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The Champions League has reached the quarter-final stage and some of the world’s best players will be taking part in the two-legged fixtures.
It all starts with Arsenal vs Bayern Munich and Real Madrid vs Manchester City on April 9, before Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund visit Atletico Madrid on April 10.
To celebrate this wealth of talent, we asked our writers to share their best XIs based on the players available in the four quarter-finals.
See if you agree and comment below who you would include and exclude and why.
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Who’s in, who’s out – and why?
For no reason other than that I like to make life difficult, I limited myself to no more than three players from each club. Apologies to Dortmund and Atletico Madrid fans, I couldn’t find a place for any of your players.
The front three comes from a coin toss between Kane and Erling Haaland. I chose the Englishman because he already has a good playing relationship with Saka and you can see Mbappé enjoying his long passes. Behind Mbappé is Alphonso Davies on the left, mainly because I wanted to see what the world’s fastest counter-attack could look like. Jules Kounde could step up to form a centre-back trio should the Canadian move forward.
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)
I recently had an interesting conversation with someone who claimed that Luka Modric is the greatest Champions League player of all time. There is an old quote on Johan Cruyff describing him as “four-footed”, such was the quality of his passing with the outside of the boot – it seems appropriate to use it for the Croatian as well. In the most difficult moments of knockout football, his acumen allows him to overtake Declan Rice in the role of “dangerous midfield partner” to Rodri. Had I been allowed a substitute bench, Modric would have made way for Elke Gundogan on the hour mark.
There’s an embarrassment of riches for the most advanced midfielder role, but I’d choose De Bruyne over Martin Odegaard, Antoine Griezmann and Jude Bellingham. I’m sure the comments section will enlighten me on the many ways in which I am wrong.
carl anka
Who’s in, who’s out – and why?
I had three absolutely essential selections: Rodri, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé, three players who, in my opinion, are the best in world football at what they do.
I know that choosing John Stones, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane – as opposed to, say, Kim Min-jae, Jamal Musiala and Erling Haaland – might attract accusations of English bias, but all three were tough decisions I think. That may be justified by their performance level in the last 12 months. Haaland is the better goalscorer, but I think Kane is the more complete player.
(Giuseppe Maffia/Nurfoto via Getty Images)
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Achraf Hakimi, David Alaba… it’s all pretty straightforward and undeniable, isn’t it? The third position in midfield was probably the most difficult; There were four or five suitors from Real Madrid alone. But I chose Bernardo Silva because he is an extraordinary footballer, very intelligent and very good at everything he does.
As far as formation goes, it could easily be a 4-2-3-1, with Bellingham pushed forward into a more advanced role behind Kane, but, with the likes of Bernardo, they can make it work for them. do.
Ollie’s
Who’s in, who’s out – and why?
Among those left in the competition is in-form goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. It won’t stop him being overlooked by Germany in the summer – what a fun controversy it is – but we’re running a meritocracy here.
Ahead of him, Mats Hummels’ best days are probably behind him, yes, but he’s had a sensational Champions League run and Dortmund wouldn’t have got out of the group stage without him.
Alphonso Davies will bring some aggression from left-back, while on the other side, Benjamin White will be our counter-balance. He is very good going forward, but his defensive instincts would be useful and also allow him to slot into the back three.
Midfield? Easy. Rodri is Rodri, it’s quite simple, and Fede Valverde will play as a number 8, making the midfield strong but flexible and equipped with the ability to change shape when needed.
(Manuel Rino/Daffodi Images via Getty Images)
This team is committed to entertaining in attack. Antoine Griezmann is still such a classy player and he is the perfect centre-forward around whom we can build a class of entertainment. We want skill and speed, craft and adventure. Jude Bellingham is at number 10. Freed of defensive responsibility, he will enjoy the breakdowns this team will inevitably create.
And Vinicius Jr. and Bukayo Saka will play on either side of him. No protector of the world can stop any of them one by one, but with so much danger elsewhere, someone has to try.
Seb Stafford-Blur
Who’s in, who’s out – and why?
I’ve decided to act like Florentino Pérez circa 2004. I also believe that Carlo Ancelotti will face some of the same problems facing this team when it comes to balancing Real Madrid next season.
Let’s start with my goalie. People are sleeping on Gianluigi Donnarumma and his season at Paris Saint-Germain. He has been preferred over Madrid’s third-choice shot-stopper Andrey Lunin, who deserves much credit for how well he has done for Thibaut Courtois at the expense of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Pau Qubarsi loves publicity. I got to see him firsthand in the last round and not only can the kid ping it, he’s also not afraid to step up to some of the most intimidating strikers in the competition. Cubarsi’s youth encouraged me to go with the experience of Rubén Dias over William Saliba.
I want John Stones to step into midfield, knowing that Kyle Walker can stay behind and cover if needed. When it came to coming back to the left, I deliberated over Joao Cancelo and thought: Well, if you’re going to be so excited, why not double up, play Vinicius Junior and put Walker on the other side. Stand up and move on. , Whether he will step on Mbappé’s toes or not, I think we will find out next season. Carlo Ancelotti will have to make them co-exist.
(Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
A rational mind would probably have put Declan Rice or Rodri next to Tony Cruz, but kids don’t watch 90-minute games anymore. They need reels. They want goals. They want madness and I’m here for it, so Bellingham can do anything and De Bruyne is ready to feed my strikers. I don’t want Mbappe or Haaland to come down and play like Kane or Griezmann. So I’ve gone for the guys who are hell-bent on running backs.
james horncastle
Who’s in, who’s out – and why?
Playing this game it seems as if it’s just as important who you don’t pick as who you pick. So with apologies to Ederson, Toni Kroos, Declan Rice, Vinicius Jr., Antoine Griezmann, Erling Haaland and others, here we come.
There are better goalkeepers in the competition, but Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel deserves praise for his performances this season. To face PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle in the group stage and a goal-starved PSV in the Round of 16 and come out with four clean sheets and only four goals conceded is worthy of credit. No goalkeeper has stopped more than 4.9 goals in this year’s competition.
You can’t have William Saliba without Gabriel. The pair have been one of the strongest partnerships in Europe this season, helping to ensure Arsenal have the best defensive record in the top five leagues when looking at expected goals conceded per 90 minutes. Next to him will be PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Barcelona’s Joao Cancelo. That’s right, we’re going to attack, but Saliba and Gabriel are able to stop things.
Rodri has to stay in, which makes me feel less guilty leaving out Declan Rice and Toni Cruz – both are having great seasons. Bernardo Silva has the football intelligence to sit alongside Rodri in the build-up phase, but he runs riot in space when the team attacks.
The non-negotiable this season is clearly Jude Bellingham. We don’t need to justify this selection, but he can also drop into deeper areas or box-crash whenever he sees fit – making for an ideal mix in a midfield three.
Beyond those, we are moving rapidly into broader areas and a clinical striker who can also be a provider. Harry Kane, Europe’s most prolific goalscorer, will lead this side and he will end attacks at crucial moments, but will also know when to take out the opposition centre-backs to create space for Kylian Mbappé and Bukayo Saka’s sharp runs. Can go.
It’s a 4-3-3 that will suffocate any side that dares think they have a chance of beating this all-star team.
mark carey
Who’s in, who’s out – and why?
First of all, I would like to apologize to the fans of Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Arsenal for not including players from their teams in my ideal XI.
Having got that out of the way, I think that although it may be a bit controversial due to the number of goals Barcelona are conceding this season, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is still at an excellent level and can help the team score even more goals. Save from eating. For me, he is the most in-form goalkeeper among the rest of the teams. Same is the case with Ronald Araujo. Even if he isn’t having his best season, he is still one of the best centre-backs in Europe. Along with Ruben Dias, he is a tall and strong centre-back who is capable of covering everything. They will form a good wall in defence.
Joao Cancelo has not found his place as a right back but has found a place on the left. Kyle Walker will fill the defensive portion of the other side.
(Jose Breton/Pix Action/Nurfoto via Getty Images)
In midfield, with the return of Rodri and Bellingham, and De Bruyne, the debate for the third position was resolved.
Perhaps the front row is the one that raises the least suspicion. Haaland faces a match that will take his career forward against Real Madrid. Vinicius Junior is the best one-on-one dribbler, provides pace and performs well in big games.
There is very little to say about Mbappe, he is probably the best player in the world today – always with the permission of Leo Messi – he is the fastest, the one who can decide the most games and the 39 goals he scored this season They are a proof for that.
He has been Barcelona’s biggest nightmare in this Champions League quarter-final and looks set for many seasons to come.
Lia Cervelo Herrero
(Top photos: Getty Images)
