal before half-time and helped the hosts keep control of the match.

5. Jure Balkovec, Omonia – left-back

Balkovec supplied the late winner in Nicosia. He struck in the 88th minute to secure a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo, despite the Spanish side taking 15 shots.

Midfield

6. Enzo Le Fée, Sunderland – midfielder

Le Fée scored Sunderland‘s historic winner against AZ Alkmaar. He calmly converted the penalty in a 1-0 victory, marking Sunderland’s return to European football after more than five decades.

7. Kristoffer Zachariassen, Ferencváros – midfielder

Zachariassen restored Ferencváros’ lead deep into first-half stoppage time at Celtic Park. His finish arrived just before the interval, then he helped protect the lead.

8. Junior Olaitan, Beşiktaş – midfielder

Olaitan supplied two assists in Beşiktaş’s 4-1 win over Marseille. His passing repeatedly opened gaps in the French defence and earned an 8.3 rating.

Attack

9. Yéremy Pino, Crystal Palace – right-winger

Pino needed only 10 minutes to put Palace ahead after a defensive error. He attacked space aggressively and set the tone for the 4-0 victory.

10. Randal Kolo Muani, Juventus – striker

Kolo Muani leads the attack after Juventus beat NEC 5-0 in Turin. He scored the fifth goal, adding the final touch to a ruthless display from Luciano Spalletti’s side.

11. Bamidele Yusuf, Ferencváros – left-winger

Yusuf caused Celtic problems and finished with two assists. He helped create Zachariassen’s goal before setting up Daniel Arzani for a strike soon after half-time.

These 11 made decisive contributions across both nights. Leban provided resistance, Guddal delivered goals from set pieces, while Palace and Ferencváros produced two of the most eye-catching team performances. 

Kolo Muani’s goal completes an XI packed with match-winning moments, while Olaitan and Le Fée give the midfield a creative and attacking balance.

Three Premier League players made the team in Crystal Palace’s centre-half Chris Richards and right sided attacker Yéremy Pino while Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee made up the threesome.That makes this Europa League team of the week my selection.