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With the start of the Premier League just this weekend, there are plenty of talking points to take from the opening weekend of fixtures.

But nothing is more exciting to talk about when it comes to the Premier League than Fantasy Premier League football. It always comes up in conversation each game week – “how did your team do this weekend?”, or “mate I’ve absolutely wasted my triple captain this weekend, Kane had a stinker!”.

Despite this, it’s always good to evaluate your options and find some of the bargains buys that could save you cash and get you the points you still need. The midfield is an area that requires some of your most money spent – with many people filling it out with some of the best players in the league, and then scrimping and scrapping to fill the rest of the midfield spots.

That’s why today, we’re going to take a look at four of the best midfield options to choose from this season – ranging from all prices and from a mix of clubs in the league…

Leandro Trossard – £6.0m

The Belgian midfielder had a moderate season last time out, securing five goals with three assists – and accumulating 104 points in FPL.

During that time though, we were able to see glimpses of just how talented the 25-year-old is, and this season with the club’s new signings and Potter’s style of play slowly taking form, I can see Trossard enjoying a fruitful season.

At just £6.0m and with only 0.4% selection, Trossard is  a hidden gem that has gone under the radar.

Pablo Hernandez – £6.0m

After Leeds’s promotion to the Premier League, midfielder Pablo Hernández played an integral part in getting them there.

Many Premier League fans will remember him from his time at Swansea, but since joining Leeds in 2016 the 35-year-old has matured like a fine wine.

Last season saw the Spaniard register nine goals with nine assists and will only cost you £6.0m if you were to slot him into your team, much like the other 2.1% of people have.

Mohamed Salah – £12.0m

Despite being the joint highest expensive midfielder in FPL, Mo Salah has been a shoo-in for me ever since he joined Liverpool.

Last season was the Egyptian’s worst since joining the Reds in 2017, yet he still managed to score 19 goals and provide 10 assists, totaling to 233 points.

His cost of £12.0m has been enough to put a lot of users off him this season for some strange reason, only being selected by 30.8% – but I assure you that the 28-year-old is a must in anyone’s squad.

And that was backed up on the opening weekend, with the forward netting a hat-trick and 20 FPL points against Leeds United.

Bukayo Saka – £5.5m

The youngster impressed a lot of people last season, including Mikel Arteta, for his versatility and creativity no matter where he was on the pitch.

Scoring once and providing five assists in 26 appearances, most of which came from left-back, Saka managed 71 FPL points in that time – but it is this season that will see the 19-year-old make the biggest jump.

Arteta is expected to keep Saka in his starting XI, given the defensive additions made this summer as well as Kieran Tierney now being fully fit – meaning a more advanced position for Saka to up his goal and assist tally could be up for grabs.

At just £5.5m, Saka is a bargain choice and is only selected by 8.9% of other users.

Despite banging in 77 goals in the Championship, if there’s one area that Leeds will surely be looking to improve on for the upcoming Premier League campaign is up front.

Marcelo Bielsa led the Whites to automatic promotion after clinching first place, and whilst they were the division’s joint-second highest scorers – only Brentford scored more with 80 – they didn’t exactly have a clinical number nine up front.

Patrick Bamford toiled away for Bielsa’s side, and as someone who missed a ridiculous 33 official big chances in his 45 Championship games, it was no surprise to see Leeds fans voice their frustrations with him.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

But if the latest transfer reports are true, then Victor Orta and co could be about to deliver a masterclass in recruitment. According to French journalist Manuel Lonjon, both Leeds and Serie A giants Inter are in negotiations to sign Club Brugge starlet Emmanuel Dennis.

The 22-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance with the Belgian side, scoring nine times across all competitions. But where he really stood out, was in the Champions League, where he absolutely embarrassed Real Madrid defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Dennis scored both goals in the game back in October, helping Brugge record a memorable 2-2 draw at the home of one of European football’s most dominant teams.

Aside from his brace, he also won an impressive seven total duels, and completed three dribbles, finishing with the highest match rating of any Brugge player – Varane and Ramos on the other hand won just a combined eight duels, and were dribbled past four times.

Speaking after Dennis’ performance against Madrid, former Nigeria international Garba Lawal hailed the starlet’s ability. He said: “He’s fantastic, he is a good player and scoring in a big game like this shows that he has a lot of qualities and abilities. When you play against a big club, that is when you show your talent and he did. I hope he continues that way, it’s all about continuity and consistency.”

Dennis showed that he has the mettle to handle the big occasion, and at just 22, could give Leeds an exciting edge to their attack.

As the opening week of the Premier League draws nearer, Liverpool continue to keep faith in signing Thiago Alcantara in time.

The Reds have been in talks with Bayern Munich over securing the signature of the Spaniard, but despite a long and ongoing saga, no official offer has been made from the English champions.

The Germans value their midfielder at £26.6million, which is a reasonable amount for a player who has just lifted the Champions League trophy. However, Liverpool are struggling with funds and could be holding out for the sale of Gini Wijnaldum before they can bid for Thiago.

Manchester United are now also reportedly interested in the 29-year-old, with Fredrik A. N. Filtvedt claiming that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made contact with the player (via @LFCTransferRoom).

Loads of Reds fans have responded to this update and some are concerned that their Northern rivals may snub their chances of signing Thiago after all this time. One supporter has tweeted ‘I have a bad feeling’ about the Thiago situation as they suspect a move to United could be on the cards.

Read more replies from the Twitter selection here:

Do you think Thiago could potentially join Manchester United? Have your say in the comments below…

Plymouth manager Ryan Lowe has been touted as one of the leading contenders for the managerial vacancy at Championship outfit Bristol City.

As per Plymouth Herald, the 41-year-old is the second favourite among several bookmakers to become Lee Johnson’s successor at Ashton Gate, with Chris Hughton currently believed to be in pole position for the role. Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Newport County’s Michael Flynn are also high on the list of potential candidates with some bookmakers.

Lowe’s managerial stock has risen after winning promotion from League Two with Plymouth this year, taking the Pilgrims straight back into League One following their relegation in 2019. He has won more than half of his matches in charge at Home Park so far (24 out of 45), with an average of 1.8 points per game.

Indeed, the 41-year-old performed a similar feat at Bury last year, guiding them to an immediate return to League One before the club was expelled from the Football League last autumn for failing to provide sufficient evidence that they were able to meet its financial commitments.

Despite his successes at those two clubs, however, Lowe has never managed in the top two divisions in English football, while his record in League One shows just five wins from 22 matches – not the best audition for a job at a top-half Championship club.

In contrast to the Plymouth manager’s lack of second-tier experience, Hughton has twice been promoted from the Championship, taking Newcastle and Brighton into the Premier League over the past decade.

Bristol City may well opt for Hughton over Lowe, given the ex-Brighton manager’s track record of winning promotion from the Championship.

That would likely come as a great relief to the Plymouth faithful, with Lowe duly left to continue the excellent work he has done so far at Home Park. However, having also been linked with the Bolton job before they appointed Ian Evatt, don’t be surprised if his name is whispered among further managerial vacancies should Argyle make waves in League One next term.

Plymouth fans, how big a blow would it be if Lowe took a job at another club? Share your views in the comments section below!

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Panic is starting to set in among Celtic fans as the hoped influx of new signings fails to materialise.

The deal for Maryan Shved seems to be all tied up with a suspicion growing that the official announcement is being held back in case there are no other arrivals – specifically a right-back.

Throughout Wednesday hopes were raised that Jeremy Toljan was on his way but reality kicked in when he was captured on video training with his Borussia Dortmund team-mates.

As quoted by Ruhr Nachrichten via BuLi News, Dortmund director Michael Zorc confirmed that talks were ongoing for departures but there was no mention of players or clubs involved.

The grapevine has also gone quiet regarding Timothy Castagne, and there appears to be little in the way of rumours suggesting any other positions in the team will be strengthened.

As darkness falls the online search for transfer news will intensify and the early evening phone-ins will be full of fans hoping for the breakthrough.

A year ago Scott Bain turned up at the last minute wearing his Hibs training gear – it could be another long night as every scrap of information is dissected until white smoke and signings are spotted.

Right now though, Celtic fans on Twitter are growing increasingly fearful that no business will be done…

The Belgian is despised by the supporters of his last three clubs – as well as those of Juventus – but he could become a hero at the Stadio Olimpico

Say what you will about Jose Mourinho, but he retains an impressive ability to figure out what makes certain players tick. Two summers ago, after Romelu Lukaku had fired Inter to a first Serie A title in more than a decade with 24 goals in 36 appearances, Mourinho insisted that he was not in the least bit to see the Belgian thrive at San Siro.

"These two years at Inter have given him the stature and the self-confidence that he didn't have before," the Portuguese told . "At Chelsea, he was still a kid. At Manchester United, he was still developing. At Inter, he became the top man. He became loved – a big love from the supporters, love from team-mates, great relations with the coach.

"He's a big guy, physically so strong, but there is also a kid inside who needs that love, needs that support, needs to feel important."

Mourinho was spot on, with Lukaku's child-like nature having been laid bare over the past six months.

Getty'Inter is the most important thing…'

In between reaffirming his love of living in Milan and his desire to make his loan move permanent at the end of the 2022-23 season, an out-of-form and out-of-shape Lukaku insisted he was not in the least bit frustrated by being relegated to third-choice striker under Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. The club comes first, he stated time and time again. "Inter is the most important thing" became his mantra.

However, after catching fire at the end of the campaign, Lukaku expected to start ahead of Edin Dzeko in the Champions League final against Juventus – and was enraged that he did not. According to the , the Istanbul snub was the final straw for Lukaku, who ultimately decided against re-joining Inter – even after a deal had been agreed with Chelsea.

That was Lukaku's prerogative, of course: if he didn't feel the full faith of the coach, he was entitled to look elsewhere, and there's no denying that Inzaghi erred badly in starting Dzeko against City, given the Bosnian's total lack of pace.

However, Lukaku's decision to enter into secret talks with Juventus was still absolutely shocking, and his refusal to even answer Inter's concerned calls utterly shameful.

AdvertisementGettyDespised by four separate fanbases

Lukaku, remember, had previously stated that he would never even consider moving to Turin, given Juve are Inter's most hated rivals. And yet, ultimately, nobody was too surprised.

Such behaviour has come to be expected from Lukaku. His words – just like his badge kisses – count for very little, while he doesn't just burn bridges, he incinerates them, pollutes the water underneath and contaminates the surrounding area. Consequently, Lukaku is now arguably the most hated player in football history, detested by four separate sets of supporters all at the same time.

Manchester United fans – Gary Neville included – were thrilled to see the back of him when he left Old Trafford for Inter in 2019 because of a perceived lack of professionalism. Their Inter counterparts were twice let down by Lukaku, while at Stamford Bridge they are still fuming over an unsanctioned interview with that must rank second only to Cristiano Ronaldo's love-in with Piers Morgan as the biggest PR disaster in recent football history.

As for the Juventus faithful, they were so aghast at the idea of their club replacing Dusan Vlahovic with Lukaku that they stormed the pitch during a pre-season friendly to protest against the proposed player-plus-cash deal.

Answer to Mourinho's prayers

And yet Lukaku has already been given a rapturous welcome in Rome – why? Because they need him.

Firstly, there's the fact that Tammy Abraham is out for six months with a knee injury, meaning Roma are short on options up front. Jose Mourinho was so desperate for a striker to be signed that he sent a cheeky message to his bosses in pre-season by pretending to embrace a new No.9 in the club's team photo.

As it transpired, he need not have worried. The Friedkin Group, who took over in 2020, have been running Roma in a sensible and sustainable manner, but they've been very clear about their desire to get the club back into the Champions League.

Wrapping up a deal for Lukaku, then, was of the utmost importance to the owners, as underlined by the fact that club president Dan Friedkin even piloted the private jet that brought the centre-forward to Rome on Tuesday evening.

According to a source close to the club, "The Friedkin family are highly committed to building a team that can achieve the glory that the fans deserve. The efforts of Dan and (vice-president) Ryan are clearly seen in deals such as this, as bringing in world-class players such as Lukaku is part of their vision for Roma."

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'Romelv': The new king of Rome?

The supporters are certainly happy. They turned out in impressive numbers to welcome him at Ciampino airport, while a mural of Lukaku as a gladiator has already appeared in the centre of Rome.

So, while it's clear that the 30-year-old's reputation is beyond repair after so many betrayals in recent seasons, 'Romelv' could not have hoped for a better club, coach or set of supporters to help him resurrect his career.

The question is, though, what kind of condition Lukaku will be in after spending the past few weeks training with Chelsea's Under-21s. Because of his considerable bulk, Lukaku is renowned for taking some time to get back up to speed after significant spells on the sidelines and, as former Juventus midfielder Massimo Mauro told , "He has to be 100 percent physical because if he is not, then he's a useless player."

Christian Pulisic's injury proved to be a big problem for AC Milan, who fell at home to Udinese on Saturday.

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Milan fail to scoreFall 1-0 to UdineseMusah does okay with Pulisic out

Pulisic was ruled out for Saturday's match due to injury, and Milan's attack fell totally flat without him in a 1-0 loss at San Siro. It was a lifeless performance from the Serie A giants, who struggled to do much of anything against an Udinese team that looks destined for a relegation fight.

While one U.S. men's national team star, Pulisic, missed out, another, Yunus Musah, got the start, although he couldn't do much to help Milan in a disappointing performance.

GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Pioli deployed a Milan attack featuring Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic, but that attack struggled to create much of anything on the day. The trio lasted just 45 minutes together before Jovic, having failed to seize his opportunity, was removed in favor of Noah Okafor.

It didn't fix much of anything for Milan, who were finally punished when Irish winger Festy Ebosele was dragged down in the box. After some thought, the referee pointed to the spot, allowing captain Roberto Pereyra to give Udinese the lead.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It's a frustrating defeat for Milan, who now sit third in Serie A through 11 matches. They're a point behind Juve, who play on Sunday, while Inter sit six points ahead of their red rivals atop the league.

The Milan attack, in particular, has struggled in recent weeks, having scored just three goals in their last six matches. As a result, they face an uphill battle in Serie A and will face a major fight to stay in the Champions League when they return to that competition midweek.

Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT

Musah earned the start for Milan as he remains a key part of Pioli's plans.

The American has started eight of the last nine matches for Milan, which is great news for both the midfielder and the USMNT. He continues to have Pioli's trust, having had to earn his spot in the XI after being eased in to start the season.

However, he never quite got going in the midfield in this one. His passing was fantastic, as he misplaced just one of his 33 passes, while he did put a shot on target. However, he wasn't able to add much else in the attacking end in a game where Milan needed a spark from someone, anyone, on the field.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Yunus Musah (6/10):

Not terrible, but definitely not great. Milan's midfield as a whole was poor, but Musah was probably the best of the bunch. That isn't saying much, though, as Milan never really got anything going when on the ball.

The goalkeeper should have saved Ilkay Gundogan's second goal in what turned out to be a tense and tight final that City deservedly won at Wembley

Manchester United pushed Manchester City all the way in the FA Cup final, but when they needed David de Gea to stay on his toes in the tough moments, the goalkeeper fell badly short. The Spaniard was left flummoxed by Ilkay Gundogan's unstoppable volley – the fastest goal ever scored in an FA Cup final – but he really should have done better with the German midfielder's second goal.

De Gea may have had limited visibility due to a crowded penalty area, but the ball seemed to bounce towards his corner in slow motion and he was far too slow to get across goal.

City's second goal arrived after United had admirably fought their way back into the game and equalised through Bruno Fernando's penalty, even if they were fortunate to be awarded it for an accidental handball – spotted by VAR – by Jack Grealish.

United's best hope of an equaliser lay in substitute Alejandro Garnacho, but the truth is City deserved to win the game. The fact United stayed in the match after a nightmare start shows the team are still heading in the right direction.

GOAL rates the Manchester United players from Wembley Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

David de Gea (5/10):

Stationary for Gundogan's first goal and was very slow to get across for the second. Did well to get in the way of a De Bruyne shot after that. His kicking was hit and miss.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (6/10):

Got his tackling spot-on. As usual, left something to be desired in attack, even though he ended up forcing the penalty by challenging Grealish in the air.

Victor Lindelof (6/10):

Composed on the ball and dealt with the danger well. Should not be blamed for heading the ball to Gundogan for the opening goal.

Raphael Varane (7/10):

Showed good positioning and cut out plenty of through balls without over-committing himself. Volleyed wide following the free-kick late in the first half.

Luke Shaw (6/10):

Fine defensively but did not do enough going forward.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Christian Eriksen (5/10):

Did well to contain City after their blistering start. Like the rest of United's midfield, he got overrun in the second half and was the first to go off.

Casemiro (7/10):

Showed real leadership to ensure United did not fall apart in the first half. Imposed himself on the game and made important interventions in defence and attack.

Fred (6/10):

Made the foul which led to Gundogan's second goal and was often over-run but he never stopped trying and showed courage to play the ball out when under pressure.

Getty ImagesAttack

Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

Responsible for some of United's best moments and he showed nerves of steel to roll his penalty past Ortega.

Marcus Rashford (5/10):

Barely got into the game. Was not helped by starting at centre-forward and being asked to knock down balls over the top.

Jadon Sancho (5/10):

Had some nice touches and short passes but too often slowed down the attack. Once more, he left the pitch without doing anything meaningful.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Alejandro Garnacho (7/10):

Inches away from equalising with a sumptuous curler. Looked like United's only hope in the second half.

Wout Weghorst (6/10):

Played some nice passes when he was on but never looked like scoring.

Scott McTominay (N/A):

Headed over the bar in added time.

Erik ten Hag (6/10):

Made an error by starting Rashford as centre-forward although he had limited options due to Martial's injury.

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner picked up a devastating injury on the eve of Euro 2022. When did she return and will she play at the 2023 World Cup?

Alexia Putellas is one of the best footballers in the world. The Barcelona star has won seven league titles, eight Copas de la Reina, two Supercopas de Espana and a Champions League title. That team success has also translated into individual success, with Putellas boasting two Ballons d'Or, two of the Best FIFA Women's Player awards, two UEFA Women's Player of the Year accolades and much, much more.

However, the midfielder suffered a devastating injury that not only ruled her out of Spain's Euro 2022 campaign, but almost the entire 2022-23 season.

When did Putellas return from injury? Will she play at the 2023 Women's World Cup? GOAL has all the details you need.

GettyWhen did Alexia Putellas suffer her ACL injury?

Putellas suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament tear on her left knee on July 5, the day before the 2022 Women's Euros began.

She watched Spain's first game of the tournament, a 4-1 win over Finland, then returned to Barcelona to have a knee operation on July 12.

The midfielder had just had another exceptional season with her club and was expected to be one of the stars of the tournament, making the injury all the more cruel. Her country successfully navigated the 'group of death' and led hosts England in their quarter-final clash, but eventually lost in extra time.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhat big games did Alexia Putellas miss with injury?

July 20, 2022England 2-1 (AET) SpainEuro 2022 quarter-finalNovember 6, 2022Real Madrid 0-4 BarcelonaEl ClasicoDecember 7, 2022Bayern Munich 3-1 BarcelonaBarca's first defeat of the seasonJanuary 19, 2023Barcelona 3-1 (AET) Real MadridSupercopa de Espana semi-finalJanuary 22, 2023Real Sociedad 0-3 BarcelonaSupercopa de Espana finalMarch 21, 2023Roma 0-1 BarcelonaChampions League quarter-finalMarch 25, 2023Barcelona 1-0 Real MadridEl ClasicoMarch 29, 2023Barcelona 5-1 RomaChampions League quarter-finalApril 22, 2023Chelsea 0-1 BarcelonaChampions League semi-final

After missing Spain's Euro 2022 campaign, the list of significant Barcelona games Putellas has missed this season is unsurprisingly long given the Catalans' have one of the best women's teams in the world.

The two Clasicos in the domestic league have come and gone, with Barca getting the better of Real Madrid on both occasions. They also beat Las Blancas in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in January before going on to win the trophy, seeing off Real Sociedad in the final.

Then there is the Champions League, a competition Putellas performed so well in last term that she was named its Player of the Season despite Barca losing to Lyon in the final.

So far, Jonatan Giraldez's team have performed well in Europe, reaching the final after overcoming Chelsea in the last four. They did, however, suffer their only defeat of the season so far (on the pitch) in the UWCL when Bayern Munich shocked and impressed many with a 3-1 group stage win in December.

There is another defeat marked on Barca's card this season, a 1-0 loss to Osasuna in the Copa de la Reina. However, that was a result awarded to the lower division outfit after their opponents fielded an ineligible player in a 9-0 victory.

GettyWhen did Alexia Putellas return from injury?

Putellas returned to the pitch on Sunday, April 30, the same day that Barcelona claimed their fourth successive league title.

She replaced Claudia Pina with 74 minutes on the clock as the Catalans beat Sporting Huelva 3-0, with goals from Laia Codina, Jana Fernandez and Asisat Oshoala.

That came three days after Putellas was in the Barcelona squad to face Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. It was the first time she was involved in a matchday squad since playing in a friendly for Spain on July 1, 2022.

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GettyHow has Barcelona’s season gone without Alexia Putellas?

This season, Barca have won the Supercopa, another league title and are in the Champions League final, a competition which they are also the favourites to triumph in. The cherry on the cake is that the Catalans have also won all three of their clashes with rivals Real Madrid.

The one blemish on the team's record for the 2022-23 campaign so far is the Copa de la Reina, a trophy Barca will not retain after being removed from the competition for fielding an ineligible player in their round of 16 clash with Osasuna.

Giraldez's side beat their opponents 9-0 on the day but they did so with Geyse Ferreira on the pitch. The Brazilian was sent off while playing for Madrid CFF in last season's competition and should have served her suspension with her new club, but didn't. Instead, Osasuna were awarded a 1-0 win and progression to the quarter-finals.

While the team has been winning on the pitch, Putellas was also victorious on the sidelines while she recovered from her injury.

The midfielder missed Euro 2022 but she still thrived throughout the season that preceded it, meaning that, in the months since, she has collected a number of individual accolades given for the 2021-22 season.

Most notable are the Ballon d'Or, the Best FIFA Women's Player award and the UEFA Women's Player of the Year award.

Xavi's side went down to a 1-0 defeat against Inter to leave them with just three points from their opening three Champions League matches.

They might be sitting top of La Liga, but Barcelona's chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League were dealt a severe blow on Tuesday as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Inter.

Hakan Calhanoglu scored the only goal of the game, firing in from the edge of the area in first-half stoppage time, and though they dominated possession throughout, Barca could not find a way through.

Pedri thought he had equalised midway through the second half, but he saw his goal ruled out after VAR spotted a handball by Ansu Fati in the build-up.

The officials were not Barca's friend on the night, as they were also denied a last-minute penalty when replays seemed to show that substitute Denzel Dumfries had handled in the area.

The result leaves Barca with just three points from their opening three group matches, and a win in the return fixture against Inter at Camp Nou is now imperative if they are to avoid a second successive group-stage exit.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Pedri:

By a distance the best Barcelona player on the night, Pedri was at the heart of everything good that the visitors produced in San Siro, and would have been deserving of his goal had it not been ruled out for an Ansu Fati handball. Pedri was regularly fouled as he skipped away from Inter pressure, and if he maintains this level, then he will soon be regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world (if he isn't already!).

Simone Inzaghi:

Under intense pressure after a disappointing start to the Serie A season, the Inter boss got the better of Xavi on the night to secure a slight edge in his side's battle with Barca for qualification alongside Bayern Munich. The decision to play the more defensively-minded Matteo Darmian over Denzel Dumfries helped neutralise Raphinha and Marcos Alonso's threat, and he knows a draw in Camp Nou next week could prove to be enough to help the Nerazzurri reach the last 16.

Karim Benzema:

With the first Clasico of the season just 12 days away, Barca could barely have picked a worse time to have a defensive injury crisis. Andreas Christensen had to go off with an ankle problem here, and if he is forced to join Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde on the sidelines for any decent length of time, then Benzema will be licking his lips ahead of October 16's meeting at Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Raphinha:

At his best, Raphinha is absolutely thrilling to watch, but at San Siro he cut a frustrated figure as he struggled to make an impact on the game. The Brazil winger tends to produce his best performances when able to cut inside from the right, but Xavi chose to play him from the left against Inter and he was far less effective. For long periods he found himself sitting deep as Marcos Alonso bombed on before eventually being replaced just after the hour mark.

Sergio Busquets:

Busquets remains a decent operator in La Liga, but questions might start to be asked of whether the 34-year-old can be relied upon in the biggest games after the part he played in Calhanoglu's goal. Busquets was guilty of ball-watching, leaving the Turkey international with acres of room to take a touch and rifle a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Busquets did his best to get across and block, but there is no doubt he was out of position.

Robert Lewandowski:

Having scored in each of his last six league matches, Lewandowski could barely have come into this game in better form, but he was largely on the fringes of things as Barca struggled to provide him with adequate service. The Poland star has never scored at San Siro, and he will hope for more opportunities in the return fixture next week.

Getty ImagesBarcelona Ratings: Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6/10):

Good early save denied Calhanoglu from range but powerless to stop the same player from opening the scoring.

Sergi Roberto (6/10):

Solid enough but does not provide enough cutting edge going forward.

Eric Garcia (5/10):

Fortunate not to concede a penalty in the first half, and though he played some eye-catching passes, still some defensive question marks.

Andreas Christensen (6/10):

Kept Lautaro Martinez relatively quiet before being forced off with an injury early in the second half.

Marcos Alonso (5/10):

Spent almost the entire first half around the Inter penalty area but struggled to create any chances of note.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Gavi (6/10):

Gradually cut a more frustrated figure as things didn't go the teenager's way, and he allowed his frustrations to boil over at times.

Sergio Busquets (5/10):

Caught out of position for Calhanoglu's goal and struggled to track back when Inter launched counter-attacks.

Pedri (8/10):

Showed some outstanding touches in midfield to escape the Inter press and set up Barca attacks.