Champions League Team of the Week – Raphinha, Rice, Kane | OneFootball

Our Champions League Team of the Week following the last-16 second legs, featuring names from Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Goalkeeper: Uğurcan Çakır – Galatasaray

You know it’s been a busy night as a goalkeeper when your manager praises an ‘amazing game’ despite shipping four goals.

Galatasaray were thrashed at Anfield to exit the Champions League, but without Çakır, they could have suffered an all-timer embarrassment. He made a whopping 11 saves as Liverpool ran riot, including stopping Mohamed Salah’s penalty.

Centre-back: Gabriel – Arsenal

Should have done better with some goalscoring opportunities, but was solid as ever defensively. The big Brazilian won 100% of his aerial battles (6/6) in a commanding performance, as Arsenal locked out Leverkusen at the Emirates.

Centre-back: Dean Huijsen – Real Madrid

One of his better performances of the season. So composed throughout at the Etihad and made some vital first-half interventions to snuff out any Manchester City hopes of a comeback.

Centre-back: Goncalo Inacio – Sporting CP

A top display from the defender, who led Sporting’s stirring comeback against Bodo/Glimt. Inacio scored the first goal of the night with a great header and helped keep the hosts on the front foot with his raking distribution. Inacio completed 12/17 long balls forward.

Midfield: Declan Rice – Arsenal

Declan Rice has started to come alive in the Champions League’s knockout rounds. The Arsenal midfielder made it three consecutive man-of-the-match awards in the club’s most recent knockout stage wins after a standout display against Bayer Leverkusen. A characteristic rampaging forward was capped with the second goal.

Midfield: Archie Gray – Tottenham Hotspur

Marcos Llorente made a point of coming over to shake Archie Gray’s hand as he was substituted against Atletico Madrid and the Spaniard was not the only one mightily impressed.

Amid the chaos that has been Spurs’ season, Gray has been a shining light. He led by example as Spurs won on the night against Atletico, with a determined interception and drive to assist the second goal. The 20-year-old as a huge future.

Midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool

Has become Liverpool’s talisman this season and was at it again against Galatasaray. Szoboszlai scored the opener in the 4-0 win at Anfield, arriving to finish a set-piece routine with real class. The Hungarian pops up everywhere for Liverpool and has become a captain without the armband. He has to stay in midfield.

Right-wing: Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur

A good night for Simons, whose time at Tottenham has been tough. The Dutchman fired in the second goal, before winning and converting a penalty to double his haul against Atletico. In between, there were plenty of bright moments.

Left-wing: Raphinha – Barcelona

Raphinha continued his red-hot form as Barcelona tore apart Newcastle at Camp Nou. After a hat-trick in La Liga at the weekend, Raphinha was involved heavily as Barcelona hit seven to ease into the quarter-finals. Two goals, two assists, and a penalty won, his influence was everywhere.

Forward: Harry Kane – Bayern Munich

The third-fastest man in Champions League history to reach 50 goals, it was just another night at the office for Harry Kane.

Back from a recent ankle issue, he scored twice against Atalanta as Bayern batted the Italians in one of the Champions League’s biggest-ever aggregate wins.

Forward: Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona

The veteran fox in the box has still got it. Kept quiet in the first half against Newcastle, Lewandowski fired a quick-fire double after the break to take the game away from the Magpies. Give him the service, and he will find the net.

Read – Champions League Awards – Ruthless Raphinha, Sporting stun Bodo

See more – Champions League quarter-final draw in full

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