Champions League XI This Season Thus Far: None From Chelsea & Arsenal, Spanish Players Dominate

For the second year in a row, it is a same-country affair in the Champions League final and the race for the coveted trophy looks tougher than ever.

While the finalists have certainly proved their mettle ahead of the grand finale, the other teams have been left to weep as they have encountered rather dreary exits from the tournament. Putting all those results aside, let us take a look at the best Champions League XI this season thus far. Let’s take a 4-3-3 formation as that is the most widely used even today. Understandably Spanish players dominate the line-up and few other Bayern players are involved.

Goalkeeper:

Thibaut courtois

The semifinal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge should be testament to the quality of Thibaut Courtois. At 22 years of age, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

His performances last year won him the best goalkeeper in the La Liga and I should say he has carried that over this year. He has been phenomenal for Atletico Madrid and is one of the primary reasons for their unbeaten record in the Champions League.

Philipp Lahm

Be it center midfield or right back or left back, this guy plays his role to perfection. With an amazing work ethic, Philip Lahm was described by Guardiola as the most intelligent player he had ever seen.

And Lahm does nothing but justify those descriptions. Having been asked to play multiple roles, Lahm has had a wonderful and has been the core of the Bavarian giants. In their recent dismal performance against Madrid, Lahm was the only shining light in the Bayern camp.

Pepe

The portuguese, who was once infamous for his dirty style of playing has had an excellent season this year. Not only has he stopped his rash methods, he has adopted a calculated approach to defense. Combining physicality with anticipation and reading of the game, he has been impenetrable at the back of the Real Madrid defense.

His disciplinary record is very clean with just one yellow card in 11 appearances. He has been very good going forward having contributed two assists and recording a 56% pass success rate.

Miranda

Another player from Atletico Madrid makes this team due to the highly impressive performances he’s been giving this year. He’s been a rock at the back for Atletico and their unbeaten record is clearly proof to the fact that Miranda has been solid in defense.

The Brazilian international has made a case for himself this season and is likely to get the call from Luiz Scolari for the World Cup. Should Atletico want to win the final, Miranda will be essential in doing that.

David Alaba

Bayern Munich’s 22 year old left back is potentially the Roberto carlos of the current generation. Blessed with pace and energy, David Alaba is excellent at going forward. He has a powerful shot and is deadly from set-pieces.

Having scored two goals and earning two assists, he has been one of the best young player in the Champions League. His defensive actions, too have been very good with more than two tackles per game and being dribbled past just once in three games.

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Midfielders:

Toni Kroos

Without a shadow of a doubt, he is the most underappreciated player in Europe. Toni Kroos, to his credit is a midfielder of the highest level. Kroos can hold his own against any opposition and has been vital in their performances the past couple of years.

Being versatile, he can easily fit anywhere in the center of the field and perform his role with equal ease. Kroos has recorded a higher pass percentage than Xavi in Europe and that should speak volumes about his quality.

Gabi

Atletico Madrid bought him back in 2011 for just €3 million and what a signing he’s turned out to be. Captaining the side, Gabi has been excellent this season and has been the orchestrator of their newfound success.

An attack-minded defensive midfielder with a penchant for goal scoring, he is the exact type of midfielder a manager would want.his leadership qualities on the pitch are second to none and he has rarely ever been off with the meds citing injury. That clearly shows his commitment and proves that he is a player par excellence.

Luka Modric

Should one take a closer look at the Champions League between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, he would undoubtedly recognize that Luka Modric was the best player of the tie. Playing a slightly deeper role alongside Alonso, Modric has excelled and is proving to be worth every penny that Real Madrid paid for him.

With one goal and three assists, he has recorded a pass completion rate of 93%. However, the most impressive thing about Modric is his ability to carry the ball from the back. With two quick feet, he can skip challenges and drive through the opposition.

Forwards:

Cristiano Ronaldo

The most obvious player in this team. What a season it has been for him. Starting with a spat against Mourinho, the season has been so good to Cristiano Ronaldo. He has won the Ballon d’or and become the highest ever scorer in a single season in the Champions League.

Having scored 16 goals so far, he has been stellar for Real Madrid and has fully justified his award. He has been the best player this season in Europe and I should say he is unlikely to get rid of that tag soon.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

He is Zlatan and he plays the Zlatan way. A simple sentence to describe him. This man needs no introduction. Perhaps the blueprint of how a player gets better with age, Zlatan at 32 is working wonders.

Although his team was beaten in the quarterfinals, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had an extraordinary season. With 10 goals in eight appearances, Zlatan is a certainty in this team.

Angel Di Maria

From being linked away from Madrid to the carrier of the team, Angel Di Maria has had a spectacular season. Although Bale’s arrival threatened his position in the team, a rejuvenated role in a flexible midfield five has seen Di Maria flourish.

With 3 goals and 5 assists to his name in the Champions League, Di Maria has been key to executing Ancelotti’s plans and has looked devastating on the counter attack. Against Bayern Munich, he made Alaba look like a fool and that should say something.