Having waited all week for Champions League football, the fans weren’t disappointed. With an average of over 3.1 per game, we witnessed goals rained across all fixtures in the past two days. We also saw some elite players putting their marks on the headlines with their world-class performances. Let’s look at the line-up consisting of the most outstanding players of Matchday Four. The Champions League Team of the Week will be presented in a 3-4-3 formation:
GK: Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge)
This week’s best goalie competition was a toe-to-toe one between Mignolet and Porto’s Diogo Costa. But we gave the nod to Club Brugge’s keeper thanks to his nine saves. Yes, you heard it correctly. Nine saves. He was like a rock between the post, standing tall even when his home team was down to ten men in the last minutes of the match. Mignolet’s magnificent game keeps the Belgian side’s clean sheet streak alive, and more importantly, it helps them qualify for their first-ever Round of 16.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
DF: Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
The Real Madrid shirt is white. It can stain of mud, sweat, and even of blood, but never of shame!, quoted Santiago Bernabeu. Antonio Rudiger’s blood-splattered shirt was one of the best moments of this year’s Champions League. He played his absolute heart out for the reigning champ against Shakhtar Donetsk. His effort paid off in the 90+5 minute as he scored a crucial equalizer to ensure Real Madrid’s traveling home with a point.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
DF: Tanguy Nianzou (Sevilla)
This game was a big breakout performance for Tanguy Nianzou against Dortmund. The former Bayern Munich youngster showed maturity in defense and rarely made spontaneous fouls like in his Bayern days. The Frenchman also scored his first Champions League goal to date but couldn’t help his team get their win to keep their advancing hope alive. After all, Nianzou’s potential is something we need to take notice of in the remaining matches and future seasons.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
DF: David Raum (RB Leipzig)
Although he didn’t have the fancy stat lines, David Raum was RB Leipzig’s best player versus Celtic by the eye test. He was there when the defense needed him, but it is in the offense where he displays his most prominent traits beautifully despite not contributing directly. The German disarrayed the Scottish’s backline in their two-nil victory: terrorizing Celtic’s right-hand side, delivering top-notch crosses and key passes.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
MF: Heung-min Son (Tottenham Hotspur)
We may have cheated a little bit here since Sonny isn’t a midfielder, but he is listed as a midfielder on the Champions League home page, so allow us to put him here. What a player he was against reigning Europa League champion Eintracht Frankfurt! Son scored a brilliant brace to keep the three points home at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A deserved Man of the match award is testimony to how in-form he is right now.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
MF: Omer Atzili (Maccabi Haifa)
Maccabi Haifa stirred up the football world with the biggest shocker of this fixture as the Israel team beat Juventus by two goals with a brace from Omer Atzili himself. Maccabi Haifa has proven to be a gritty opponent in previous matches thanks to their unreal engine, nominally Atzili, in the midfield. Although only playing 66 minutes against The Old Lady, the damage done by the Israeli was adequate to secure a fairy-tale victory.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
MF: Leon Goretzka (FC Bayern Munich)
An injury-plagued FC Bayern Munich traveled to Czech and broke the record for most consecutive wins in the Group stage phase with 11 after defeating Viktoria Plzen 4-2. The man behind achieving this unprecedented feat is none other than Leon Goretzka. His magnificent two goals and an assist to Sadio Mane, all in the first half, settled the result of this match. His absence is also felt deeply since his subbing out, as the German record champion conceded two goals in fewer than 15 minutes.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
MF: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (SSC Napoli)
Most fans can’t pronounce his name. The Napoli fans call him Kvaradona, and rightfully so. This young man has been out of this world for them this season. He directly contributed two goals and created numerous goal-scoring opportunities. His next-level execution helped Napoli trounce Ajax and advance past the Group stage two matches earlier. We hope to continue to see the Georgian’s brilliance in the future.
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
FW: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Big-time games call for big-time players. Lautaro Martinez was HIM in the position-deciding match against Barcelona. Pique being on the wrong slope of his career and Garcia’s unable to provide enough cover enables the Argentinian to thrive. He banged in a goal before dimed an assist to Robin Gosens to put Inter up in front with only extra time left to play. He almost put Barcelona away for good, but this man exists…
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
FW: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
This man mentioned above is Barcelona’s poacher Robert Lewandowski. An absolute top-tier performance but neutralized by their horrendous defense, the Polish brought Barca back from two near-death experiences. His equalizers in the 82nd and 90+2th minute pulled Barca away from elimination, but not enough to determine their own faith. We fans can’t help but feel sorry for this talented man, was his decision to leave Bayern for the Catalunya giant the ultimate choice?
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
FW: Mohammed Salah (Liverpool)
WE GOT A NEW RECORD. Mohammed Salah came off the bench and became the fastest hat trick scorer in Champions League history. The Egyptian king smashed three in the back of the Rangers’ net in only 6 minutes. Those goals were en route to a statement 7-1 victory, a great premise for this weekend’s battle against Manchester City. Is this a sign of the comeback of Liverpool and Mo Salah?
Fantom Sports’ Champions League Team of The Week spot: Earned!
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