In the fifth instalment of this season's Eredivisie Team of the Week, we see a well-balanced squad with players from all over the country. Courtesy of Flashscore's ratings system - here are our week's top performers!
GK: Vasilis Barkas (FC Utrecht) - 8.1
The Greek stopper only played 45 minutes before being taken off with a calf injury, but impressed in his one half against FC Groningen. Barkas recorded four saves, three of which came against Jorg Schreuders, and notched a prevented xG of 0.69.
His injury doesn't seem too bad, luckily for FC Utrecht, as they'll embark on their first Europa League journey since 2011 later this month.
DEF: Givairo Read (Feyenoord) - 8.6
Givairo Read struggled with his fitness in the early parts of the season and was given his second start of the season against Heerenveen, but immediately showed why many think very highly of him.
Read played 62 minutes and helped facilitate the only goal of the game by niftily extending a pass with his backheel, allowing Anis Hadj Moussa to score the winner in the first half. Furthermore, the Dutch youth international created two chances, won three tackles, won five duels, and recorded four clearances.
DEF: Joris Kramer (Go Ahead Eagles) - 8.4
UEFA Europa League contestants Go Ahead Eagles finally won their first Eredivisie game over the weekend, beating FC Volendam 3-0 in Deventer, and their trusted defensive partnership of Joris Kramer and Gerrit Nauber played big parts in that success.
Kramer held it down tightly at the back for the Deventer with 15 clearances, one won tackle, and 2/3 won duels, but also provided attacking firepower by creating Jakob Breum's 1-0 in the fifth minute.
DEF: Teo Quintero (Sparta) - 8.0
Sparta escaped against ten-man Excelsior late thanks to a goal from Ayoub Oufkir, and the fact they were even still in the contest was largely down to a solid defensive performance from Teo Quintero.
The Venezuelan centre-half cleared the ball 11 times, won two tackles and eight duels, but also recorded the most touches (85) and completed passes (53) among all Sparta players. Oufkir received the plaudits, but Quintero was the silent hero at the back.
DEF: Gijs Smal (Feyenoord) - 8.0
Smal filled in for Australian Jordan Bos, who was given some extra rest after travelling from the other side of the world, and did a commendable job.
The former Twente and Volendam left-back won five of his seven duels, both of his tackles, had a 100% accuracy on passes in the final third, and cleared the ball seven times against Heerenveen. What more could you ask for your back-up left-back?
MID: Jakob Breum (Go Ahead Eagles) - 8.4
Danish starlet Jakob Breum was close to leaving the Eagles for Celtic last summer, but did not see his big move materialise and stayed in Deventer, where they're still more than happy to see the youngster play.
Against Volendam, Breum made an early impact by scoring the opener in the fifth minute, and he did not stop there. The 21-year-old Dane fired four shots on target, created two big chances, led his side with seven entries into the final third, and completed two crosses.
Breum is a player to watch out for when the Eagles enter the UEFA Europa League later this month.
MID: Joey Veerman (PSV) - 9.1
How could we ever look past the man who already surpassed his goal tally from last season in his fourth game of the season, and did that spectacularly?
Joey Veerman was a driving force in PSV's 5-3 win over NEC Nijmegen, creating four chances, 62 touches, making three interceptions, and, notably, providing an assist and scoring the Eredivisie's goal of the week, spectacularly placing the ball in the top corner from distance.
Veerman was everywhere and looks to be back at his best after seeing a summer move to Brentford fall apart.
MID: Kenneth Taylor (Ajax) - 8.3
Kenneth Taylor was crucial for Ajax in last year’s title charge and was on the verge of joining former Ajax boss Francesco Farioli at FC Porto, but instead stayed in Amsterdam.
The midfielder played a big role in Mika Godts’ 2-0 by providing the assist after seemingly picking up an injury, and the pre-assist before Davy Klaassen’s opener. Taylor thus created two big chances, and notched two won tackles, and five won duels in the 3-1 win over PEC Zwolle.
FW: Makan Aiko (Fortuna Sittard) - 8.6
Substitutes can have massive impacts on games, and Makan Aiko was the game-changer from Fortuna Sittard this past weekend.
The Frenchman was brought on in the 61st minute, just as Fortuna struggled to get anything going against Telstar. Aiko changed the trajectory of the match by scoring the 2-1 and finishing off the game with the 3-1 from a lightning-quick counter. All in a third of a day's work.
FW: Ricardo Pepi (PSV) - 9.6 (PotW)
In his first start since the Champions League meeting with Liverpool in late January, USMNT star Pepi was vital in PSV’s 5-3 away win in Nijmegen with two vital goals.
El Tren played 65 minutes for PSV, who had it all to prove after previously losing 2-0 at home to Telstar, who booked their first Eredivisie win since 1978.
His crucial role in PSV’s stunning win earned Pepi a near perfect score and his first Player of the Week award of the season.
FW: Mika Godts (Ajax) - 8.8
Mika Godts was given his first start under new boss Johnny Heitinga as Raul Moro was not fully fit, and the Belgian made the absolute most of it.
The skilful winger wreaked havoc on the left, first assisting Klaassen’s 1-0 before scoring two goals himself. Godts led Ajax in shots, an accumulated xG of 1.04, seven touches in the opposition’s box, two created big chances, 18 passes in the final third, and two successful dribbles.
A brilliant way to get himself back into contention for a spot in the starting lineup.