Messi steals the show in Champions League team of the week
Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) - 7.83 rating
The first of six Barcelona players in our Champions League team of the week, it wasn't plain sailing for the Blaugrana on Wednesday night, with the 3-0 scoreline perhaps flattering the La Liga champions. Indeed, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was called upon on more than one occasion as he made more saves (3) than any other goalkeeper in the first leg semi-final matches to help keep a clean sheet and return a WhoScored rating of 7.83.
Right-back: Joel Veltman (Ajax) - 7.59 rating
Deputising for Moroccan Moussair Mazraoui, Joel Veltman impressed on just his third Champions League start of the season to land a WhoScored rating of 7.59 in Ajax’s 1-0 win at Tottenham. The Dutch defender, who has previously been linked with a move to Spurs, may have earned his third successive yellow card, but was defensively sound as he made three tackles, three clearances and one interception at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Centre-back: Daley Blind (Ajax) - 8.13 rating
Daley Blind’s defensive discipline was vital in Ajax’s 1-0 win at Tottenham with the experienced Dutchman making more interceptions (4) than any other player as he successfully cut the passing lines to help the Eredivisie leaders to a first leg advantage. In addition, Blind won six aerial duels, made eight clearances and four tackles to return a WhoScored rating of 8.13.
Centre-back: Gerard Pique (Barcelona) - 7.66 rating
Another former Manchester United defender features alongside Blind in defence with Gerard Pique again hugely influential at the heart of the defence. The centre-back found a teammate with 90.8% of his 65 passes against Liverpool, while nine clearances, three tackles and two interceptions saw Barcelona come away with a 3-0 win and Pique a WhoScored rating of 7.66.
Left-back: Jordi Alba (Barcelona) - 7.61 rating
Rounding off the defence with a WhoScored rating of 7.61 is Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba. The Spaniard provided a superb assist for Luis Suarez’s opener in the 3-0 win over Liverpool, that coming from one of three key passes, while one successful dribble and one accurate cross secured Alba his spot in this XI.
Right midfield: Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) - 7.98 rating
Hakim Ziyech showcased just why he has been courted by a number of English sides with another fine showing in Ajax’s 1-0 win at Tottenham. The Moroccan provided the assist for Donny van de Beek’s first half goal, that coming from one of two key passes, and made more tackles (6) than any other player in the first leg semi-final matches to land a WhoScored rating of 7.98.
Central midfield: Donny van de Beek (Ajax) - 8.42 rating
The willing recipient of Hakim Ziyech’s perfectly weighted pass into the Tottenham box on Tuesday night, Donny van de Beek made no mistake from close range to notch his third Champions League goal of the season. The young Dutchman returned a WhoScored rating of 8.42 from the victory, that enough to land the man of the match award, as he chipped in with four tackles, three interceptions, two key passes and two successful dribbles in London.
Central midfield: Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) - 7.89 rating
Another impressive performer in the middle of the park in midweek, Ivan Rakitic put in a solid all-round midfield display against Liverpool. The Croat made two key passes and completed one dribble, but it was his distribution that caught the eye as Rakitic made four accurate long balls to help land a WhoScored rating of 7.89.
Left midfield: Danny Rose (Tottenham) - 6.52 rating
In a limited pool of stand out left midfield options, Danny Rose is the best of the bunch. The Tottenham man came away from the 1-0 loss to Ajax with a 6.52 rating as he made three tackles and one key pass, but he couldn’t help Spurs notch what would have been a key equaliser on home turf.
Striker: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 10.0 rating
Of the six perfect WhoScored rated 10 performances in the knockout stages of the Champions League, Lionel Messi has earned three, with his latest in @FCBarcelona's 3-0 win over Liverpool earning him the player of the week award
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 2, 2019
For more player stats -- https://t.co/NPattigrQO pic.twitter.com/lh9tq5J3Ut
What else is there to say about Lionel Messi? Of the 10 perfect WhoScored 10 ratings awarded in the Champions League this season, he has earned five, with his latest coming in the 3-0 win over Liverpool. The mercurial Argentine netted twice in the victory, including a superb free-kick to bring up his 600th Barcelona goal in style, while an additional nine successful dribbles, that more than any other player in this round of matches, capped another memorable performance.
Striker: Luis Suarez (Barcelona) - 8.17 rating
Rounding off this XI is Messi’s Barcelona strike partner Luis Suarez, who set the home side on their way to victory with a first half goal, that Barcelona’s 500th in Champions League history. It was Suarez’s first in the competition in a year as he latched onto Jordi Alba’s fine pass to tuck past Alisson. In addition to his goal, Suarez made one key pass and completed four dribbles to land a WhoScored rating of 8.17.
