The most clinical players in the Europa League

As the Europa League returns to our screens tonight, we’ve looked into who the most clinical players have been in the competition so far.

We’ve ranked the top 10 most clinical players by how much they have overperformed their xG in the competition so far.  

With plenty of big European sides still in the competition, these players could make all the difference as we head into the business end of the competition. 

 

10. Victor Osimhen 

Napoli are hot on the heels of AC Milan in the Serie A at the moment and they were recently knocked out of the Europa League by Barcelona. Their top scorer Victor Osimhen makes it into the top 10, with an xG overperformance of 1.8 in Europe this season.  

The 23-year-old scored four goals throughout the group stages, including a brace against Leicester back in September.  

 

9. Berat Djimsiti 

Atalanta head into their second leg against Bayer 04 Leverkusen tonight with a delicate 3-2 lead.  

Having finished third in their Champions League group, Atalanta qualified for the Europa League and they managed to sweep aside Olympiacos in the Round of 32. Berat Djimsiti scored a brace in the first leg against the Greek side from an xG of just 0.1, giving him a total overperformance of 1.9 goals. 

 

8. Saïd Benrahma 

West Ham face a tough job of overturning the Europa League experts of Sevilla in their second leg as the Hammers are currently one goal down. Saïd Benrahma is certainly someone who can make the difference though as his numbers highlight just how clinical he’s been.  

The Algerian winger has scored three goals from an xG of 1.1, giving him an overperformance of 1.9 goals.  

 

7. Mislav Oršić 

Despite giving them a run for their money, Dinamo Zagreb were knocked out of the Europa League in the Round of 32 against Sevilla.  

Mislav Oršić scored each of their goals in their 3-2 aggregate defeat and throughout the competition, he has overperformed his xG by 1.9 goals.  

 

6. Tiquinho Soares 

Olympiacos forward Tiquinho Soares is next up on the list, with an xG overperformance of 2.2 goals. The Greek side were recently knocked out by Atalanta, but they look on track to win their third consecutive Greek Superleague tital this season.  

 

5. Ruslan Malinovskyi 

Ruslan Malinovskyi comes in as Atalanta’s second entry onto today’s list, with an overperformance of 2.2 goals.  

The Italian side have averaged 1.8 goals per 90 in the Serie A this season and they will have their sights set on European success this season.  

 

4. Robert Andrich 

Robert Andrich has had an eye for goal in the Europa League this season and his xG overperformance of 2.4 goals ranks him as the fourth most clinical player in the competition.  

The German midfielder has had a solid first season with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, after his move from Union Berlin in the summer.  

 

3. Karl Toko Ekambi 

Lyon have struggled for consistency in Ligue 1 this season as they currently sit 10th in the table, but they find themselves with every chance of qualifying for the next round in the Europa League.  

After beating Porto 1-0 in the first-leg, they take a one goal lead back to France with them. Karl Toko Ekambi has been their most prolific goalscorer in Europe with six goals from an xG of 3.6, giving him an overperformance of 2.4 goals.  

 

2. Moussa Diaby 

Leverkusen’s second entry onto today’s list is Moussa Diaby, who has overperformed his xG in Europe by 2.6 goals. Diaby scored Leverkusen’s second goal in their first-leg loss to Atalanta and he will look to make the difference in the reverse fixture.  

 

1. Galeno 

Coming in as the most clinical player in the Europa League this season we have Galeno, who is also the competition's joint-top goalscorer with six goals.  

The Brazilian spent the first half of the season with S.C. Braga, before he made a January move to FC Porto. He has scored six goals from an xG of just 3.3, giving him an overperformance of 2.7 goals.