Champions League Team of the Week – Madueke, Kounde, Rios | OneFootball

Following the matchday six action, we’ve put together our UEFA Champions League Team of the Week.

Goalkeeper: Temirlan Anarbekov – Kairat

A heroic performance in a losing effort from the young goalkeeper, who has certainly impressed on this stage. A string of saves kept the score down as Kairat lost 1-0 to Olympiacos in Kazakhstan.

Right-back: Jules Kounde – Barcelona

The match-winner for Barcelona and the first-ever player to score two headed goals in a Champions League game for the club.

With the Spanish champions trailing at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, Kounde came to the fore with a quick-fire brace to turn the game around. It capped an impressive overall performance, in which the Frenchman lost just one defensive duel.

Centre-back: Mohammed Salisu – AS Monaco

Mohammed Salisu succeeded where many have failed this season – keeping Victor Osimhen quiet in the Champions League.

The centre-back shone in Monaco’s 1-0 win over Galatasaray, making eight clearances, winning 100% of his ground duels (2/2), and restricting Osimhen to zero shots on target.

Centre-back: Nico Schlotterbeck – Borussia Dortmund

Nico Schlotterback was scathing in his assessment of Borussia Dortmund this week, as the club twice lost leads to draw with Bodo/Glimt.

The in-demand defender certainly showcased why he’s sought-after, however, with a mammoth 14 completed long passes, five clearances, and 100% dribbles completed (2/2).

Left-back: Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City

A first Champions League goal and a man-of-the-match performance in a win at the Bernabeu. It doesn’t get much better than that. Could have done better with Real Madrid’s opening goal, but bounced back in style.

Is England’s left-back role now O’Reilly’s to lose?

Midfield: Richard Rios – Benfica

Benfica battled to back-to-back wins after sinking Italian champions Napoli. Richard Rios was at the heart of their success, scoring one and creating another in the 2-0 win in Lisbon. For Napoli, and Antonio Conte, their patchy European record continues.

Midfield: Charles De Ketelaere – Atalanta

Took the game by the scruff of the neck as Atalanta fought back from behind to beat Chelsea in Bergamo.

A driving run and perfect cross gave Gianluca Scamacca a simple finish for the equaliser, before the Belgian drove a low finish under Robert Sanchez for the winner. After struggling in Milan, he’s really come of age in an Atalanta shirt.

Midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool

So often the shining light for Liverpool this season and excellent again in the 1-0 win at Inter Milan. Szoboszlai’s engine is incredible and he helped lead a Liverpool win in a new-look diamond formation.

A nerveless late penalty from the Hungarian secured the points, in a performance that, not for the first time, had shades of Steven Gerrard.

Right-wing: Noni Madueke – Arsenal

Well, that’s Arsenal’s Goal of the Season competition wrapped up, isn’t it? A quite stunning goal from Noni Madueke opened the scoring at Club Brugge, before the winger couldn’t miss to nod in a second from the goal-line.

A thoroughly impressive performance from Madueke, who has silenced the doubters that greeted his pre-season arrival.

Left-wing: Oscar Gloukh – Ajax

Led an Ajax fightback at Qarabag. The Dutch side had lost all five of their previous Champions League games and looked in trouble after twice trailing.

Fortunately, Gloukh was in top form, firing in an equaliser before sealing the 4-2 win with his second, passed perfectly into the far corner.

Forward: Alexander Sorloth – Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid climbed into the top eight after winning a thriller in Eindhoven this week. Alexander Sorloth is not always a guaranteed starter for Diego Simeone but rarely lets Atleti down.

He unselfishly squared to set up Julian Alvarez at PSV, before the Norwegian n nodded in what turned out to be the winner.

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