We’re now down to the quarter finals of the 2025/26 Europa League. Who made it into our most recent team of the week?
We witnessed victories for Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Porto in the last 16, but who were the best individual performers from midweek?
GK: Diego Costa
Frequently touted as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Diogo Costa was playing at the peak of his powers when Porto overcame VfB Stuttgart on Thursday evening.
He came under heavy fire against Stuttgart, but was equal to everything they could throw at him. In total, Costa made six saves to preserve Porto’s clean sheet.
RB: Javi Rodríguez
Despite being a natural centre-back, Javi Rodriguez performed an excellent job at right-back for Celta Vigo against Lyon.
Rodriguez notched up an assist and kept a clean sheet away from home – having never won the Europa League, Celta are just a few wins away from history.
CB: Jan Bednarek
Former Southampton defender Jan Bednarek put all of his experience to use when Porto defeated Stuttgart at the Estádio do Dragão.
Despite the best efforts of their attacking talent, Stuttgart could not find a way to break Porto down – Bednarek won a total of eight defensive aerial duels throughout the game.
CB: Sikou Niakaté
Braga completed a famous comeback win over Robbie Keane’s Ferencváros to progress through to the quarter finals – Sikou Niakate was on hand to make sure there were no mistakes at the back.
Niakate held things together at the heart of their back three, making a number of clearances and tackles to keep Ferencvaros at bay.
