Kenedy’s impressive season in Spain continued this week as he contributed a goal and an assist in Granada’s Europa League victory against Napoli. The Brazilian started on the left of a front three in Andalusia but found himself cutting in from the right when creating the opening goal, his deep cross to the back post headed in by Yangel Herrera.

Moments later, the 25-year-old netted a goal of his own to hand Granada control of the Round of 32 tie, advancing down the left before firing a powerful strike across goal and into the far corner. It was his seventh goal of the season and his third in the past five games, highlighting the prolific form he has found in finding the back of the net.

However, there was disappointment three days later as Granada were beaten 3-2 by La Liga’s bottom side Huesca, leaving them 11 points adrift of the Europa League qualification places. Kenedy came on for the final 15 minutes of that one.

On the opposite side in their European clash was Tiemoue Bakayoko, the Frenchman introduced after 64 minutes to no avail as the Neapolitans were beaten, as they were at the weekend 4-2 by Atalanta in Serie A in which the midfielder played throughout.

Young strikers find the net

Armando Broja was among the goals again this week in the Eredivisie. The 19-year-old netted his eighth of a productive first loan as he gave Vitesse an early lead against PSV Eindhoven with a firm low effort from inside the penalty area.

It was not enough to earn them a point though, as Mario Gotze inspired a late comeback to seal a 3-1 victory. Vitesse remain four points adrift of the Champions League places in the Netherlands.

Another striker from our Academy also netted in Europe as Ike Ugbo helped fire Cercle Brugge to a 2-1 win against Mouscron. The win, Cercle’s first in five in the Jupiler League, keeps them out of the bottom two on goal difference.

Baba Rahman scored for PAOK in a 4-0 win against Lamia, finishing neatly inside the six-yard box after bursting forward from left-back. He completed 90 minutes but PAOK remain a hefty 12 points adrift of league leaders Olympiacos in Greece.

Ruben helps Fulham move towards safety

In the Premier League, Ruben Loftus-Cheek played back-to-back 90 minutes as Scott Parker’s side picked up four points from their two games this week. The Cottagers had to settle for a draw away at Burnley as former Chelsea defender Ola Aina got himself on the scoresheet before they beat fellow strugglers Sheffield United 1-0 in a big game at the bottom on Saturday night.

The midfielder almost gave his side the lead with a brilliant run that was only thwarted by a goal-line clearance, before Ademola Lookman sealed a second win in three for Fulham, who now move to within three points of safety.

For the Blades, Ethan Ampadu featured throughout in the back three, as he had done five days previously in a 3-0 loss at West Ham.

Ross Barkley was involved for all but the final 15 minutes as Aston Villa were beaten by Leicester City, while Conor Gallagher featured for the duration as West Brom played out a goalless draw with Burnley.

Mixed fortunes in Europe

Elsewhere in Europe, Fikayo Tomori was in Europa League action for AC Milan in midweek, completing the game as the Italian side drew 2-2 with Red Star Belgrade. However, their Serie A title aspirations were handed a blow at the weekend as they lost the derby with Inter 3-0.

Davide Zappacosta got 90 minutes at right wing-back as Genoa drew 2-2 with Verona, while Trevoh Chalobah’s Lorient lost 4-1 to Ligue 1 leaders Lille.

In Serbia, Danilo Pantic started in a pair of 2-0 victories for Cukaricki, against Rad and Zlatibor Cajetina. Victor Moses, meanwhile, picked up a pair of yellow cards as he was sent off in Spartak Moscow’s 2-0 defeat to city rivals Dynamo in the Russian Cup last-16.

Juan Castillo played throughout as ADO Den Haag lost 2-0 at Sittard in the Eredivisie, while Marco van Ginkel got the final five minutes in a 4-2 Europa League loss for PSV at Olympiacos.

Defenders in the Championship

Jake Clarke-Salter recorded 90 minutes in successive Championship matches for the first time as a Birmingham City player as the Midlanders lost 2-0 at Millwall and then beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0. It leaves Aitor Karanka’s side a couple of points the right side of the drop zone heading into the final 15 games of the campaign.

Further up the division, Marc Guehi helped promotion-chasing Swansea City to another clean sheet in their 1-0 midweek victory against Nottingham Forest before featuring in an uncharacteristic 4-1 loss at Huddersfield Town. The Swans are eight points off the summit with two games in hand.

In League One, Luke McCormick started for Bristol Rovers in their 3-1 win over Portsmouth and 2-0 defeat at Gillingham. The Gas have since appointed former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton as their new manager.

Young goalkeeper Nathan Baxter recently notched his 150th senior appearance and this week added another clean sheet to his tally as Accrington Stanley beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0. They followed that up by sharing the points in a 1-1 draw with Gillingham, leaving them just outside the play-off positions. Jon Russell came on for the final few minutes in the latter fixture.

Ian Maatsen played an hour at left-back as Charlton Athletic drew 1-1 at Fleetwood Town. In League Two, Jamie Cumming helped Stevenage to a stalemate with Walsall by the same scoreline.