Real Madrid and Juventus round up Champions League best XI

The Champions League finalists unsurprsingly make up the team of the semi-finals as Real Madrid and Juventus dominate the XI. Juventus star Dani Alves earned the best rating across both games following another splendid set of showings from the experienced Brazilian. His rating of 8.55 was earned having netted once and provided two assists, while Alves was on hand to play six key passes, four accurate crosses and produce eight tackles across both legs against Monaco. 

Unsurprisingly, he is one of three Juventus defenders in the XI, with compatriot Alex Sandro occupying the opposite flank. The left-back made two interceptions and six tackles over 180 minutes against the Ligue 1 outfit, while teammate Giorgio Chiellini also features having made the most clearances (19) of all players in the Champions League semi-finals. 

He’s joined at the back by Real Madrid man Sergio Ramos, who made the second most clearances (14), won the second most aerial duels (11) and played the second most accurate passes in his own half (67) of the round. Keylor Navas just edges out Gianluigi Buffon between the sticks after two solid showings against Atletico Madrid to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.45. 

There’s a familiar midfield pairing in Toni Kroos and Luka Modric with the pair excelling against Atletico Madrid. Kroos ranked top for key passes (7), accurate crosses (5) and accurate passes (172) in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Modric, meanwhile, churned out two impressive showings to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.91. He was second to Kroos for accurate passes (148) and joint-top for dribbles (12), with nine of those coming in Wednesday night’s meeting with Atletico at the Calderon. 

Isco was the player level with Modric for dribbles, as he continues to prove just why he warrants a regular starting spot for Real Madrid. The Spain international netted the decisive goal that ended Atletico’s mini-renaissance in the opening exchanges on Wednesday night. The 25-year-old was a constant attacking threat for Real Madrid across the two legs having made more successful final third passes (42) than any other player in the round. 

Teammate Cristiano Ronaldo occupies a place on the wing, with the Portugal international scoring more goals (3) than any other player in the semi-final. His hat trick in the first leg effectively guaranteed Real Madrid’s place in the Champions League final, with his goalscoring exploits earning him a WhoScored rating of 8.24, the second best return. 

On the opposite flank, there’s a place for Mario Mandzukic, with the Croat coming in as the third best rated player (7.95) of the semi-finals. Mandzukic netted the opener as Juventus landed a 2-1 win over Monaco at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday night and was a direct attacking outlet for his teammates having won more aerial duels (17) than any other player in the round, 10 of which came in Tuesday’s win. 

Gonzalo Higuain rounds off the XI, with his brace in Monaco in the first leg all but wrapping up the tie. The Argentine has been accused of faltering on the big occasion in the past, yet put the Monaco backline to the sword to fire Juventus to their second Champions League final in the last three years, earning a WhoScored rating of 7.58 across the two semi-final legs in the process.