Ligue 1 Team of the Week: Round 17 - Lille trio make the list as Valenciennes' win over Montpellier is rewarded

Goal.com rates the best performances of round 17 in Ligue 1

Dec 12, 2011 12:00:00 PM

More On :  AC Ajaccio, AJ Auxerre, AS Nancy-Lorraine, AS Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux, Dijon FCO, Evian Thonon Gaillard, FC Lorient, FC Sochaux, LOSC Lille Métropole, Montpellier HSC, OGC Nice, Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, Paris Saint-Germain, SM Caen, Stade Brestois 29, Stade Rennais FC, Toulouse FC, Valenciennes FC
Ligue 1 : Olivier Giroud (Montpellier)
Panoramic

Ligue 1


Team Of The Week:

Round 17

Table/Results

GOALKEEPER

Guillermo OCHOA
Ajaccio
TOTW Apps: 3
Guillermo Ochoa makes another appearance as Ligue 1's best performing goalkeeper after an assured performance in round 17. Despite being beaten twice, the Mexican international more than proved his worth with a series of fine blocks and saves to ensure the bottom-placed club saved a point against Nancy. 
DEFENDERS

Mathieu DEBUCHY
Lille
TOTW Apps: 6
Nicolas N'KOULOU
Nice
TOTW Apps: 3
David DUCOURTIOUX
Valenciennes
TOTW Apps: 2
Jonathan ZEBINA
Stade Brestois
TOTW Apps: 1

Lille's Mathieu Debuchy fills in the right-back role again as the French international stood out on the flank in his side's 2-0 win over Dijon. Debuchy had played a pivotal role in midweek, and his form continued. Nicolas N'Koulou's burgeoning reputation continued as he kept Marseille in the game during a 0-0 draw against Bordeaux. N'Koulou ensured a clean sheet for Steve Mandanda with a series of late interventions to salvage a point.

Valenciennes' David Ducourtioux makes his debut in TOTW with arguably the best defensive performance in Ligue 1 this season. The captain was instrumental in stifling the advances of Olivier Giroud and Co. as Daniel Sanchez's men secured a shock victory over league leaders Montpellier. Rounding off the defence is former Juventus defender Jonathan Zebina whose commendable display ensured Brest salvaged a 1-1 draw at Rennes.

MIDFIELDERS

Foued KADIR
Valenciennes
TOTW Apps: 2
Mohamed SISSOKO
PSG
TOTW Apps:1
Banel NICOLITA
Saint Etienne
TOTW Apps: 2

Valenciennes' Foued Kadir stole the headlines as he grabbed a 46th minute winner to nudge VAFC past league leaders Montpellier en route to a shock victory. Kadir had outperformed his opponents with a composed display in the middle of the park. Mohamed Sissoko joins the midfielders after his defensive shift enabled PSG to a narrow 1-0 win over Sochaux. Saint Etienne's Romanian international Banel Nicolita completes the three-man midfield after scoring in les Verts' 2-0 win over Caen. Nicolita grabbed the man of the match gong, as les Malherbes failed to keep the playmaker quiet.

FORWARDS

Umut BULUT
Toulouse
TOTW Apps: 1

  
 Moussa SOW
Lille
TOTW Apps: 3


Eden HAZARD
Lille
TOTW Apps: 3

Toulouse's Umit Bulut makes the grade after netting a late winner to secure le Tefece a 2-1 win over Evian. The Turkish striker had been a threat all game to the visitors, and was rewarded with his perseverance with a well-taken goal. Moussa Sow overcame the heartbreak of a Champions League exit as he propelled Lille to a 2-0 win over Dijon as they stayed in the title hunt. Rounding off the forwards on round 17 is les Dogues team-mate Eden Hazard. The Belgian wonderkid was a thorn in Dijon's side as he set up Sow, amongst other attacking endeavours.

Ligue 1 Team of the Week: Round 16 - Giroud stars once again as Montpellier trio make the list

 

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