UEFA Champions League 2019-20: PSG vs Real Madrid Combined XI
The Champions League is unique because it gives us matches that we can otherwise only live through FIFA. Europe's elite club competition is known for its twist and turns, and for throwing two of the best teams across Europe against each other at a consistent basis.
This game week, we will be seeing one such matchup, when Real Madrid host Paris Saint-Germain at the Santiago Bernabeu.
When these two teams met a couple of months ago in Paris, the home team thrashed the visitors and won convincingly. However, Real Madrid were not as in-sync and cohesive as they are right now, and they were missing the services of a few players.
This time around, the Los Blancos will be looking to give a tougher fight to their opponents, and it should be the best game of the week.
Both the teams have some of the world's best players at their disposal - here, we take a look at how their combined XI would look like.
Note - Only this season's form has been taken into account, and players who are injured for this game will be excluded from the list. Both of these teams have been stronger in attack than defence this season, so the formation is a 3-4-3 which allows the best of the forwards/midfielders to be included in the team.
Goalkeeper - Keylor Navas
Even though Thibaut Courtois has been improving a lot in recent times, his shaky start to the season combined with the number of goals Madrid have leaked give him a disadvantage. As such, Madrid's former goalkeeper Keylor Navas gets the go-ahead in this list over his successor.
Navas has adjusted very well into life at the French capital, and he has been a very competent goalkeeper for PSG this season. The Costa Rican international has already made a few crucial saves this season, and he will be relishing this challenge back in Madrid.
Defence
Centre-back (left)- Thiago Silva
Paris Saint-Germain's long-standing captain is an easy inclusion in this list. Thiago Silva has been one of the most consistent defenders for the past few seasons, and he is still one of the very best at what he does.
The 35-year-old has been without a doubt the club's best defender this season, and his presence at the back is always an issue for any forward in the world. This season, the Brazilian international is averaging 1.6 tackles and interception and 2.7 clearances per game while completing almost 96% of his passes.
Centre-back (center) - Sergio Ramos
In truth, there is very little to separate Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane this season. However, the Real Madrid captain gets in because of his slightly better defensive stats and his experience.
Ramos is averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, and 3.5 clearances per game in La Liga this season. He has also played every single game in the league so far and has 2 goals to his name. Having played as a right-back previously in his career, the Spanish captain would also be more versatile as this 3-4-3.
Centre-back (right) - Dani Carvajal
The ever-underrated Dani Carvajal has been Real Madrid's best defender so far this season. The Spaniard's performances often go under the radar due to the presence of his star teammates, but the defender always puts in a solid shift in a Madrid jersey.
This season, the right-back is averaging 2.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, while completing 88% of his passes. He has 4 assists to his name this campaign and makes almost 2 key passes per game. He is a complete offensive and defensive threat, and his form so far would make it a crime to exclude him from this list.
Also check out:Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers