By El Akyereko Frimpong
Follow the writer on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial
In a weekend marking the return of various top-flight league across Europe and rest of the globe, Ghanaian players returned to action for their clubs with over 180 players featuring in games.Â
Chelsea claimed a priceless 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the Stamford Bridge with Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman making his Premier League debut for Jose Mourinho's side. Elsewhere Afriyie Acquah flourished in midfield for Torino who shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate with AC Milan.
Ghanaian stars put out outstanding displays for their clubs with most making huge statements about their qualities in Europe's top-four leagues.
Here's GHANAsoccernet.com's Team of the Week picked by Players Abroad expert El Akyereko Frimpong after monitoring how players fared over the weekend.
GOALKEEPER - LAWRENCE ATI-ZIGI (Liefering)
Ghana has not had a young goalkeeper playing abroad with so much world class qualities since until Ati came into the picture. The 18-year-old produced a series of saves at critical times to help Liefering hold Austria Salzburg to a 2-2 draw. The Ghana U20 goalkeeper expressed a string of brilliant feline agility to once again show his qualities for the future. Of all the three Ghanaian goalkeepers playing abroad this weekend (others - Razak Braimah and Adam Kwarasey) Ati pulled the most of saves to get the nod as the custodian for the week.
DEFENDER - DENNIS APPIAH (Caen)
Watching this 23-year-old lad in action for Caen at Stade Reims on Sunday night was a delight. He was a remainder of Samuel Inkoom at his peak at FC Basel some couple of seasons back. Appiah defended with confidence and took life out of the Reims attack spearheaded by his Ghanaian compatriot Grejohn Kyei. Though Harrison Afful lasted the entire minutes for Columbus Crew in the American Major League Soccer, Appiah made and won more defensive tackles and offensive incursions than any other right-back who played abroad over the weekend.
DEFENDER - DANIEL AMARTEY (FC Copenhagen)
In his own spirit of versatility and useful utility, Amartey slotted in well at central defence for Stale Solbakken's side and marshaled the lines with his superb defensive abilities. Amartey was commanding in the air, strong in his challenges and won more 50-50 challenges than any other central defender during the weekend. Though Hobro trekked to the Parken with a weaker attacking front, Amartey was the main reason why they failed to produce any real threat in attack.
DEFENDER - JOSEPH BAFFO (Eintracht Braunschweig)
Baffo walks into the team for the first time since the start of the season. His performance in Eintracht Braunschweig's game over the weekend was commendable. The former Norwich City transfer target stood between Paderborn and goals as he made timely clearances to save his side from going down by more goals. In his after game statement he insisted he does not believe Braunschweig lost the game despite a solid performance.
DEFENDER - BABA RAHMAN (Chelsea)
It was nervy opening minutes for the 21-year-old but he recovered well after the break for the Premier League title-holders who sneaked past Aston Villa 2-0. Mourinho handed the youngster his first Premier League start since the start of the season and he gave a good account of himself as Diego Costa scored both goals to propel them to a victory.
MIDFIELDER - AFRIYIE ACQUAH (Torino)
Acquah was the only player after Razak Braimah who started in Tuesday's international friendly with Canada and played the entire game for his club over the weekend. Despite the assumed fatigue of the trip, the 23-year-old faced the Milan midfield and marched them boot-for-boot without breaking sweat. He excelled in the middle and competed well with Recardo Montolivio and Bertolacci in midfield.
MIDFIELDER - ERNEST ASANTE (Stabaek IF)
This lad is in the form of his life. He continued to display his confidence on the flanks and used his impressive trickery and patent lightening-pace speed to outwit his markers. On an afternoon when things did not go as planned for Bob Bradley's men, Asante once again stood out and scored an outstanding consolation goal for Stabaek as they slipped to a 4-1 home loss against Aalesund. Â This former Manchester United triallist has scored more goals (10) from the wings than any other Ghanaian players since the start of the season.
MIDFIELDER - PRINCE BUABEN ABANKWAH (Heart of Midlothian)
The former Ajax Amsterdam academy graduate led Heart to the Tannadice Park to face his former club and he pulled the strings from the middle to ensure the Jambos claimed all the maximum points at stake. Buaben simply shone. His intelligent cut-through passes and midfield-splitting movements reduced the hosts's midfield to mere shadow chasers as Heart won the tie. Buaben completed more passes (27) than any other Ghanaian midfielder who played during the weekend.
MIDFIELDER - INAKI WILLIAMS (Athletic Bilbao)
What a performance by the Spain U21 international who had a Ghanaian blood. Inaki refused to play like a player who missed part of the pre-season for Athletic. He was in full swing from the start of the game and fired the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark. He was a real trouble for Deportivo until he was replaced in the 76th minute.
FORWARD - MAHATMA OTOO (Sogndal IF)
The former Hearts of Oak attacker gave a gist of his lethal abilities by hitting a brace for Sogndal IF who sealed their return to the Norwegian top-flight with three games to spare. Otoo was a bigger force and relied on his extraordinary physique and shooting abilities. Great by the former Ghana U23 captain.
FORWARD - BENJAMIN TETTEH (Standard Liege)
What a goal on his a appearance! The 18-year-old used the game at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne as a protege to show he is one destined for a great future as he netted a fabulous strike before 23000 home fans. Tetteh gatecrashed the starting line-up and excelled for the minutes he lasted. He gave Liege manager Yannick Ferrera to really look up to him for goals. Great prospect!