Kane and Vinicius spearhead Champions League Team of the Week
The Champions League semi-finals have reached the halfway stage, and so here we’ve taken a look at the standout performers from this week’s first legs. All four semi-finalists - Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich - are represented in our Team of the Week.
Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.12
Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel makes our Team of the Week as the only goalkeeper to have kept a clean sheet across this week’s semi-finals. The 26-year-old made a total of three saves and even completed one successful dribble, on what was - for the most part - a relatively quiet evening between the sticks.
Former Dortmund man Achraf Hakimi looked bright on his return to Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday evening, making three key passes, one dribble, one tackle and four clearances, contributing to a WhoScored rating of 7.06.
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.36
The first of three BVB defenders in our backline is veteran centre-back Mats Hummels, who continued his exceptional form in this season’s Champions League with yet another rock-solid display. The Germany international, who is the highest rated centre-back in the competition this term, made two successful dribbles, four tackles and three clearances to return a WhoScored rating of 7.36.
Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.57
Nico Schlotterbeck joins his centre-back partner at the heart of our backline, having provided a wonderful assist for Dortmund’s winning goal on Wednesday evening. The 24-year-old found Niclas Fullkrug with a perfectly weighted ball, that his only key pass of the night. Schlotterbeck also made three tackles, one clearance and one interception on his way to a WhoScored rating of 7.57.
Ian Maatsen (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.23
Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen completes a trio of Borussia Dortmund defenders in our back four, having made a key pass, a dribble, two tackles and four clearances in a fine display against PSG on Wednesday night.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.74
With a WhoScored rating of 8.74, Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho is our Champions League Player of the Week after a scintillating display in Wednesday’s first-leg victory over PSG. The 24-year-old winger completed a remarkable 13 dribbles against the French side, breaking the record of 10 in a single match in the competition this season. Sancho, who looked lively from the off, also made three key passes and created one big chance in a wonderful all-round showing.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) - 7.81
German midfielder Toni Kroos scooped the Player of the Match award at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night, having provided an inch-perfect assist for Real Madrid’s opener after 24 minutes. The 34-year-old, who made as many key passes as inaccurate passes (three), also made two tackles and three interceptions in a typically assured display.
PSG midfielder Vitinha, who scored both home and away against Barcelona in the quarter-finals, joins Kroos in midfield having returned the best rating of any player for the French side in Dortmund on Wednesday. The ex-Wolves loanee made a key pass, a dribble, three tackles, one clearance and three interceptions to return a WhoScored rating of 7.12.
Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) - 7.66
Bayern Munich attacker Leroy Sane, who had not found the net in any competition since October 2023, did so in some style against Real Madrid on Tuesday, cutting inside from the right to drive into space, before lashing a powerful effort into the bottom-right corner of Andriy Lunin’s goal. The 28-year-old, who managed three shots on goal in total, also completed all four of the dribbles he attempted, and made one key pass for a WhoScored rating of 7.66.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) - 7.76
England captain Harry Kane brought his tally of goal involvements in the Champions League this season to 11 with a well-taken penalty to put Bayern Munich ahead shortly after half-time on Tuesday. That number sees him surpass the likes of Steven Gerrard and David Beckham, setting the record for the most goals and assists by an Englishman in a single season in the competition. In all, Kane mustered five shots on goal, one successful dribble and three key passes to register a WhoScored rating of 7.76.
Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) - 7.71
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior continues to shine on the biggest stage of them all, and his brace in Munich on Tuesday will see the 14-time champions head into next week’s second leg with a sizeable amount of confidence. The Brazilian, who has nine goal involvements in eight appearances in the competition this season, also managed four shots on goal and one successful dribble on his way to a WhoScored rating of 7.71.
