How are our players doing around Europe? Here’s a general rundown:
ENGLAND
RICCARDO CALAFIORI (Arsenal)
He returned from his knee injury, playing 23 minutes in the match against Nottingham Forest. 65 good minutes in the 3-0 win, before being replaced. So far 11 appearances, 8 of which as a starter, and one goal.
JORGINHO (Arsenal)
Starting after a month and a half in the Premier League for the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, he was booked after 24 minutes and played with the handbrake on and came off at half-time. So far 8 appearances in all competitions, 5 of which as a starter.
CESARE CASADEI (Chelsea)
His last call-up to the Premier League dates back to September, Maresca is only using him in the Conference League while in the League Cup, after playing 90 minutes against a League 2 team he was left on the bench for the next round against Newcastle.
CALEB OKOLI (Leicester)
He returns to the starting lineup after two consecutive absences and challenges Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea. Not a memorable match for him, he came out defeated in the match against Nicolas Jackson and in general in the match: 1-2. He has made 11 appearances so far, all as a starter.
FEDERICO CHIESA (Liverpool)
It is one of the mysterious objects of the 2024/25 Premier League. Constantly in the pits due to muscle problems, his only appearance in the Premier League dates back to 21 September, 18 minutes as a substitute against Bournemouth. Then a bench with Wolverhampton. In the Champions League he just tested the pitch in the match against Milan while the only real match he played was in the League Cup, a scant hour against West Ham where he provided an assist. A total of 3 appearances, one of which as a starter.
SANDRO TONALI (Newcastle)
Returning after the long disqualification, he has always been fielded by coach Eddie Howe even if not always as a starter. He takes to the field this evening against West Ham for the 12th matchday of the Premier League. So far 11 appearances in all competitions, including 6 as a starter.
DESTINY UDOGIE (Tottenham)
For Postecoglou he is an immovable starter: 12 out of 12 games as a starter in the Premier League. Great performance for him in Spurs’ 0-4 defeat at Manchester City before coming off in the 90th minute. For him so far 16 appearances in all competitions and one assist.
WILLIAM VICAR (Tottenham)
Great game at the Etihad for the goalkeeper who made important interventions and kept a clean sheet, on a historic afternoon which saw Spurs humiliate Manchester City. In the Premier League there are no discussions: he is the owner. The only matches in which he is allowed rest are the minor ones in the League Cup (but with Man City in the fourth round he was again a starter) and the last ones in the Europa League. So far for him 15 appearances, 4 clean sheets and 15 goals against in all competitions.
EMERSON PALMIERI (West Ham)
An important player for Julen Lopetegui who has always used him in the 11 Premier League matches played so far and always as a starter. This evening he will take the field against Sandro Tonali’s Newcastle at St. James’ Park.
LUCA KOLEOSHO (Burnley)
He is considered a starter for coach Scott Parker. On the pitch in the away win at Bristol, he played 75 minutes without particularly shining. For him so far 15 appearances and 2 goals, the last of which was on 14 September.
WILFRIED GNONTO (Leeds United)
He is the assistant of the Championship leaders. Five winning passes for him so far but in the last round he took away the satisfaction of having scored the winning goal, in the 91st minute, on the Swansea pitch: a daring 3-4 that holds the peacocks in command. And to think that coach Daniel Farke only put him on the field in the 75th minute, after having always started him in the previous 15 games. For the Italian it is the third goal of the season.
JOAO PEDRO (Hull)
Since the beginning of November the former Cagliari player has taken charge and the results are starting to arrive: eight consecutive games played, of which 4 from the start and two goals scored. Hull is momentarily 22nd and is holding on to his experience to try to save himself.
ANGELO OGBONNA (Watford)
Knee problems for the former Torino and Juventus defender who has not played an official match since 19 October. With Watford he has made 5 appearances so far, all as a starter.
GIANLUCA FRABOTTA (West Bromwich Albion)
He has not played for the first team since 28 September and in the Championship he has collected 25 minutes spread across four appearances. Only match as a starter, on 13 August in the League Cup in the defeat against Fleetwood. He was seen on the pitch again on October 26th with the reserve team.
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FRANCE
VITO MANNONE (Lille)
Zero minutes played for the Italian, who is Lucas Chevalier’s reserve.
GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (Paris Saint-Germain)
Leader of the team, to the point of being chosen on some occasions by Luis Enrique even as captain. In the last Ligue 1 match against Toulouse he was left on the bench, a very important commitment awaits him in the Champions League on the Bayern Munich pitch. His record so far is 11 appearances, 13 goals scored and only 2 clean sheets.
PAOLO GOZZI (Troyes)
Starter in Ligue 2, 8 appearances so far for him in a team that has the objective of remaining in the category.
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SPAIN
POCHO ROMAN (Cartagena)
Born in Argentina, in September 2023 the Under 20 coach Attilio Lombardo used him with the Azzurri for an Elite League match against the Czech Republic. He plays in the Spanish second division at Cartagena, but on loan from Barcelona. For him so far 13 appearances and one goal.
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GERMANY
FABIO CHIARODIA (Borussia Mönchengladbach
24 minutes for him in the match won against St. Pauli for the Under 20 international who has made 7 first team appearances so far, including one as a starter in the German Cup.
VINCENZO GRIFO (Freiburg)
Leader of Freiburg, he had a complicated weekend, sinking with the team in Dortmund, in a match lost 4-0. For him so far 5 goals and 6 assists in all competitions, with 13 games played.
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HOLLAND
DANIELE RUGANI (Ajax)
Absent in Ajax’s last match against Zwolle, he only started once in the Eredivisie, plus twice in the Europa League.
LUCIANO VALENTE (Groningen)
Born in Groningen but of clear Italian origins, one appearance with the Italian Under 20 team two years ago. Left winger, 14 appearances for him this season, one goal and two assists.
LORENZO MILANI (Heracles)
Left back, few appearances for him in this Eredivisie. The last match played dates back to September 21st.
SEYDOU FINI (Excelsior)
Having moved on loan from Genoa to cut his teeth in the Dutch second division, he is showing off with 3 goals and 5 assists in 13 games.
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Türkiye
CIRO IMMOBILE (Besiktas)
His skills are beyond question, in fact he is also top scorer in Türkiye with 8 goals in 11 games. Remarkable impact in a new reality. However, the national team Ciro has been without a goal since October 20th: only 30 minutes for him in the last match against Goztepe, lost 2-4. Considering the other competitions too, the balance is 12 goals in 17 games.
CHER NDOUR (Besiktas)
Owned by Paris Saint-Germain, the midfielder is finding more and more space in Türkiye and is being appreciated. Like Immobile, he also entered the match in progress in the match lost against Goztepe. For him so far
14 appearances, of which 9 as a starter.
RICCARDO SAPONARA (Ankaragucu)
Dropped to the Turkish second division, he has made 9 appearances so far, only one of which as a starter and two goals scored.
GIOVANNI CROCIATA (Erzurumspor)
12 appearances, one goal and two assists in the Turkish second division.
FLAVIO PAOLETTI (Karagumruk)
13 appearances and two goals in the Turkish second division.
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GREECE
ALBERTO BRIGNOLI (AEK Athens)
He moved from Panathinaikos to AEK, but only once so far has he defended the posts for the yellow and blacks with coach Matias Almeyda preferring the former Lazio player Strakosha. Watch his team fall in the derby against Olympiacos 4-1.
FEDERICO MACHEDA (Asteras Aktor)
He scores with a certain frequency, already 3 goals in 6 league games. He also struck at the weekend against PAOK but this did not prevent his team from defeat (1-2).
ELIA GIANI (Kallithéa)
On loan from Pisa, he has the trust of coach Massimo Donati who has used him 12 times. He also scored two goals.
ALESSANDRO MERCATI (Kallithéa)
Pivot of the midfield of Massimo Donati’s team, 11 appearances for him. The only match missed was due to disqualification.
LORENZO PIROLA (Olympiacos)
He played as a substitute for almost an hour in the heartfelt derby against AEK, won 4-1. Season conditioned by an injury but so far a good playing time for him: 10 appearances, including 4 in the Europa League.
EDDIE SALCEDO (OFI Crete)
Good impact on Greek football for the Inter-owned striker: 11 appearances and 4 goals in all competitions.
GABRIELE MARCHEGIANI (Iraklis)
He has started the last three league matches, keeping two clean sheets. Iraklis currently fourth in the Greek second division.
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SWISS
SIMONE PAFUNDI (Lausanne)
A great talent hidden on the bench. Just 16 minutes spread across two appearances in the Swiss top flight, plus half an hour in the Swiss Cup.
MATTIA ZANOTTI (Lugano)
15 appearances in all competitions, often as a starter. On the pitch from the 1st minute in the great 4-1 success against Zurich. Also a goal for him, a decisive one at that, in the Europa League preliminaries against Partizan. Also three assists.