Defenders of the Month Nominees: April 2013
With the world’s footballing leagues now firmly reaching the business ends of their campaigns, April was an important month where keeping clean sheets was as important as finding the back of the net. Here are the five recommendations for the Defenders of the month of April:
Inigo Martinez, Real Sociedad and Spain U-21
Real Sociedad’s defender Inigo Martinez. (Getty Images)
That Real Madrid and Barcelona will qualify for the Champions League is a guarantee. The other two places are left for the likes of Valencia, Sevilla and Malaga to fight for. This season, they have been knocked out of the running by plucky Real Sociedad. One of the reasons for their success is centre-back Inigo Martinez.
The 21-year-old scored Sociedad’s fourth in their 4-2 win over Malaga on the 6th of April before helping his side keep a clean-sheet in a 2-0 away win at Rayo Vallecano eight days later. Although his team were frustrated away as Osasuna, Martinez’s efforts helped them secure their second consecutive clean sheet in as many matches as they came away with a point after a goalless draw on their travels. Their last game of April saw them win 4-2 at home to Valencia, Martinez getting his fourth goal of the campaign as he scored his team’s third at the Anoeta.
Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus and Italy
Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus. (Getty Images)
Juventus are now on the verge of their title defence and becoming the third team in Europe to win the league with games to spare after they went through a perfect April.
While Coach Antonio Conte tinkered with his defence throughout the month of April, one constant at the back was Bonucci. The Italy international marshalled the Bianconeri back line as a Mirco Vucinic’s brace gave them a 2-1 win over Pescara before a similar brace away at Lazio by Arturo Vidal ensured they left the capital with another three points and a clean sheet. That was followed by a solitary win at home to Milan, Vidal once again the goal scorer in a 1-0 win. Juve ended their month with a 2-0 away to arch rivals Torino as late goals by Vidal and Claudio Marchisio mean their next win should help them retain their Serie A title.
Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal and France
Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal. (Getty Images)
The Gunner rearguard has been revitalised since the return of Laurent Koscielny, and with results in tow, his inclusion has repaid Arsenal in plenty. The Frenchman started his side’s 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion, holding the visitor’s three-man rearguard after Per Mertesacker had been sent off for conceding a penalty. He then joined forces with Thomas Vermaelen to earn his team another win in a come from behind 3-1 win against Norwich.
He joined the returning Mertesacker in keeping out Everton at the Emirates and then provided the assist for the German’s winner at Fulham in a fortunate win for his team. Koscielny ended the month by helping Arsenal deny Champions Manchester United a win in London as the race for the coveted Champions League spots hots up.
Maxwell, Paris Saint-Germain
Maxwell of Paris Saint-Germain. (Getty Images)
With Ligue 1 still undecided, Paris Saint-Germain’s unbeaten month of April will see them take a huge leap to winning France’s top honour. A constant in an ever-rotated Parisian back four was Maxwell.
The left-back started his team’s 2-o win away at Stade Rennes before helping his side to another away win at ES Troyes AC with Blaise Matuidi scoring the only goal of that game. Returning to the capital for their only home game of the month, the former Barcelona left-back was on hand to ensure his side kept a clean sheet as they beat OGC Nice 3-0, before coming one step closer to esnuring PSG won the title as they beat Evian Thonon-Gaillard 1-0 away, Javier Pastore’s second-half goal ensuring Les Parisiens oversaw a perfect April.
Jerome Boateng, Bayern Munich and Germany
Jerome Boateng of Muenchen. (Getty Images)
Not one defender at Bayern appeared in all of the German side’s fixtures. That being said, it was a great month for Jerome Boateng to announce his return to the starting line up. He was present in his side’s 1-0 away at Eintracht Frankfurt, the game which sealed the Bundesliga title on the 6th of April before marshalling a changed Bavarian rearguard in a 4-0 demolition of Nurnberg at the Allianz Arena. He was also present when his team crushed Hanover 6-1 on their travels.
But the games that will matter most to him will be the double header against Spanish heavyweights Barcelona. He played all 180 minutes of the tie, keeping out Lionel Messi and Co. at the Allianz Arena as the Blaugrana were humbled 4-0 in Germany before helping the Bavarians keep a clean sheet as Barcelona were humiliated 3-0 in Spain.