Champions League Team of the Week – Kane, Asensio, Vitinha | OneFootball

Our Champions League Team of the Week after the conclusion of the competition’s last-16 ties.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Paris Saint-Germain

Criticised after the first leg, praised after the second. Gianluigi Donnarumma played his part in PSG’s progress, as the Italian kept Liverpool out at Anfield. A clean sheet set the stage for shootout success, where Donnarumma guessed right to save from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.

Right-back: Federico Valverde – Real Madrid

Another solid shift at right-back from Valverde. before adding energy to the Real Madrid midfield. No player completed more passes than the Uruguayan (113), who won four defensive duels and completed 7/8 long balls. Valverde is integral to this side.

Centre-back: Emre Can – Borussia Dortmund

A captain’s performance from the Borussia Dortmund defender. With his team trailing in the tie, Can stepped up to take responsibility and level from the penalty spot at Lille. It was an important moment in what was a fine display from the German. He made six clearances and won 78% of his defensive duels.

Centre-back: Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid

An impressive outing from the German, who was Real Madrid’s match-winner from the spot. Rudiger kept his cool to convert the winning penalty, having recovered from a shaky start to stand strong defensively. He racked up 10 clearances, comfortably more than any other player on the pitch.

Left-back: Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain

Stopping Mohamed Salah is a task almost every Premier League defender has failed at so far this season. For those in search of pointers, Nuno Mendes is the man to go to.

The Portugal left-back shut down the threat of Salah over two legs, keeping the Egyptian to an anonymous outing in Paris before bettering the Liverpool talisman again this week.

Salah was livelier than a week ago, but in Mendes found a formidable obstacle. The 22-year-old won 10/14 ground duels and five tackles, with Salah restricted to one shot on target and just 42% dribble success rate.

Midfield: Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain

Metronomic. Vitinha was again the engine of the Paris Saint-Germain midfield, setting the tempo and rhythm of a statement win for the French champions.

This was a midfield masterclass from Vitinha, whose tenacity, touch and awareness ran the game. Paris Saint-Germain have been a fantastic watch in the knockout rounds and he’s a big reason why.

Midfield: Pedri – Barcelona

Pedri might just be the best midfielder in the world right now. The Spanish schemer collected his second successive man-of-the-match award as Barcelona booked their place in the quarter-finals with a win over Benfica. The press-resistance and poise are things of beauty. He glides around the pitch.

Right-wing: Lamine Yamal – Barcelona

What a goal. What a talent. We’ve run out of superlatives for this kid.

A brilliant mazy run led to Raphinha’s opener for Barcelona before Yamal fired in a fantastic second from distance. No player of this age has done this on the Champions League stage before. Drink it in.

Left-wing: Raphinha – Barcelona

Is Raphinha the Ballon d’Or favourite?

After the exit of rival Mohamed Salah, Raphinha’s double to down Benfica could lead to more than just potential team honours. Two excellent finishes from the Brazilian took him to 46 goal involvements in 41 appearances. He’s now the Champions League’s leading scorer, with 11 goals this season. A remarkable transformation.

Forward: Marco Asensio – Aston Villa

A sublime loan signing. Asensio has now scored seven goals in his last five matches for Aston Villa, who cruised into the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge. Asensio steered in from Leon Bailey’s pass for the opener, before converting a cut-back from Marcus Rashford in an increasingly familiar combination. Two more goals to his haul in Claret and Blue, colours Unai Emery will be desperate to keep him in beyond this season.

Forward: Harry Kane – Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich comfortably beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League in style. Harry Kane was the architect of the second-leg win, scoring a simple opener before lifting a cross in for Alphonso Davies. Kane’s goal was his 10th in Europe this season, more than any other English player has scored in a single campaign in Champions League history.

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