Raphinha scores hat-trick in 100th appearance for Barca
Brazilian winger Raphinha celebrated his 100th appearance for FC Barcelona with a hat-trick goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League encounter on Wednesday night.
Premier League giants Manchester United had offloaded several players from the squad in the summer transfer window and roped in new players to have a fresh set of players to work with after a poor 2018-19 season. However, some of the players that departed ways from the club are having a season to remember so far. One player has been particularly impressive and it is none other than Chris Smalling. In fact stats reveal that Chris Smalling has performed better than Virgil van Dijk in one key aspect of the game.
Chris Smalling had been loaned out to AS Roma on a season long loan where he has been in splendid form. He has become a key member of the Roma squad after joining the Italian side late in the summer transfer window. To highlight how well Smalling has performed this season, let us take the help of stats.
Smalling has the most successful aerial duels rate per game in the league and is yet to be dribbled past this season. On the other hand, widely regarded as one of the best defenders in modern day football, Virgil van Dijk has already been dribbled past three times.
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Notably, Van Dijk recorded scarcely believable numbers in the previous season to secure a Ballon d’Or nomination this year. The Dutchman was dribbled past zero times zero times until the start of the new season. His performance played a major role in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League winning season.
Meanwhile the Red Devils have gradually got used to the absence of Smalling. However, reports from certain sections of the media claim that they are not willing to let Smalling join Roma on a permanent deal.
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