Pierre Kalulu, Rayan Cherki and Christopher Nkunku headline weekend French XI | OneFootball

French players lit up England, Italy and Belgium as L'Équipe named a weekend French XI in a 4-3-3 headlined by Pierre Kalulu, Rayan Cherki and Christopher Nkunku. Germany and Spain were on pause. Como's Jean Butez, back after nearly two months out, kept a seventh clean sheet in the 3-0 win at Lecce, saving from Youssef Maleh at 48 minutes and staying composed in possession aside from a 54-minute scare.

Mechelen's Thérence Koudou lashed a right-foot volley from a corner after eight minutes in a 1-1 draw with Dender. Kalulu broke open Juventus's 2-0 success at Pisa at 73 minutes from a Weston McKennie cross deflected in off Arturo Calabresi, keeping the fourth-placed side close to the summit despite a game more. Billy Koumetio anchored Dundee's 1-0 victory over Falkirk with eight of nine duels won and 17 clearances, while Jules Gaudin impressed for 75 minutes as Charleroi upset Anderlecht 2-1.

Omar Correia decided Juve Stabia's 1-0 against Sud Tirol, regaining the ball before assisting and posting 92 percent passing with nine of 11 duels won. Boubacar Kamara earned a seventh selection, combative in Aston Villa's 2-1 win at Chelsea, their 11th straight, and he was denied by Robert Sanchez at 61 minutes.

Adrien Rabiot starred in Milan's 3-0 defeat of Hellas Verona, winning 10 duels and five recoveries, and his headed flick from a Luka Modric corner led to Christian Pulisic's 45+1 opener, his second assist of the season. He also took three shots.

Rayan Cherki orchestrated Manchester City's 2-1 at Nottingham Forest, supplying Tijjani Reijnders with a no-look pass at 48 minutes then volleying in a corner routine at 83. Christopher Nkunku struck twice for Milan against Verona, winning and converting a 48-minute penalty after a shirt pull by Viktor Nelsson before finishing after a Modric effort hit the post at 53, a brace that will boost his confidence.

Source: L'Équipe