UEFA Champions League team of the week: Round of 16 - 1st leg
The Champions League is back in action following it’s two month break and it was back in style as the first four ties of the last 16 ended in away wins.
Nine goals were scored in the four matches on display, with none of the away sides so much as conceding a goal as Barcelona, Paris St Germain, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid all ran out winners.
We at Squawka have put together a team of the best performing players in these games. It’s a formidable looking line-up that’s for sure.
GK – Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Manuel Neuer
Neuer enjoyed a surprise clean sheet as Bayern visited Arsenal, despite their hosts being given a penalty inside the first ten minutes of the game.
Fortunately for Bayern, Neuer was equal to compatriot Mesut Ozil’s penalty as prevented the Gunners taking the early momentum of the match, giving them the platform to build a 2-0 first leg win.
Neuer earned a Squawka Performance Score of 81 for his display between the sticks, making four saves to preserve a clean sheet and completing 96% of his distributions.
RB – Philip Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Philip Lahm stats
Lahm was moved back into his customary right-back role for this tie, despite Pep Guardiola having primarily used him in a midfield role this season.
It took him no time at all to readjust to his defensive duties however, as he picked up a Squawka Performance Score of 100 for his performance down the right for Bayern.
Lahm completed an incredible 99% of his passes and claimed two assists from the four opportunities he created for the Bavarian giants.
CB – Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Diego Godin stats
Atletico had plenty of defending to do against AC Milan, but did it solidly to come away with a famous 1-0 win at the San Siro.
While they were indebted to Thibaut Courtois for a couple of fine saves, Godin was also instrumental in ensuring Los Rojiblancos take a lead back to Vicente Calderon for the second leg.
Godin’s Performance Score of 81 came from winning six aerial duels, making ten clearances and three interceptions.
CB – Thiago Silva (PSG)
Thiago Silva stats
PSG are being seriously overlooked as potential challengers for the title in May, as their attacking prowess is ably complimented by one of the finest defenders in world football in Thiago Silva.
A 4-0 victory away at Leverkusen will raise a few eyebrows despite the German club’s obvious limitations, but Silva’s Performance Score of 74 will surprise very few, given his abilities.
He won four out of five aerial battles, completed 98% of his passes and made six interceptions to ensure PSG’s forwards had that solid platform to run riot on.
LB – Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
Jordi Alba
Jordi Alba is the left-back of the week after a solid performance against Manchester City saw Barcelona come unscathed from a match many were predicting an upset in.
In his first Champions League outing of the season, Alba recorded a Performance Score of 63, the second highest on the pitch as he helped keep Manchester City’s strikeforce at bay.
Alba made seven interceptions over the course of the game and won three of his four aerial battles to put Barca very much in the driving seat going back to Camp Nou.