Champions League best rated XI: Tottenham dominate after convincing Dortmund win
Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain earned the best results from the first batch of Champions League last-16 matches in midweek. The former secured a 3-0 home win over Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund, while PSG inflicted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first defeat as Manchester United boss with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford. Roma and Real Madrid won the other two matches, beating Porto and Ajax, respectively, by 2-1 scorelines.
Here we run through the best rated XI from the midweek matches, with additional information about their Football INDEX share prices.
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham) - 7.94 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.72
After an extremely poor group stage, Hugo Lloris delivered for Tottenham when it mattered most to continue his fine form from the weekend’s triumph over Leicester. The 32-year-old crucially prevented Borussia Dortmund from netting an away goal on Wednesday night with five saves. Lloris also completed 88.9% of his passes.
Left back: Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) - 9.34 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.99
With Danny Rose and Ben Davies both unavailable for Tottenham in midweek, Jan Vertonghen was required at left wing-back against Dortmund and the 31-year-old flourished for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Vertonghen played a direct hand in two of the three goals Tottenham scored, setting up the first of the night with a David Beckham-esque cross before doubling their lead with seven minutes of normal time remaining.
Centre-back: Presnel Kimpembe (PSG) - 7.88 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.88
Presnel Kimpembe was lucky to avoid a second yellow card in the first half but rode his luck and even netted his first goal for the club, slamming home Angel Di Maria’s corner for the first of two goals PSG scored at Old Trafford. The 23-year-old’s aggressive approach to defending paid dividends for Thomas Tuchel’s side, as Marcus Rashford was forced to live off scraps all evening. Kimpembe made five tackles and interceptions combined and made three clearances to help limit United to just one shot on target.
Centre-back: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham) - 7.64 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.91
With Vertonghen out on the left, it was up to Toby Alderweireld to marshall Tottenham’s back three on Wednesday night and the Belgium international managed youngsters Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth through the game with aplomb. The 29-year-old made four tackles and interceptions combined, as well as three clearances. Not only that, but Alderweireld exhibited his fine passing capabilities by completing 11 of the 16 long balls he attempted during the match.
Right-back: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) - 7.82 rating
Football INDEX share price - £2.39
Dani Carvajal supplied the assist for substitute Marco Asensio to score Real Madrid’s winner with three minutes of normal time remaining. The Madrid right-back endured a tough night up against the pace of David Neres, who finished the match with the star man award. Carvajal, however, proved decisive when it mattered most for the defending European champions. The Spaniard made seven tackles and interceptions combined and also blocked one shot. Despite having a lot of defending to do, he still managed to get forward and register three key passes.
Left midfield: Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain) - 8.10 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.98
Angel Di Maria supplied two assists in seven blistering second-half minutes to all but wrap up the tie for Paris Saint-Germain against former club Manchester United. The Argentine endured a difficult first half on his first return to Old Trafford since leaving United in 2015 but had the last laugh, assisting both Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe. Di Maria registered three key passes in total, had two shots and even made two tackles and interceptions combined.
Centre midfield: Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma) - 8.31 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.91
Lorenzo Pellegrini is one of three Roma players in the best rated XI after playing an integral part in their 2-1 first leg win at home to Porto. The Italy international tested Iker Casillas with three of his four shots on target and also registered five key passes and won four aerial duels. The gifted 22-year-old midfielder also completed three dribbles and made as many tackles and interceptions combined.
Centre midfield: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) - 8.35 rating
Football INDEX share price - £4.77
Christian Eriksen has now played a direct hand in three goals in Tottenham’s last two matches after registering an assist in their 3-0 win over Dortmund. The Denmark international whipped in the corner from which Tottenham scored their third of the night, which should put the tie beyond their German counterparts. The 27-year-old created four goalscoring chances in total and even fired off five shots.
Right midfield: Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma) - 8.98 rating
Football INDEX share price - £5.48
Nicolo Zaniolo has spent the season operating centrally behind the striker and Tuesday’s display against Porto was another huge tick against the youngster’s name. Deployed in an unfamiliar role on the right hand side of attack against Porto, the 19-year-old scored both of Roma’s goals to give them a slender advantage heading into the second leg. Zaniolo also made three tackles and interceptions combined, drew Casillas into another save and won four fouls for the Italian side.
Striker: Edin Dzeko (Roma) - 7.91 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.79
Edin Dzeko supplied the assist for Zaniolo’s first and was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet himself when his low drive cannoned back off the post, though into Zaniolo’s path for his and Roma’s second of the night. Dzeko won six aerial duels up against Porto’s defence, completed two dribbles and won three fouls.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - 7.68 rating
Football INDEX share price - £16.72
Kylian Mbappe has all but killed the tie for Manchester United after scoring Paris Saint-Germain’s second away goal at Old Trafford. There was more pressure on the youngster’s shoulders on Tuesday night with Neymar and Edinson Cavani both sidelined but the 20-year-old delivered. He demonstrated his frightening speed to rip through United’s centre-backs and slide in his fourth goal in seven Champions League matches this season.
