Liverpool and Man City dominate Champions League Team of the Round

 

With the round-of-16 first legs done and dusted, now is the perfect moment to reflect and reveal our Champions League team of the round. 

 

Sporting CP 0-5 Man City
PSG 1-0 Real Madrid
Salzburg 1-1 Bayern Munich
Inter 0-2 Liverpool
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
Villarreal 1-1 Juventus
Benfica 2-2 Ajax
Atletico 1-1 Man Utd 

 

Goalkeeper: Philipp Kohn (Salzburg) - 8.43 rating

 

Only Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois made as many saves as Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Kohn across the first-leg action. Kohn denied Bayern Munich time and time again in their encounter to help Salzburg earn a 1-1 draw in the first leg. He helped relieve pressure on the Salzburg defence by successfully claiming more crosses than any other goalkeeper in the round (4).

 

Right-back: Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) - 7.60 rating

 

Noussair Mazraoui will more than likely be off in the summer on a free transfer and he would have left potential suitors impressed with his display in Ajax's 2-2 draw with Benfica on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old set up Dusan Tadic for Ajax's opener and ended up as the WhoScored Man of the Match in Lisbon. Moreover, he forced the Benfica goalkeeper into two saves and also made five tackles and interceptions combined.

 

Centre-back: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool) - 7.73 rating

 

Rotated into the team ahead of Joel Matip to face Inter, Ibrahima Konate certainly justified his selection. The 22-year-old was there to put out any fire Inter started alongside Virgil van Dijk. Konate won two aerial duels, six tackles and interceptions combined, while also blocking two shots.

 

Centre-back Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.71 rating

 

Virgil van Dijk looks back to his best after a horror knee injury and was a key performer for Liverpool in their 2-0 win away to Inter last week. The 30-year-old weighed in with three interceptions, seven clearances and five aerial duels to prevent Inter from even having a single shot on target.

 

Left-back: Andy Robertson (LIverpool) - 8.24 rating

 

Liverpool' full-backs didn't get as forward as often as they would have liked against Inter but Andy Robertson turned to set-pieces to make his presence felt in the final third. It was from Robertson's corner that led to Liverpool's opener to take his tally for assists for the campaign to 10.

 

Central midfield: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea) - 7.84 rating

 

N'Golo Kante played a pivotal role in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Lille on Tuesday night, driving from midfield to supply Christian Pulisic for their second of the night. Kante carried out his defensive duties well, with six tackles and interceptions combined and also completed two dribbles in a thoroughly impressive box-to-box role.

 

Liverpool and Man City dominate Champions League Team of the Round

 

Central midfield: Mohamed Camara (Salzburg) - 8.03 rating

 

Salzburg pushed Bayern Munich all the way for their 1-1 draw and Mohamed Camara had a standout night in midfield fo r the home side, even taking home the official Champions League man of the match award. The 22-year-old was run hard with Bayern fielding so many offensive players but he responded with eight tackles and interceptions combined and six dribbles of seven attempted.

 

Central midfield: Bernardo Silva (Man City) - 9.40 rating

 

Former Benfica academy graduate Bernardo Silva had a night to savour against old rivals Sporting, marking his return to Lisbon with two goals and one assist. He was even denied a hat-trick by the offside flag. Silva scored from both of his attempts, registered two key passes in total and chipped in with three tackles.

 

Right wing: Riyad Mahrez (Man City) - 9.14 rating

 

Manchester City are all but through to the next round after their 5-0 win away to Sporting CP last week. They were ruthless in front of goal, scoring their five goals from just six shots on target. Mahrez kickstarted the rout with a simple finish before a nice bit of skill and cross set up Phil Foden for their third of the night. Overall, Mahrez registered four key passes, completed 92.1% of his attempted passes and won three dribbles.

 

Striker: Phil Foden (Man City) - 8.04 rating

 

Phil Foden made it goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season with a nice bit of composure to finish off Riyad Mahrez's cross in City's mauling of Sporting. The England international is having to adapt to being City's central striker at the moment but turned in another good performance from his hour on the pitch. Foden completed all 25 of his attempted passes in the win.

 

Left wing: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) - 9.49 rating

 

Keeping Raheem Sterling and Kylian Mbappe out of the team is Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman. The Frenchman claims our Champions League player of the round award after scoring Bayern's late equaliser against Salzburg last week. Coman had eight shots in total , registered four key passes and completed seven dribbles. Not only that, but Coman won more aerial duels against Salzburg (7) than his previous 18 appearances combined this season across league and European competition (6). 

Liverpool and Man City dominate Champions League Team of the Round