Record breaking Paris Saint-Germain dominate Champions League group stage best XI
As Wednesday’s Champions League action drew to a close, the 16 teams to make the cut for the next round of the competition were finalised. With that comes our team of the group stages, with five Premier League players making the cut…
GOALKEEPER – IBRAHIM SEHIC
Qarabag FK were praised for their resolute defensive displays, with back-to-back draws against Atletico Madrid costing the Spanish side a spot in the next round of the Champions League. Goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic was solid between the sticks for the Azerbaijani side, making more saves (34) than any other shotstopper, while only Lionel Messi and Neymar (both 4) won more WhoScored man of the match awards than the 29-year-old, who gained a WhoScored rating of 7.38 to feature in the best XI.
RIGHT-BACK – DANI ALVES
Dani Alves is one of three PSG representatives in the group stage best XI. The experienced Brazilian wound back the years once more to excel for the French side, as he made the third most tackles (22) in the group stages and a respectable 12 key passes to help return two assists. With a further 1.5 successful dribbles per game, the 34-year-old pressed forward well to contribute to a WhoScored rating of 7.84.
CENTRE-BACK – JOHN STONES
John Stones was an unlikely goalscoring phenom for Manchester City with the England international netting three goals in four Champions League starts prior to injury -- the centre-back is yet to score in the Premier League this season. The 23-year-old played the ball out from the back efficiently to help instigate attacks from defence, with his pass success rate (94.9%) the fourth best in the group stage.
CENTRE-BACK – NACHO
Versatile Real Madrid defender Nacho partners Stones at the heart of the defence. The Spaniard was rarely expected to feature in the group stages, yet injuries to Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane and Marcelo saw him feature at right-back, centre-back and left-back across five starts. A pass success rate of 93.2% was respectable for the 27-year-old, while 3.6 tackles and two interceptions per game was also a commendable return.
LEFT-BACK – LAYVIN KURZAWA
Layvin Kurzawa became the first defender to score a Champions League hat-trick when he achieved the feat in PSG’s 5-0 trouncing of Anderlecht. The French defender was a solid performer in defence for Unai Emery’s side, pressing forward well to help stretch opponents. Like teammate Alves, Kurzawa also registered two assists and, as such, had a direct hand in more goals (5) than any other defender in the group stage to return a WhoScored rating of 7.57.
RIGHT MIDFIELD – MOHAMED SALAH
Plenty has been made of Mohamed Salah’s start to life on Merseyside and deservedly so. The Egypt star scored five and assisted one in six Champions League starts to help Liverpool score 23 goals in the group stages, a return bettered only by PSG (25). Salah was also on hand to make 1.8 key passes and complete 2.8 dribbles per game as he played a vital role in Liverpool’s progression to the last-16.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD – EDEN HAZARD
Only Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas (22) made more key passes than Eden Hazard (20) in the Champions League group stage, while 27 successful dribbles was the fourth best. The Belgian star scored three and assisted two for Chelsea and while they laboured to a second placed finish, Hazard was a consistent performer for Antonio Conte’s side, returning a WhoScored rating of 8.00 from his six appearances.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD – PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Joining Hazard in the middle of the park is Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho, who scored five, including a hat-trick on Wednesday night, and assisted two across five Champions League appearances. 3.4 successful dribbles per game was a great return for the Brazil international, who was also on hand to average 2.6 key passes per game. Coutinho’s strong showings in the group stages helped earn a WhoScored rating of 8.23.
LEFT MIDFIELD – NEYMAR
No player earned more WhoScored man of the match awards than Neymar (4), who also completed the most dribbles (38), made the most accurate through balls (7) and the joint-second most key passes (20) for free-scoring PSG. Indeed, Neymar yielded a better WhoScored rating (9.24) than any other player in the group stages, with football’s most expensive player scoring six and assisting three; only Cristiano Ronaldo (10) had a direct hand in more goals.
FORWARD – CRISTIANO RONALDO
Speaking of Ronaldo, the Real Madrid star makes the cut in the group stage best XI having scored more goals (9) than any other player and 14 of the 32 teams in the group stages, with that return also level with fierce rivals Barcelona. The Portugal star made history by becoming the first player to score in every group stage game in a single Champions League campaign and while his league form has floundered, Ronaldo has been on top form in Europe’s elite club competition, gaining a WhoScored rating of 8.44.
FORWARD – HARRY KANE
Tottenham earned more points (16) than any other team in the Champions League group stages, despite few giving them any hope of progressing, let alone doing so as group winners. Harry Kane was a key man once more for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, with the young frontman netting six goals for Spurs and registering a further two assists. 2.2 key passes and 2.2 dribbles per game were also splendid returns for Kane, whose WhoScored rating (8.54) was second only to Neymar.
