After a summer of international football, club football returned to our screens this weekend with the 2024/25 season kicking off around Europe.
There were plenty of new faces on show for a number of Europe’s elite clubs, but the first weekend of action was largely defined by veteran superstars out to prove they still had it.
And after all of that fun, here’s the best performing players in Europe in gameweek one.
8. Joao Neves
Two assists / Xavier Laine/GettyImages
Joao Neves made his Ligue 1 bow for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, and it’s fair to say that he impressed.The 19-year-old put in a fantastic all-action display in the second half of the comfortable win over Le Havre, providing quality on the ball at one end by bagging two assists, and off the ball too at the other by winning five duels.
7. Samuel Mbangula
Debut / Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages
To say the very, very least, Samuel Mbangula was a surprise inclusion in Juventus’ lineup to face off against Como on Monday evening. And to say the very, very least, Samuel Mbangula repaid his new manager’s faith with a stunning performance. His goal and assist got the Thiago Motta era in Turin off to a perfect start.
6. Danny Welbeck
Great performance / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/GettyImages
The year is 2024, and Danny Welbeck is still putting in top class performances in the Premier League. The now 33-year-old was utterly brilliant in Brighton & Hove Albion’s win over Everton at Goodison Park at the weekend, taking advantage of a Jarrad Branthwaite-less defence to bag a goal and assist.
5. Luis Henrique
Bagged a brace / FRED TANNEAU/GettyImages
In just one game, Luis Henrique doubled his career goalscoring tally for Marseille at the weekend. The Brazilian showed a surprisingly deft touch in front of goal against Brest, netting two in the thumping 5-1 win. Roberto De Zerbi looks to have finally got the Brazilian firing.
4. Bukayo Saka
Impresed / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Bukayo Saka was many people’s tip to win 2024/25 Player of the Year in the Premier League, and after one gameweek it’s pretty easy to see why. His goal and assist inspired Arsenal to a comfortable opening win over Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.
3. Marco Brescianini
Starred / Maurizio Lagana/GettyImages
No Teun Koopmeiners? No problem. Drafted in for the seemingly Juventus-bound midfielder, Marco Brescianini starred in gameweek one for Atalanta, bagging a brace on his debut. Keep an eye on the 24-year-old throughout this season, he could be set to enjoy a breakout campaign.
2. Mohamed Salah
Back in-form / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages
After a rather disappointing final few months of the 2023/24 campaign, Mohamed Salah looked back to his very best as Liverpool kicked off.His deft pass to Diogo Jota for the first goal against Ipswich Town and clinical finish of his own for the second of the game were vintage Salah.
Top player / Pedro Salado/GettyImages
Speaking of players re-finding their best form, here’s Robert Lewandowski. The Polish forward looked hellbent on putting his first non-20 goal season in a decade in the rearview mirror this past weekend, netting both goals in Barcelona’s crucial 2-1 win over Valencia in La Liga.
