The weekly post that goes over the highlights of each match day of LaLiga EA Sports is back. This week, the protagonists of LaLiga Overtime are Jules Koundé, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Assane Diao.
LaLiga Overtime – Match Day #8:
The best version of Jules Koundé:
This week, FC Barcelona hosted Sevilla and, consequently, a former foe, Sergio Ramos. Exactly like it would have happened in a ‘the last straw of’ joke, Xavi Hernández‘s pupils secured the three points thanks to an own goal by the defender born in Camas. As a result of the win, the ‘Culés’ remain undefeated in the league and currently rank second, a single point behind Real Madrid.
The duel was also special for Jules Koundé, who faced his former team. The Frenchman, who had a solid performance, is living the best moment of his career. After many people doubted him as a result of some of last season’s matches and playing out of his main position for most of it, Koundé has had an insane start to the season.
In the center of the defense, his natural position, Koundé has proven why Xavi insisted so much in his signing. An overwhelming player, poweful in aerial situations thanks to his jumping ability, with enough pace to defend in transition, gifted with speed to follow opposing runs and solid to start off plays with short and long balls. All of those traits make the Frenchman the best defender in the ‘blaugrana’ side.
To put into context how good his season has been, no defender has managed to dribble past him in the first eight matches he has played in the league this season. Although Barça’s spotlight has been hoarded by De Jong, Lamine Yamal and both Joãos (Cancelo and Félix), at LaLiga Overtime we want to emphasize the best version of Jules Koundé.
Oh lá lá Aurélien!
Aurélien Tchouaméni was Real Madrid‘s star signing last season. The French pivot arrived in the capital city of Spain in a transfer worth 80 million euros from Mónaco. In addition, the departure of Casemiro, an icon of ‘The Whites’ in that position, granted the Frenchman with the starting spot from the start. Tchouaméni was asigned a practically impossible task: making Real Madrid fans forget Carlos Henrique Casemiro.
The first campaign was rough for good old Aurélien, especially after the World Cup. But the start to this season has been magnificent for the French midfielder. He has become the mudguard of Real Madrid’s midfield. Moreover, the change in the team’s formation (from a 4-3-3 to a 4-1-2-1-2) ensures that Real Madrid’s number ‘8’ will recieve more defensive coverage.
The Italian manager has great confidence in him, and the Frenchman has responded in the best possible way. This weekend, Real Madrid visited Montilivi, the home of the surprising leader of the competition, Girona, one of the protagonists in the latest edition of LaLiga Overtime. A tough match in which Real Madrid came out victorious with a 0-3 result that brought them back up to the top of the Spanish championship.
A heavily demanding match in which Tchouaméni displayed a great performance. He supported his team’s midfield and the statistics back it up. A 72% success rate in duels (eight out of eleven), three interceptions and four successful tackles prove the dominance of the Frenchman thanks to his physical exuberance. The cherry on top was the appearance of a plane from ‘Rouen Airlines’ (his hometown) as Aurelién scored his first goal for Real Madrid. A performance that proves that Tchouaméni is taking a step forward.
How talented Diao is!
Real Betis Balompié’s 18-year-old Assane Diao. One of the new sensations of LaLiga that is taking the competition by storm with two goals in his first couple of matches played in the domestic competition. Behind Pablo Pombo (17 years and 152 days old) in 1933, Diao is the youngest player in the history of LaLiga (18 years and 24 days old) to score in his first two matches in the competition.
A player with surreal sass for his age. This week against Valencia and in front of Betis’ fanbase, Assane was the protagonist of one of the plays of the season. A turnaround nutmeg, performed like his soul was possessed by Ronaldinho, excited all of the Andalusian institution. A splurge of talent that drew shades of the early years of Joaquín cruising through the wing of Benito Villamarín (which back then was the Manuel Ruíz de Lopera stadium).
A kid born with Seville’s creativity who, in addition, has good instincts towards the goal. He was the author of the opening goal in the matches against Granada and Valencia. An igniter that has become a new idol for Benito Villamarín. If that was not enough, Assane has strong feelings for the badge. The Spanish player born in Senegal stated the following during half-time: “It was a dream for me to play here and score a goal. I have been lucky to fulfill it today”.
We will see what football has in store for the ‘verdiblanco’ player, but his introduction has been worthy of honors recognition. He now has a tremendous challenge in his professional career in football: to sustain an unbelievable level and to not let off-the-pitch matters distract him from his goal. Real Betis and Spain have a diamond in Assane Diao, a diamond that should handled and polished carefully.
Translated by Nuño Alonso.
Main image: Edit by Pablo Benítez.
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