Champions League Team of the Week: Antonio Rudiger and Kylian Mbappe included

Cameron Smith

• 18 Apr 2024 06:15 CDT
• 5 min read

The Champions League semi-final has been set, with Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all qualifying for the last four.

No Premier League clubs feature after exits for Arsenal and Manchester City, while the Bundesliga has two teams in the semi-finals after brilliant wins for Bayern and Dortmund.

There were a number of standout players in quarter-final second-leg matches and FootballTransfers runs through our Champions League Team of the Week below.

Champions League Team of the Week

GK: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Manuel Neuer was the only goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the quarter-final second-leg fixtures as the Bayern legend helped keep Arsenal’s potent attack out.

The Germany international was only required to make three saves, but he performed admirably as Bayern progressed into the semi-finals.

Andriy Lunin is perhaps unlucky to miss out after his penalty heroics for Real Madrid, but the Ukrainian was nervy from corners against Man City and it almost cost his team.

RB: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Just like Neuer, Kimmich played a key role in nullifying Arsenal’s attacking threat, but he has mostly been included due to his tie-winning goal.

He has been shifted to right-back in recent weeks, however he managed to find himself in the right place in the penalty area to nod home Raphael Guerreiro’s cross and book Bayern’s place in the next round.

CB: Marquinhos (PSG)

Paris Saint-Germain were massively helped by Ronald Araujo’s red card and Joao Cancelo’s foolish challenge on Ousmane Dembele inside the penalty area, but Marquinhos was a reliable performer at the back and earned his spot in this XI with a solid display.

The Brazilian was played out of position in the first-leg, but he returned to centre-back in the return fixture and limited 10-man Barcelona to very few opportunities, while his passing was top notch.

CB: Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Antonio Rudiger’s poor clearance may have led to Kevin de Bruyne’s equaliser at the Etihad Stadium and he may have missed a guilt-edged extra-time chance, but the German was exemplary against Manchester City on the whole.

Pep Guardiola’s side may have enjoyed the large majority of possession, however they created very few clear-cut opportunities as Rudiger shone in a box defender role, blocking five shots and making four clearances.

He also scored the winning penalty in the shootout.

LB: Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich)

Bayern have locked out the full-back positions, with Mazraoui joining Kimmich in the team after shutting down Bukayo Saka.

Mazraoui is typically a right-back, but he was forced to play on the opposite flank due to Alphonso Davies’ absence and he was impressive before being replaced in the 76th minute. Saka was hardly given a sniff and the Moroccan was a key reason for that.

CM: Manuel Akanji (Man City)

Manuel Akanji was listed as a centre-back in Man City’s starting XI, but their possession dominance saw him deployed as almost a No.10 for the entirety of their 1-1 draw against Real Madrid.

The Swiss international made four tackles and three key passes in an all-round performance to be proud of. He looked composed in possession and everything Man City did well went through him.

CM: Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund were underdogs against Atletico Madrid, but they sealed a semi-final place thanks to a 4-2 second-leg victory over Diego Simeone’s side.

Marcel Sabitzer scored the eventual winner, with a fantastic left-footed strike, while he also provided two assists. The Austrian was brilliant on the night as he continues to impress since leaving Bayern on a permanent deal.

CM: Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)

Julian Brandt has enjoyed a brilliant campaign at Dortmund and he shone once again during their win over Atletico.

The German midfielder scored the opening goal on the night and was a constant creative threat, completing four key passes as Atleti struggled to deal with his trickery.

RW: Bradley Barcola (PSG)

Ousmane Dembele narrowly misses out on this XI to his PSG team-mate Bradley Barcola, despite the fact the ex-Barcelona star scored against his former club yet again.

Barcola is included due to his constant threat down the left flank. He was the reason Araujo was sent off, after being fouled by the Uruguayan when bearing down on goal, and the Frenchman also grabbed the assist for Dembele’s goal after delivering a wicked cross across the penalty area.

ST: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

It wasn’t a vintage Kylian Mbappe performance, and he clearly still isn’t suited to being a lone centre-forward, but the France superstar still notched two goals as PSG sealed qualification to the semi-finals.

Mbappe coolly dispatched a 61st minute penalty, despite Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s distraction attempts, before scoring his second from close range in the 89th minute. Mbappe turned up when it mattered most, something he has become renowned for.

LW: Raphael Guerreiro (Bayern Munich)

Raphael Guerreiro was deployed in a left wing role against Arsenal as Thomas Tuchel looked to combat Saka’s threat down the Gunners’ right.

His plan worked perfectly as Guerreiro helped Mazraoui defensively as well as providing the assist for Kimmich’s winner.