Brighton took newly promoted Premier League side Sheffield United to the cleaners on Sunday, playing them off their own pitch 5-0 in a result that nobody found surprising.
Roberto De Zerbi has been up against it in his second season at the helm, given all the injuries Brighton have faced, but they’re still very much in the European football conversation after qualifying for this year’s Europa League.
There are so many talented players on Brighton, but nobody stands out more than veteran playmaker Pascal Groß, who had a performance that had to be seen to be believed against Sheffield.
On paper, it may look like Groß had just the one assist, but this was legitimately one of the best single-game performances of any player in European football this season – if not THE best.
Yes, it was against Sheffield, but playing this well against any first-division side in European football is highly impressive, as Groß pulled the strings and was at the heart of this 5-0 victory.
Look at the numbers. Groß had eight key passes and nine accurate crosses, completing an absolutely absurd 97 percent of his passes on a total of 113 passing attempts.
That is a historically great passing day.
For a playmaker to be that accurate and still create such a volume of chances is extraordinary, and it speaks to all of Groß traits that have made him one of the best players in his role in Europe over the years, whether in Germany or England.
It’s a shame Groß only gets a fraction of the credit he deserves. If compatriot Toni Kroos is underrated at Real Madrid, then the 32-year-old Brighton man is ridiculously overlooked for the Seagulls, even with all the attention on the Premier League.
Take a bow for this one, Mr. Groß. There are not many deep-lying playmakers who could control a game like this one and put together eight key passes while barely misplacing one. Kroos would be proud indeed.
Former editor of The Real Champs and Old Juve, covering Real Madrid and Juventus
