AC Milan's Leao leads star-studded Champions League team of the week
The Champions League made a return to action this week with the opening four games of the last-16 taking place. The team of the week is dominated by Bundesliga pair Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who both have three players each. Players from AC Milan, Benfica and Club Bruges also make the cut.
Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund) – 8.63
Gregor Kobel was a busy man on Wednesday evening, and he did more than enough to rise to Chelsea’s challenge. Borussia Dortmund won 1-0 and it was Kobel who was named man of the match with a WhoScored rating of 8.63. Kobel kept a clean sheet for the German outfit with seven saves and one claim, while he also won an aerial duel.
Alexandar Bah (Benfica) – 7.49
Benfica have a two-goal advantage to take back to the Estadio da Luz after winning 2-0 at Club Bruges. Alexandar Bah was able to impose himself on the game down the right side. While he made two tackles and two interceptions, he also registered two key passes and completed three successful dribbles. Bah earned a WhoScored rating of 7.49 as a result.
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) – 7.66
In the centre of defence is Dayot Upamecano, whose Bayern Munich side clinched a valuable 1-0 win against PSG in their first leg clash. Up against one of the most dangerous attacks in Neymar and Lionel Messi, with Kylian Mbappe joining the duo later on, Upamecano remained solid at the back and was well worth his WhoScored rating of 7.66, only being dribbled past once and completing the most tackles in the game (5) and the joint most interceptions (2). The France international also won two aerial duels, while maintaining a pass success rate of 92.8%.
Malick Thiaw (AC Milan) – 7.48
Partnering Upamecano at the back is AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw. AC managed to record a 1-0 win over Tottenham and Thiaw played his part in helping to keep a clean sheet for the Italian side. The 21-year-old made at least two more tackles than any other player on the pitch (7), and made two clearances and three interceptions too, helping Thiaw to a WhoScored rating of 7.48 as a result.
Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) – 8.97
With a WhoScored rating of 8.97, the player of the week is Bayern’s Kingsley Coman. Not only did he score the only goal of the game, but he did so from one of his two shots on target, while he found a teammate with 34 of his 36 passes and registered the joint most key passes in the game (3). His five successful dribbles were only bettered only by PSG’s Nuno Mendes (6).
Out on the right of midfield with a WhoScored rating of 7.69 is Joao Mario. The former Inter midfielder scored the opener against Club Bruges from the penalty spot, which happened to be his only shot of the game. He also registered the most key passes in the game (3), while 49 of his 55 passes found a teammate.
Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund) – 7.93
Protecting the backline for Dortmund against Chelsea was former Liverpool midfielder Emre Can. He earned a WhoScored rating of 7.93 for his efforts in midweek, where he made four tackles and two interceptions, while no player was able to dribble past the German on home turf. His presence was also felt higher up the pitch where he registered three shots, the second highest return.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) – 7.69
Joshua Kimmich is such a key player for the German champions, and was again pivotal in their hard-fought win. No player won possession in the midfield third more times than Kimmich (5), while he accompanied that with two tackles and three interceptions. Kimmich also played a role further up the field, too, registering the joint most key passes (3), while 71 of his 78 passes were accurate, earning him a WhoScored rating of 7.69.
Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund) – 7.85
A single Karim Adeyemi goal was the difference between Dortmund and Chelsea, who scored from one of his four shots in the game with a composed finish that saw him run from his own half, eventually taking the ball around Kepa and netting. On top of this, Adeyemi completed four successful dribbles and registered one key pass, with the Blues unable to handle the 21-year-old as he earned a WhoScored rating of 7.85.
Even with his side falling to a 2-0 defeat, Noa Lang ranks as one of the highest rated players in the Champions League this week having returned a WhoScored rating of 8.11. He may not have found the back of the net, but he was still heavily involved in the game, registering the second most touches (91) and successfully completing 12 dribbles, which is a record in a Champions League match this season.
Completing the XI is AC Milan’s Rafael Leao. Leao was a constant threat in midweek as he completed eight dribbles, and made one shot and one key pass, so it's no shock he rated highly with a WhoScored rating of 7.97. The Portuguese forward also won two aerial duels, helping his side to take a one goal advantage to North London.
