UEFA.com's Europa League team of the week
Friday, May 15, 2015
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The heroes of FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's victory over SSC Napoli take pride of place alongside some canny Sevilla FC men in our selection of second-leg superstars.
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GK: Denys Boyko (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
Picked up where he left off in the first leg when coming out on top in a personal duel with Gonzalo Higuaín. Outstandingly denied the Argentinian twice in Kyiv, those saves complementing numerous others in treacherous goalkeeping conditions.
DF: Faouzi Ghoulam (SSC Napoli)
On a night when the Partenopei's attacking unit failed to fire, their most consistent threat came from the full-back down the left flank. Sent in sundry dangerous crosses and his boundless energy kept Napoli hopes up until the end.
DF: Daniel Carriço (Sevilla FC)
Mr UEFA Europa League, the Portuguese centre-back's 47th appearance in the competition was crowned by a rare goal, but the way he and his defensive team-mates closed down Fiorentina represented a greater contribution.
DF: Douglas (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
One of the stars of this season's tournament, the rangy Brazilian was at his best again in stymying the most prolific attack in the competition. A clearance off the line as Napoli piled on the pressure late on typified his night and campaign.
DF: Coke (Sevilla FC)
Aleix Vidal was Sevilla's killer right-back in the first leg, scoring twice; Coke was less attack-minded in the same position yet he kept busy – notably laying across the ball from which the holders notched their second goal.
MF: Jaba Kankava (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
It was a night ideally suited to the Georgian warrior in the middle of the park. As the rain drenched the NSK Olimpiyskyi pitch, the 29-year-old midfielder neutralised Napoli's attacks at source time and again.
MF: Valeriy Luchkevych (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
An all-action presence down the right, the No24 enjoyed an energetic evening up against Ghoulam and got away from his man enough times to create danger. Almost hit the opener when fizzing a shot across goal early in the second half.
MF: Éver Banega (Sevilla FC)
Having threaded in the free-kick that set up Carlos Bacca's opener, Unai Emery's former charge from Valencia CF probed and toiled – and by the time he was taken off on 55 minutes, his job (and Sevilla's) was done.
FW: Carlos Bacca (Sevilla FC)
The former Club Brugge KV man was in the hunt for a goal from the off – he was in the Fiorentina box within seconds of the first whistle. The predatory Colombian's goal on 22 minutes killed off the Viola's resistance.
FW: Yevhen Seleznyov (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
A rampaging presence in attack, the Ukrainian international proved a nightmare for defenders. He bulldozed his way towards the visiting goal time and again and showed outstanding strength to hold off his marker when heading the winner.
FW: Mohamed Salah (ACF Fiorentina)
A menace with his back to goal, the Egyptian's clever touches and turns gave Fiorentina their best chance of retrieving a miserable situation against Sevilla. He bows out of this campaign with his reputation enhanced.