Europe player focus: 11 top picks from this gameweek (21-24 October)

By Maya Mahadevan

Modified Oct 26, 2016 08:38 GMT

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Harry Arter of AFC Bournemouth (L) and Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur (R) battle for possession during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) — Harry Arter (L) was excellent against Spurs

#5 Nabil Bentaleb, Schalke 04

Opponents: FSV Mainz 05

Competition: Bundesliga, Germany

*Schalke’s number 10 scored his first Bundesliga brace and helped seal a comfortable win against Mainz*

Nabil Bentaleb capped an all-round impressive showing with two scintillating goals that helped Schalke sink Mainz comfortably at the Veltins Arena.

The number 10 showed tremendous poise to score the opener from the edge of the box after Franco Di Santo had chested down the ball from a Goretzka cross. The Mainz defenders were too late to arrive and Bentaleb swerved away to celebrate. The Algerian was constantly involved in Schalke’s build-up play and had a part in the team’s second goal as well.

A perfect night was then made even sweeter with a superb strike from Schalke’s hero of the hour, just past the 60-minute mark with a clinical finish from close range.

Bentaleb’s first Bundesliga brace helped the Royal Blues to a second win in three league games after a disastrous five opening matches that culminated in losses.

Edited by Staff Editor