Barcelona or Juventus: which club has Europe's best No.3 right now?

As we edge ever nearer to Christmas our ultimate advent calendar squad continues to take shape.    

The floodlights were set alight for the 3pm kick-offs on Saturday, which can only signify one thing: we have entered the business period of the football season.

But more importantly it also signifies to start of the Christmas period, and so, as part of our countdown to the 25th, Squawka have been assembling a combined 25-man squad based on shirt numbers, revealing one player every day from December 1 right up until Christmas Day.

To mark the third day of December, Squawka have carefully hand-picked the best three players in world football currently donning the No.3 on the back of their shirts.

Certainly not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, but here are the top three.

3. Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain/France)

What makes him special? Kimpembe continues to go from strength-to-strength, winning four trophies last season, including featuring in France’s World Cup triumph. At just 23 the versatile Parisian is already one of Europe’s finest defenders.

Key stat: No PSG centre-back has completed more dribbles (four), registered more assists (one) and created more chances (one) than Kimpembe this season.

2. Gerard Pique (Barcelona/Spain)

What makes him special? Pique was characteristically flawless as Barca cantered to a domestic double last season, and despite a tentative World Cup with Spain, the 31-year-old is still a formidable force at the back.

Key stat: Only Sergio Ramos (1650) completed more passes than Pique (1577) last season of any centre-back and only Aissa Mandi (1011) has completed more than Pique (960) this season.  

1. Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus/Italy)

What makes him special? The name Chiellini is synonymous with the No.3 shirt so there could be no other to take top spot. The Italian general is simply mesmeric at the art of defending; his poise and stature are indicative of his indomitable resolution.

Key stat: Last season no Juventus defender completed more passes (1484), won more aerial duels (62), recorded more interceptions (47) or blocked more shots (14) than Chiellini.  

Honourable mentions

As mentioned it is no easy task trying to whittle the best No.3s across the globe down to just three. So, here is an honourable mention to those high class talents who were not quite able to make our advent calendar squad: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea/Spain), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace/Netherlands), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham/England), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City/England), Fabinho (Liverpool/Brazil) and Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid/Brazil).

The post Squawka’s Xmas advent squad: who’s the best No.3 in Europe? appeared first on Squawka News.

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