Champions League Team of the Week as Real Madrid and Juventus stars dominate XI

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  • Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo

    Two ties this week added chapters to the volume of Champions League classics, two others were mere footnotes.

    Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Juventus all sealed their spots in the last eight but did so in contrasting style.

    Below we pick out our top performers from this week’s action as a weakened City were defeated 2-1 by FC Basel, Liverpool were held to a bore draw with Porto while Real Madrid humbled Paris Saint-Germain and Juve did what Juve does to beat Tottenham.

    GK – IKER CASILLAS (FC PORTO)

    Jurgen Klopp and Iker Casillas

    Jurgen Klopp and Iker Casillas

    Fitting that in what is likely his last Champions League appearance before retirement, Casillas became the first goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against Liverpool in the competition this season.

    The Spaniard has 56 in 167 Champions League games, both records, and made five saves in the 0-0 draw at Anfield.

    RB – STEPHEN LICHTSTEINER (JUVENTUS)

    Stephan Lichtsteiner

    Stephan Lichtsteiner

    Massimiliano Allegri’s substitutions were critical in turning the tie in Juve’s favour and Lichtsteiner’s performance from the bench was superb.

    He not only stretched Spurs by providing natural width, but defensively the Swiss helped out a drowning Andrea Barzagli on the right. Not bad for his first appearance in the competition this season.

    CB – GIORGIO CHIELLINI (JUVENTUS)

    Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon

    Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon

    Juve’s diamond attackers Paulo Dybala and Higuain stole the headlines but it was their rock at the back who warrants most praise.

    Gigi Buffon and Chiellini celebrating crucial interventions as if they were goals will be the undying images of the Bianconeri’s win.

    The 33-year-old defender was immense. No player made more tackles (4), more clearances (13) or blocked more shots (3) than the Italian. What a warrior.

    CB – SERGIO RAMOS (REAL MADRID)

    Sergio Ramos

    Sergio Ramos

    If critics of Ramos still don’t think he can defend, then they should re-watch the tie in Paris because he produced an absolute masterclass.

    Granted, his temperament can get the better of him at times – he did surpass Paul Scholes for most bookings in the competition with his 37th – but the Spaniard completely nullified PSG’s attack in the final phases.

    He was a tower of strength, winning so many physical duels and emboldening his reputation as a big-game phenom.

    LB – MARCELO (REAL MADRID)

    Thiago Silva and Marcelo

    Thiago Silva and Marcelo

    The problem with Madrid is that practically every player has an attacking mindset. Take Marcelo for example. The Brazilian is a left-back but his positioning is so high up he’s really virtually a winger.

    It can leave Los Blancos painfully open and Spurs ruthlessly exposed that susceptibility in the group stages but against PSG, Marcelo perfectly balanced both responsibilities.

    He didn’t always bomb on which shut down the Parisians so effectively and picked his moments to attack, hitting six threatening cross into the box.

    RM – SON HEUNG-MIN (TOTTENHAM)

    Son Heung-Min

    Son Heung-Min

    There’s a point in which a player is so often labelled underrated that he actually just becomes rated and Son has entered that narrative.

    Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to play the Korean over Eric Lamela was a good one as he absolutely assaulted Barzagli with poise and skill – the Italian responding by simply trying to physically assault him.

    A tremendous performance and a 16th goal of the season. Another one of Spurs’ brilliant bargain buys.

    CM – CASEMIRO (REAL MADRID)

    Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro

    Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro

    Casemiro is a strange player. In one sense, the fact he can do everything is to the detriment of Madrid when operates as a defensive midfielder and then that same talent is why he bossed PSG.

    He had 80 touches, 56 (98 percent) passes completed, five tackles won, three clearances, two chances created, one take-on completed, one shot and one goal in Paris.

    Adrien Rabiot vacated vasts amount of space in both phases of play and the Brazilian was able to control and dominate.

    LM – KWADWO ASAMOAH (JUVENTUS)

    Kwadwo Asamoah of Juventus

    Kwadwo Asamoah of Juventus

    Juve required two goals so when Allegri sent on Asamoah and Lichtsteiner you could sense a collective perplexion from the away end.

    Not all moments of genius are as obvious as being hit by an apple but Asamoah’s introduction was vital.

    The Ghanian stretched a compact Spurs defence and his injection of thrust freed up Higuain and Dybala to attack through the middle while allowing Alex Sandro to adopt a natural wider position.

    FW – MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI (FC BASEL)

    Basel's Norwegian midfielder Mohamed Elyounoussi

    Basel’s Norwegian midfielder Mohamed Elyounoussi

    The Norwegian flyer was the man of the match in Basel’s unlikely victory at the Etihad Stadium, scoring one and assisting the other.

    City really struggled to cope with the 23-year-old and his trickery in one v one situations really caught the eye – the winner exemplifying his talent.

    He slalomed his was through City’s defence before cutting a reverse ball for Michael Lang to fire home.

    ST – CRISTIANO RONALDO (REAL MADRID)

    Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo

    Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo

    Ronaldo rose highest to give PSG the Cris of death in the city of love. Sorry, had to, but the Portuguese star fortified his reputation as one of the best big-game players ever with the opener.

    In the first 45 minutes he was far too involved in the early phases, dropping deep into pockets of space and looking to link-up with Karim Benzema.

    After the break, he changed his tact to focus his attention on finishing up plays. A perfect centre-forward performance.

    ST – GONZALO HIGUAIN (JUVENTUS)

    Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain

    Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain

    Justifiably the Uruguayan is volleyed with criticism for his inability to make a big impact when it matters most – last season’s Champions League final a prime example.

    However, despite coming into the clash at Wembley with an injury, he was the difference-maker.

    He was the only player alive in the box to delicately finish from Sami Khedira’s header and then his swoop round the back of Jan Vertonghen before slipping through Dybala for the winner was clinical.

    08 03 2018 UCL TEAM OF THE WEEK MATCH 6th AND 7th

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