{"id":13518,"date":"2026-08-26T15:21:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T12:21:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/?p=13518"},"modified":"2026-08-26T15:21:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T12:21:35","slug":"top-performers-in-europes-gameweek-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/top-performers-in-europes-gameweek-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Performers in Europe\u2019s Gameweek 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Was the Best Player Overall?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Donyell Malen was the best player across the selected European leagues in Gameweek 1. The Roma striker scored a brilliant hat-trick in a 4\u20130 victory over Fiorentina and received the only perfect 10 rating in the supplied graphic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barcelona captain Raphinha provided the strongest competition after recording two goals and an assist in a 5\u20130 victory over Elche. Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer and new Paris Saint-Germain striker Ferran Torres also started their domestic campaigns with decisive attacking performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The player ratings in the graphic come from PlayCope and should be treated as editorial assessments. Ratings can vary between statistical and media platforms, but the goals, assists and match results confirm that all four players had exceptional opening weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Europe\u2019s Top Gameweek 1 Performers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Rank<\/th><th>Player<\/th><th>Club<\/th><th>League<\/th><th>Rating<\/th><th>Gameweek contribution<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Donyell Malen<\/td><td>Roma<\/td><td>Serie A<\/td><td>10.0<\/td><td>Three goals<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Raphinha<\/td><td>Barcelona<\/td><td>La Liga<\/td><td>9.9<\/td><td>Two goals and one assist<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Cole Palmer<\/td><td>Chelsea<\/td><td>Premier League<\/td><td>8.9<\/td><td>One goal and one assist<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Ferran Torres<\/td><td>Paris Saint-Germain<\/td><td>Ligue 1<\/td><td>8.6<\/td><td>Two goals as a substitute<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Donyell Malen Produces a Perfect Serie A Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roma opened their 2026\/27 Serie A campaign by demolishing Fiorentina 4\u20130 at the Stadio Olimpico. Malen was the main difference between the teams, scoring three times before being substituted in the 68th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paulo Dybala supplied the creativity, providing the passes for all three of Malen\u2019s goals. The Dutch forward complemented that service with movement, speed and ruthless finishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malen scored his first goal in the 27th minute before adding two more after halftime. Nicol\u00f2 Pisilli completed the victory with Roma\u2019s fourth goal late in the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malen finished the game with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Three goals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Five shots<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Twelve touches inside the opposition penalty area<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A match-winning contribution in under 70 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A perfect 10 rating in the supplied graphic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roma also controlled the match defensively, preventing Fiorentina from creating a recognised big chance. Malen\u2019s clinical finishing transformed that control into an emphatic opening victory. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/match\/_\/gameId\/401874928\/fiorentina-as-roma\">Roma\u2019s 4\u20130 win was confirmed by ESPN<\/a>, while Italian player ratings named him the best player on the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A hat-trick on the opening weekend is difficult to overlook. Malen combined individual brilliance with the most decisive contribution of any player featured, making him the clear Gameweek 1 winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Raphinha Inspires Barcelona\u2019s Five-Goal Show<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raphinha began Barcelona\u2019s La Liga title defence with a captain\u2019s performance during a dominant 5\u20130 win away to Elche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Brazilian was involved in three of Barcelona\u2019s five goals. He won and converted the penalty that opened the scoring, assisted Karim Adeyemi\u2019s first Barcelona goal and later scored again following an excellent pass from debutant Anthony Gordon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raphinha\u2019s Gameweek 1 numbers included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two goals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One assist<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three chances created<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three shots on target<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A penalty won and converted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A 9.9 performance rating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez also scored twice, while Gordon provided two assists from the bench. However, Raphinha was the central figure in Barcelona\u2019s attacking display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelona.com\/en\/football\/first-team\/news\/4565259\/elche-0-5-fc-barcelona-statement-of-intent\">official Barcelona match report<\/a> highlighted his brace, assist and importance in a convincing opening victory. Bar\u00e7a produced five goals without reply and immediately established themselves as title contenders once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raphinha narrowly missed out on the overall Gameweek 1 award because Malen scored a hat-trick and received the perfect rating. Nevertheless, the Barcelona captain arguably delivered the most complete attacking performance because he scored, created and consistently troubled Elche\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Cole Palmer Returns to His Best for Chelsea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cole Palmer helped Chelsea begin the Premier League season with an entertaining 3\u20132 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Palmer created the opening goal after only 32 seconds, flicking the ball into Jo\u00e3o Pedro\u2019s path before the Brazilian lifted his finish over Bernd Leno. Palmer later scored Chelsea\u2019s third goal, calmly directing his shot through the goalkeeper\u2019s legs from a difficult angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Chelsea playmaker registered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One goal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One assist<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Five shots<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Five successful dribbles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ten duels won<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three key passes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nine touches in the Fulham penalty area<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An 88% passing accuracy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chelsea\u2019s official analysis also credited Palmer with seven possession recoveries and three recoveries in the attacking third. His pressing contributed to the buildup of Chelsea\u2019s first two goals. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chelseafc.com\/en\/news\/article\/analysis-how-potm-cole-palmer-inspired-blues-to-victory\">Chelsea named Palmer its Player of the Match<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His performance was particularly encouraging after an inconsistent 2025\/26 season. Playing close to Jo\u00e3o Pedro and Morgan Rogers in Xabi Alonso\u2019s system gave Palmer the freedom to receive possession between Fulham\u2019s defence and midfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chelsea still displayed defensive weaknesses by conceding twice, but Palmer\u2019s creativity ensured Alonso started his competitive reign with three points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Ferran Torres Rescues PSG on His Ligue 1 Debut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ferran Torres made an extraordinary Paris Saint-Germain debut by coming off the bench and scoring twice to secure a 2\u20132 draw against Rennes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PSG entered halftime two goals behind after strikes from Sebastian Szyma\u0144ski and Est\u00e9ban Lepaul. Luis Enrique responded by introducing Torres at the beginning of the second half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Spanish forward reduced the deficit in the 71st minute after receiving a pass from Fabi\u00e1n Ruiz. Eleven minutes later, the same combination delivered the equaliser, with Torres guiding a well-placed header into the far corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ferran\u2019s contribution included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two goals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both PSG goals in the match<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A match-saving equaliser<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A decisive performance after entering at halftime<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An 8.6 rating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psg.fr\/en\/content\/led-by-ferran-paris-stage-a-remarkable-comeback-in-rennes-match-report-stade-rennais-paris-saint-germain-ligue-1-journee-1-2026-2027\">official PSG match report<\/a> credited Torres with transforming the match and leading the second-half comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although PSG failed to secure three points, Torres prevented the champions from beginning their season with a defeat. Scoring twice during one half of a debut makes him one of the biggest Gameweek 1 stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Malen Was Gameweek 1\u2019s Best Player<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All four players produced decisive contributions, but Malen deserves the overall award for three main reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, he scored more goals than any other player on the list. Second, Roma won their game comfortably, meaning his individual performance directly delivered three points. Third, he completed his hat-trick in fewer than 70 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raphinha was outstanding in a wider creative role, but Malen\u2019s efficiency gave him the advantage. Palmer contributed at both ends and controlled several important attacking statistics, while Torres delivered a dramatic comeback despite playing only one half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final Gameweek 1 ranking is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Donyell Malen \u2013 Overall winner<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Raphinha \u2013 Best all-round attacking display<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cole Palmer \u2013 Premier League\u2019s leading performer<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ferran Torres \u2013 Best substitute performance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What These Performances Mean for the Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malen\u2019s hat-trick suggests he could become a major goalscorer under Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma. His combination with Dybala will be important to the club\u2019s Serie A ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raphinha has already demonstrated that he can lead Barcelona\u2019s attack and provide goals even when operating centrally. His fitness could prove decisive as Barcelona target another La Liga title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Palmer\u2019s goal and assist offer Chelsea supporters hope that he can return to his highest level under Xabi Alonso. His developing partnership with Jo\u00e3o Pedro and Rogers gives Chelsea an exciting attacking foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For PSG, Torres\u2019 debut brace could earn him an immediate opportunity in the starting line-up. His movement and finishing supplied exactly what the French champions needed during a difficult opening match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Follow Europe\u2019s Top Players with Bangbet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Football fans can follow Malen, Raphinha, Palmer, Torres and other European stars throughout the season with Bangbet. Available markets may include match winners, goalscorers, assists and total goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always check confirmed starting line-ups, injuries, current form and the latest odds before placing a bet. No player performance or betting outcome is guaranteed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bet responsibly with Bangbet. Gambling is strictly for adults aged 18 and above. Only stake what you can afford to lose and never chase losses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bangbet.com\">Bangbet<\/a> More Than Win!<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who Was the Best Player Overall? Donyell Malen was the best player across the selected European leagues in Gameweek 1. The Roma striker scored a brilliant hat-trick in a 4\u20130 victory over Fiorentina and received the only perfect 10 rating in the supplied graphic. Barcelona captain Raphinha provided the strongest competition after recording two goals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":13519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,34],"tags":[3478,3481,3480,3482,3479,3483],"class_list":["post-13518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-news","category-football-odds","tag-best-player-gameweek-1","tag-cole-palmer-chelsea","tag-donyell-malen-hat-trick","tag-ferran-torres-psg","tag-raphinha-barcelona-performance","tag-top-performers-in-europe-gameweek-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13518"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13521,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13518\/revisions\/13521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}