Four-goal Giroud and not Neymar the star in our Champions League Team of the Week
With the penultimate gameweek of the 2020/21 Champions League group stage done and dusted we can take stock of the midweek action and lavish praise on those that excelled
Some teams already know their fate heading into the final gameweek but for others everything is still at play.
Just look at Group H, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig locked at the top of the table on nine points, or Group B where Real Madrid face the prospect of Europa League football.
Next week promises to be a cracker but for now it's time to focus on the midweek action. Here is the best WhoScored rated XI from back to front.
Goalkeeper: Matvey Safonov (FC Krasnodar) - 8.32 rating
FC Krasnodar look set for Europa League knockout stage football after securing a 1-0 win over fellow Group E strugglers Rennes on Wednesday night. The Russian side have impressive 21-year-old goalkeeper Matvey Safonov to thank after their young goalkeeper kept out all five of Rennes' shots on target. He also helped ease the pressure with four successful cross claims.
Right-back: Nordi Mukiele (RB Leipzig) - 8.62 rating
RB Leipzig were made to work much harder for three points over Istanbul Basaksehir than expected, with the Bundesliga side edging a seven-goal thriller with a last minute winner. Nordi Mukiele appeared to put Leipzig in a commanding position with their second unanswered goal on the stroke of half-time, his first ever European goal on his 19th appearance. Remarkably, Mukiele had four shots on Wednesday evening and also registered as many key passes. For context, he hadn't managed a single shot in his three previous Champions League appearances this season and had only registered five key passes.
Centre-back: Cristian Romero (Atalanta) - 9.40 rating
Atalanta couldn't find a way past FC Midtjylland but it was certainly a positive evening for on-loan Juventus defender Cristian Romero. Not only did he score his first ever European goal, he secured the highest WhoScored rating by a defender in a Champions League match this season. Moreover, he set seasonal records in the competition for most interceptions (8) and aerial duels won (15).
Centre-back: Alexander Scholz (FC Midtylland) - 8.26 rating
Atalanta and FC Midtylland's meeting on Tuesday was a tale of two defenders, as Cristian Romero scored for Atalanta and Alexander Scholz netted for the Danish underdogs. The 28-year-old also managed eight tackles and interceptions combined and five clearances to help frustrate the home side.
Left-back: Jordi Alba (Barcelona) - 7.67 rating
Jordi Alba has endured a pretty tough few years with a lack of form but was at least back to his normal self before coming off at half-time in Barcelona's comfortable 3-0 win away to Ferencvaros on Wednesday night. Alba registered his second assist of the Champions League this season, crossing for Antoine Griezmann to convert from six yards.
Right wing: Federico Chiesa (Juventus) - 9.08 rating
Federico Chiesa both scored and assisted his first ever Champions League goals in Juventus' 3-0 win over Dyanmo Kyiv on Wednesday to claim the WhoScored Man of the Match award. The 23-year-old had three shots in total, registered as many key passes. Deployed as a wing-back, Chiesa didn't shelve his defensive responsibilities and even completed four tackles.
Central midfield: Irfan Can Kahveci (Istanbul Basaksehir) - 8.87 rating
Istanbul Basaksehir's evening ended in defeat against RB Leipzig but it was a night to remember for central midfielder Irfan Can Kahveci, who scored a hat-trick of goals from outside the box. The 25-year-old became the first player since Wayne Rooney in 2004 to score three goals from outside the box in a single Champions League match.
Central midfield: Curtis Jones (Liverpool) - 8.22 rating
Curtis Jones' reputation went up another notch in midweek, again trusted by Jurgen Klopp in a big game, as the 19-year-old scored the winning goal in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Ajax on Tuesday. Jones showed great anticipation for the goal, gambling the Ajax goalkeeper would make a mistake before showing great skill to tap in from a tight angle. The goal secured Liverpool's place in the next round with a game to spare.
Left wing: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) - 9.52 rating
After a relatively poor display in Paris Saint-Germain's first meeting with Manchester United, Neymar certainly stepped up for the French side in the return game in midweek. Neymar scored twice at Old Trafford to put PSG in a good position to secure a top-two finish in Group H. Moreover, the Brazilian completed five dribbles and won as many fouls.
Striker: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) - 10.0 rating
Olivier Giroud showed exactly why Frank Lampard is so reluctant to sell him in midweek with an astonishing four-goal haul away to Sevilla on Wednesday night. Giroud scored a perfect hat-trick before adding his fourth from the spot after winning the penalty himself. The France international unsurprisingly claimed a perfect WhoScored 10 rating and the player of the week award.
Striker: Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig) - 9.14 rating
RB Leipzig captain Yussuf Poulsen played an important role in their 4-3 win away to Istanbul Basaksehir to keep their hopes of Champions League knockout football alive. Poulsen scored once and provided one assist, his first goal involvements in the competition this season. The 26-year-old also completed four dribbles and won six aerial duels.
