Thursday's top Europa League performers

With the Champions League back, Europe's second competition is also underway once more. The Europa League is full of difficult places to visit mixed with some top teams that had a poor league season previously. There are plenty of excellent players taking part.

After matchday one on Thursday night, Sports Mole picks out some key performers who helped their teams to early strong displays.

Michu:

Michu arrived at Swansea City last summer for a nominal fee, surprising many with just how quickly he settled into the Premier League. His performances last season propelled Swansea into Europe, and he was at it again on his return to Spain to face Valencia.

© AFP

Despite Adil Rami being sent off early on, Swansea still had a tough as to get anything from a side who until recently were perennial Champions League qualifiers. Michu had a huge say in his side's performance and was the target man for all attacks. It was from his cut-back that Wilfried Bony got the scoring underway.

Then he showed what he could do at his best. There were few players who had the composure in front of goal as Michu did last season, and he finished superbly after collecting an Alejando Pozuelo pass. A goal and an assist away to Valencia was the perfect start for Michu's Europa League campaign with Swansea.

Jermain Defoe:

Tottenham Hotspur may well have aims of Champions League qualification next season, but this year the Europa League is a tournament that they could well look to win. They sold Gareth Bale and brought in a number of players with the money, and if the 3-0 win against Tromso is anything to go by then the early signs are good.

It was a strong Spurs lineup in which a number of the new players performed but Jermain Defoe, one of the old guard, was up to his usual tricks in attack. His first goal was typical Defoe as he latched on to an Erik Lamela through ball before finishing deftly with a touch over Marcus Sahlman.

© Getty Images

If his first goal of the night was typical Defoe, then the same must be levelled at his second. In an almost identical move, it was Lewis Holtby who this time angled a pass in behind to Defoe, who finished with his other foot. Defoe showed that even with a host of new faces he has a huge role still to play.

Constant Djakpa

Constant Djakpa is not the first-choice left-back at Eintracht Frankfurt, but his display in the 3-0 win over Bordeaux will at the least put him in the reckoning. His side were in control from the off, but so much of their attacking threat came down that left flank. He was also everywhere on the pitch breaking up play.

He was so confident with his performance that he even scored a second-half free kick to wrap up the points for his side. While Mike Hanke was impressive leading the line, Djakpa was an outlet throughout the whole match. His performance in the Europa League could now see him get league games.