Delightful Dembele heads PSG trio in Champions League Quarter-Final best XI
After the conclusion of the Champions League’s highest scoring round of quarter-finals ever, we’ve taken a look back at the standout performers over the last two weeks. Represented in our Team of the Round are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, PSG, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid) - 7.51
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin proved the hero for Los Blancos in the quarter-finals, as the Ukraine international made two crucial saves in Wednesday’s penalty shootout victory at the Etihad Stadium. Lunin, who has proved a more than capable stand-in for the injured Thibaut Courtois this season, made a total of nine saves in regular time across both legs on his way to a WhoScored rating of 7.51.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) - 7.12
Continuing with the theme of match-winners, and it’s Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich who earns a place at right-back in our Team of the Round. The Germany international popped up with a fine header at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, a goal that would ultimately send the home side to the semi-finals. Kimmich, who has been linked with a move to England in recent months, made a total of four tackles, five clearances and five key passes across both matches against Arsenal to land a WhoScored rating of 7.12.
Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) - 6.61
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji makes our best XI despite his side’s elimination from the competition by Real Madrid this week. The Switzerland international made eight tackles and three key passes across both legs to return a WhoScored rating of 6.61.
Eric Dier (Bayern Munich) - 6.80
Joining teammate Kimmich in the backline is former Tottenham man Eric Dier, who got one over Spurs’ north London rivals when he helped Bayern progress past Arsenal on Wednesday. Questions may have been asked of Thomas Tuchel’s decision to start the Englishman in both legs, but his selection was validated with two strong displays. Dier’s efforts were especially impressive in the return leg, where he made four tackles, three interceptions, two clearances and recorded a pass success rate of 92.2%.
Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) - 7.54
Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol scored his first Manchester City goal in last week’s first leg against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, and in some style too. The 22-year-old earns a place in our XI having made five tackles, four interceptions, three clearances and three key passes across both matches.
With an average WhoScored rating of 8.05 across both legs, PSG attacker Ousmane Dembele is our Champions League Player of the Round. The Frenchman, who had scored just one goal for his new club before facing Barcelona last week, found the net in both games against his former side, while he also made a total of four key passes and five successful dribbles.
Former Wolves loanee Vitinha may have surprised a few with his performances against Barcelona over the last two weeks. The 24-year-old scored in both matches to take his tally for the season in all competitions to nine. The Portugal international managed five shots, five key passes and two successful dribbles across the tie to return a WhoScored rating of 8.00
Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich) - 7.59
The third and final Bayern Munich representative in our Team of the Round is midfielder Leon Goretzka, who looked like the calmest player on the pitch in both matches against Arsenal. The 29-year-old Germany international, who assisted Serge Gnabry at the Emirates last week, maintained a pass success rate of 93.2% across both legs, misplacing just four passes in total. Goretzka also managed five tackles, three interceptions, seven clearances and three key passes on his way to a WhoScored rating of 7.59
Barcelona winger Raphinha did all he could across both legs against PSG to help his side through to the semi-finals, but ultimately his efforts were not enough. The ex-Leeds attacker netted a brace at the Parc des Princes last week, before opening the scoring in Spain on Tuesday. Across both legs, the Brazilian managed eight shots, four key passes and three successful dribbles.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) - 7.75
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann also bowed out of this season’s competition at the quarter-final stage, but the France international can hold his head high after strong performances both home and away against Borussia Dortmund. Griezmann provided a sumptuous assist for Samuel Lino in last week’s first leg from one of 10 key passes made across both matches, while he also made three tackles and five clearances.
After a quiet first leg by his standards, PSG star Kylian Mbappe bagged a brace at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona on Tuesday evening to put Les Parisians 4-1 up on the night, and the tie well and truly to bed. The Frenchman - who seems bound for a move to Barca rivals Real Madrid this summer - fired off 10 attempts on goal across both legs, while he also made five key passes and three successful dribbles to post a WhoScored rating of 7.79.
