European Team of the Week: Moreira Owns the Milan Derby, Arsenal Conquers Anfield and Hakimi Goes Wild

The European soccer weekend delivered some outstanding individual performances, but the most impressive results came in games where the stakes were considerably higher than an ordinary league fixture.

AC Milan handed previously unbeaten Inter its first Serie A defeat with a 3-1 victory in the Derby della Madonnina. Arsenal finally ended its 14-year wait for a Premier League victory at Anfield, beating Liverpool 1-0 to take control of the early title race. Brighton produced another stunning upset, winning 1-0 at Manchester City despite spending much of the afternoon defending its own penalty area.

Meanwhile, Barcelona rebounded from consecutive losses to PSG and Real Madrid by dismantling Alavés 6-1, and Real Madrid kept pace with a comfortable victory at Racing Santander.

There were some ridiculous individual numbers as well. Achraf Hakimi recorded a hat trick and two assists from right back, Lamine Yamal scored twice and created another, and Lassine Sinayoko was directly involved in all three Paris FC goals against Monaco.

However, the Player of the Week goes to Diego Moreira for his remarkable performance against Inter.

This week's Best XI lines up in an attack-minded 4-2-3-1, with Declan Rice and Adrien Rabiot anchoring a midfield that includes Fermín López and Jude Bellingham.

European Weekend Team of the Week Best XI, with Diego Moreira of AC Milan as Player of the Week

Player of the Week: Diego Moreira, AC Milan

AC Milan 3-1 Inter | 1 goal, 2 assists

There is a legitimate argument for Hakimi, whose five goal contributions from right back is an almost absurd statistical accomplishment. But Moreira gets the nod because of the level of opposition, the significance of the match and the timing of his contributions.

Milan entered the Derby della Madonnina needing a response after a disappointing loss to Bologna, while Inter was unbeaten and sitting atop Serie A.

Moreira wasted no time making an impact.

In the fourth minute, he attacked down the right wing, beat Carlos Augusto and delivered an excellent cross that Christian Pulisic headed home. Six minutes later, he created Milan's second goal from a corner, finding Rabiot for a left-footed delivery that curled into the net off the post.

Milan led 2-0 before Inter had really settled into the match.

The tactical advantage was apparent. Inter's wingbacks are central to their attacking system, but their willingness to advance creates opportunities for opponents to attack the spaces behind them. Milan was aggressive in those areas, with Moreira repeatedly putting Carlos Augusto under pressure rather than allowing Inter to establish its usual territorial control.

Inter recovered from the terrible opening and pulled a goal back through Alessandro Bastoni in the 22nd minute. For a stretch, it looked like the momentum had shifted. Mike Maignan needed to produce several important saves as Inter pushed for an equalizer.

Then Moreira delivered the decisive moment.

In the 43rd minute, he curled a spectacular left-footed free kick over the wall and past Josep Martínez to restore Milan's two-goal advantage.

The goal changed the complexion of the second half. Instead of protecting a narrow lead against an Inter team gathering momentum, Milan could defend more patiently and attack when opportunities presented themselves.

What makes Moreira's performance particularly impressive is the variety of his contributions. He created the opener through his acceleration and crossing, added another assist from a set piece and then produced an outstanding individual finish.

Only Rafael Leão had previously recorded three goal contributions for Milan in a Serie A derby over the past 20 years.

Hakimi certainly has the stronger raw numbers, but his explosion came against winless Le Havre, the weakest team in Ligue 1.

Moreira was the most influential player in one of European soccer's biggest rivalries, directly responsible for all three goals against one of Italy's strongest teams.

That's my Player of the Week.

Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan, AC Milan

Milan's 3-1 victory over Inter will understandably be remembered for Moreira's attacking performance, but Maignan deserves nearly as much credit.

Inter finished with eight shots on target, and Maignan saved seven of them. The most important stretch came after Bastoni reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 22nd minute.

Maignan pushed away a dangerous effort from Hakan Çalhanoğlu, then produced an exceptional reflex save to deny Djed Spence from close range in the 33rd minute. He made another important stop against Petar Sučić shortly before Moreira restored Milan's two-goal advantage.

Those saves prevented Inter from fully capitalizing on its strongest period of the match.

Bart Verbruggen also has an excellent argument after helping Brighton survive Manchester City's sustained pressure. However, Maignan faced an equally dangerous opponent in a major rivalry match and made several of his most difficult saves while the result was still very much in doubt.

Milan scored three spectacularly effective goals, but without Maignan the derby might have unfolded very differently.

Right Back: Achraf Hakimi, Paris Saint-Germain

It's difficult to imagine a more productive performance from a right back.

Hakimi scored three goals and assisted the other two as PSG recovered from an early deficit to demolish Le Havre 5-1.

The Moroccan international was instrumental in turning the game around after Josh Maja surprisingly gave Le Havre the lead in the 18th minute.

He created Mika Godts' equalizer eight minutes later, then scored himself just two minutes after that, arriving on the right side of the penalty area and finishing a well-timed run.

He added a beautiful direct free kick early in the second half, helped create Senny Mayulu's goal and completed his hat trick in the 69th minute.

Five goal contributions in just 71 minutes.

The extraordinary part is that Hakimi was doing this from a position that still required him to participate in PSG's defensive structure. His attacking freedom is built into Luis Enrique's system, with the right back often advancing high enough to operate like another winger.

Le Havre repeatedly failed to account for those movements, allowing Hakimi to arrive in dangerous positions without being tracked effectively.

The opposition was certainly poor, and that is the only reason Hakimi does not claim Player of the Week.

But there really isn't much more a defender can do offensively.

Center Back: Ezri Konsa, Arsenal

Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Anfield was one of the most significant results of the Premier League season so far, and Konsa was arguably the best player in an outstanding defensive performance.

Liverpool had plenty of possession and repeatedly tried to create opportunities from wide areas, but Arsenal's back line consistently prevented those attacks from becoming clear chances.

Konsa was particularly effective dealing with Liverpool's crosses and the movement of attackers around the penalty area. He made several important interventions against Miloš Kerkez and was excellent when forced to defend attackers running toward his own goal.

The statistical performance was equally impressive, with five tackles and consistent success in his defensive duels.

Arsenal did not simply retreat into its penalty area after Kai Havertz gave them the lead in the 16th minute. They continued pressing strategically and maintained enough control in midfield to prevent Liverpool from building sustained pressure.

That approach requires defenders who can handle individual assignments without constantly needing help.

Konsa delivered exactly that, helping Arsenal earn its first league victory at Anfield since 2012.

Center Back: Luka Vušković, Brighton

Brighton's victory at Manchester City was perhaps the most surprising result of the weekend.

Yasin Ayari gave the visitors an early lead, but Brighton spent much of the remaining 80 minutes trying to protect it against one of the strongest attacks in Europe.

City finished with 21 shots, controlled the majority of possession and increasingly committed players forward as the second half progressed.

Vušković was central to Brighton's resistance.

Playing alongside Lewis Dunk, the young Croatian maintained his positioning in the center of the defense and helped protect the penalty area as City repeatedly attempted to find Erling Haaland and other attackers in dangerous positions.

Brighton's defensive performance was not perfect. City created several good opportunities and Verbruggen was forced into important saves.

But Vušković and his defensive partners prevented City's territorial dominance from becoming an endless series of clean looks at goal.

For a young center back, handling that kind of sustained pressure against Haaland and Manchester City is an impressive assignment.

The clean sheet and three points make his case for this team pretty straightforward.

Left Back: Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal

Calafiori joins Konsa after another excellent defensive performance in Arsenal's victory at Liverpool.

Playing on the left, the Italian was aggressive in challenging Liverpool's attackers while remaining disciplined enough to avoid leaving large spaces behind him.

Bradley Barcola presented a difficult matchup with his acceleration and ability to attack defenders, but Calafiori generally prevented him from generating the kind of dangerous situations Liverpool needed.

One particularly important intervention came when he anticipated a Barcola cutback and intercepted the ball before it could reach attackers arriving inside the box.

Calafiori also provided useful support in Arsenal's buildup, although the circumstances of the match required him to prioritize defensive security over his usual willingness to advance into midfield.

That balance was one of the reasons Arsenal defended its lead so effectively.

There are weeks when a fullback earns recognition for an attacking contribution. Calafiori gets in this time primarily because of how difficult he made life for Liverpool's attackers.

Central Midfield: Declan Rice, Arsenal

Rice might have delivered the most complete midfield performance of the weekend.

His assist created the only goal at Anfield, but his defensive work was just as important in preserving Arsenal's lead.

The goal came from an aggressive overlapping run down the right side. Rice recognized the space outside Noni Madueke, advanced beyond the Liverpool defense and delivered a precise low cross that Kai Havertz converted at the back post.

It was a particularly good example of Rice's development into a genuinely complete midfielder.

He remains one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe, capable of covering enormous amounts of ground, recognizing developing attacks and recovering possession. But he has become increasingly dangerous advancing into attacking positions rather than remaining anchored in front of his center backs.

Against Liverpool, he balanced those responsibilities almost perfectly.

He also produced several important defensive recoveries as Arsenal protected the lead, repeatedly preventing Liverpool from turning midfield turnovers into dangerous transitions.

Arsenal's midfield did not dominate possession, but it generally dictated where Liverpool could attack and how quickly those attacks developed.

Rice was the central figure in making that happen.

Central Midfield: Adrien Rabiot, AC Milan

Rabiot returned to Milan's starting lineup and immediately reminded everyone what he adds to the team.

He scored Milan's second goal after just ten minutes against Inter, turning Moreira's corner routine into a somewhat unusual but excellent finish.

The Frenchman met the short delivery with his left foot and sent what appeared to be a cross curling into the goal off the post.

The goal was only part of his contribution.

Rúben Amorim used Rabiot in an advanced midfield role behind Gonçalo Ramos, allowing him to attack the spaces between Inter's midfield and defensive lines.

That positioning made it difficult for Inter's midfielders to decide whether to step forward and pressure Milan's buildup or remain deeper to account for his movement.

Rabiot's willingness to advance into the penalty area also gave Milan another attacking presence without requiring its central midfielders to abandon their defensive responsibilities.

He has never been the most naturally creative midfielder, but his combination of physicality, movement and technical quality makes him particularly effective in games where Milan wants to attack quickly.

This was one of those games.

Attacking Midfield: Fermín López, Barcelona

Barcelona's 6-1 demolition of Alavés produced several excellent individual performances, but Fermín was arguably the most influential player connecting the team's attacking movements.

He finished with a goal and two assists, all during a dominant first half that effectively decided the match.

The opening goal was an outstanding team sequence. Pedri released Fermín down the left with a beautiful outside-of-the-foot pass, and Fermín immediately squared the ball for Raphinha to finish.

In the 23rd minute, the roles reversed somewhat. Lamine Yamal found Fermín in the penalty area, and the midfielder fired a powerful shot from a difficult angle to double Barcelona's lead.

He later won possession and created Raphinha's second goal as Barcelona built a 4-0 halftime advantage.

The impressive part was how naturally Fermín found space around Alavés' defensive shape.

He was not simply stationed centrally waiting for passes. He drifted toward the wings to create numerical advantages, made aggressive runs beyond the forwards and consistently recognized when Barcelona's wide attackers had drawn defenders away from dangerous central areas.

Fermín has developed into an extremely effective attacking midfielder in Hansi Flick's system because he combines the movement of a forward with enough passing ability to create chances for others.

Against Alavés, he demonstrated both.

Attacking Midfield: Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid

Real Madrid continued its impressive run under José Mourinho with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Racing Santander, and Bellingham was one of the central figures.

The English midfielder scored Madrid's second goal in the 21st minute, making an aggressive run behind the defense after Arda Güler recognized the opening.

Bellingham collected the pass, advanced into the penalty area, rounded goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala and finished calmly into the empty net.

It was an excellent example of what makes him so difficult to defend.

Bellingham is capable of dropping deeper to participate in Madrid's buildup, but his most dangerous movements often come when he suddenly accelerates beyond the opposition midfield and arrives in positions usually occupied by a striker.

He nearly scored earlier with a header and remained involved throughout the match, producing three key passes and helping Madrid recover possession repeatedly.

The opposition was not particularly threatening, which limits how much can be concluded from the performance.

But Bellingham's versatility is becoming an important part of Mourinho's attacking structure.

Madrid already has plenty of players capable of scoring goals. Bellingham's ability to connect the midfield to those attackers, while also making dangerous runs himself, gives the team another dimension.

Forward: Lassine Sinayoko, Paris FC

Sinayoko was directly involved in every Paris FC goal as they defeated Monaco 3-1 in one of Ligue 1's most impressive results.

He scored twice in six minutes late in the first half, first finishing an opportunity created by Maxime Lopez in the 38th minute and then converting another chance supplied by Moses Simon in the 44th.

Paris carried a 2-0 lead into halftime, but Monaco responded with several attacking changes and Folarin Balogun reduced the deficit in the 65th minute.

At that point, the game was very much alive.

Sinayoko provided the decisive response nine minutes later.

He attacked the space behind Monaco's defense, advanced into the penalty area and played an excellent pass across goal for Pablo Pagis to finish.

The third goal effectively ended Monaco's comeback hopes.

Sinayoko's performance was particularly impressive because his contribution went beyond finishing chances.

He combined effectively with his teammates, attacked space behind defenders and recognized when to release the ball rather than force a shot himself.

The result moved Paris FC into the upper reaches of the Ligue 1 standings, while Sinayoko climbed to eight league goals and five assists.

Those are outstanding numbers for a player leading the attack for a club that was promoted only last season.

Forward: Lamine Yamal, Barcelona

Yamal continues to produce ridiculous attacking numbers, and his performance against Alavés was another reminder that he can dominate a match in several different ways.

He scored twice and assisted another in Barcelona's 6-1 victory, directly contributing to three of the six goals.

His first major contribution came in the 23rd minute when he found Fermín López in the penalty area for Barcelona's second goal.

Just before halftime, Yamal scored himself with an excellent low strike from outside the box to give Barcelona a 4-0 advantage.

He added another in the 65th minute, timing his run behind the defense perfectly to meet Gabriel Jesus' pass before delicately lifting the ball over the goalkeeper.

It was initially ruled offside, but VAR confirmed that he had timed the movement correctly.

What continues to separate Yamal from almost every other young attacker in Europe is his ability to influence the defense even when he is not directly involved in the final action.

Opponents are reluctant to leave him isolated against a fullback, often shifting additional defensive help toward the right side.

That creates space for players such as Fermín, Raphinha and Pedri to operate in the middle or attack the opposite flank.

Against Alavés, Barcelona exploited those spaces repeatedly.

There is also an interesting contrast between Yamal and Raphinha. Raphinha has been the more consistent goalscorer this season, but Yamal remains the player capable of creating something unexpected from a situation that appears relatively harmless.

His second goal was an excellent demonstration of that quality, recognizing the opening early, making the correct run and finishing with remarkable composure.

At only 19, he is already one of the most dangerous attacking players in the world.