The first leg of the Champions League last 16 is complete. As teams shift focus back to their domestic leagues, who made it into our Champions League team of the week?
Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG all secured impressive victories, while Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Liverpool struggled. Let’s look at the standout performers from midweek.
GK: Ugurcan Çakir
Galatasaray has become a challenging opponent for Liverpool, defeating them 1-0 on Tuesday. Ugurcan Çakir was vital, making seven saves to help his team maintain a clean sheet.
RB: Fredrik Sjøvold
Bodo/Glimt continues to shine in the Champions League, and Fredrik Sjøvold was crucial in their dominant performance against Sporting CP. He achieved a 100% tackle success rate and delivered several effective long balls.
CB: Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger showed his defensive prowess in Real Madrid‘s match against Manchester City, dominating in the air and helping to secure a clean sheet.
CB: Robin Le Normand
Atletico Madrid defeated Tottenham 5-2, and while Robin Le Normand couldn’t keep a clean sheet, he contributed significantly by scoring Atleti’s fourth goal.
LB: Lewis Hall
Lewis Hall faced a tough challenge against Lamine Yamal but effectively limited Yamal’s impact throughout the match, despite a penalty being awarded late in the game.
CM: Federico Valverde
Federico Valverde had a standout performance against Manchester City, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory, marking his first Champions League hat-trick.
CM: Sondre Fet
Sondre Fet worked tirelessly against Sporting CP, earning a penalty in the first half for his efforts. Bodo’s progress in the Champions League looks promising.
RW: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played a pivotal role in PSG’s 5-2 win over Chelsea, scoring two goals and providing an assist in just 30 minutes on the field.
AM: Michael Olise
Michael Olise’s transition to Bayern Munich has been successful. He was key in their 6-1 win against Atalanta, scoring twice and assisting once, positioning himself at the top of the Champions League assist charts.
LW: Harvey Barnes
Harvey Barnes had a memorable moment when he scored against Barcelona, though it was later annulled. He was a constant threat, consistently finding opportunities to shoot.
ST: Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez scored a simple goal against Tottenham but deserves credit for his effort in chasing after the ball. He contributed significantly with two goals and an assist.