Champions League Team of the Week: Andriy Lunin and Kevin de Bruyne included

Cameron Smith

• 22 Feb 2024 07:30 CST
• 6 min read

The first set of Champions League last-16 fixtures have been completed, with a distinct lack of goals underpinning every first-leg match.

Copenhagen 1-3 Manchester City was the exception as most teams were remarkably cagey amid fears of losing the tie in first-leg.

However, while goals were a premium, there were several standout performances during the first-legs of each round of 16 tie.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through our Champions League Team of the Week from each first-leg match in the 2023-24 round of 16.

GK: Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid)

Andriy Lunin became Real Madrid’s third-choice goalkeeper behind Thibaut Courtois and Kepa Arrizabalaga following the Spaniard’s arrival on loan from Chelsea, but an injury to the former and poor form from the latter has finally given Lunin the chance to shine for Los Blancos.

The 1-0 win over RB Leipzig on February 13 was Lunin’s fifth consecutive start in all competitions and he didn’t disappoint.

The Ukrainian kept a masterful clean sheet in Germany as he thwarted the Leipzig attack time and time again. In total, Lunin made nine saves and managed to keep a clean sheet despite Leipzig racking up 2.44 xG.

RB: Joao Cancelo (Barcelona)

Joao Cancelo played at left-back during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Napoli, but he has been included on the opposite flank to fit into our team.

The on-loan Manchester City star was tasked with holding width as Pedri drifted inside and he deserved to be on the winning team at the end of the night.

Cancelo completed five of his six attempted dribbles and he amassed one key pass as he ran the show down the wing. Furthermore, his defensive game was also on point, making four interceptions and winning six of his eight ground duels.

CB: Otavio (Porto)

Porto produced a defensive masterclass against Arsenal on Wednesday night, with the Gunners failing to muster a single shot on target at the Estadio do Dragao.

Otavio played a key role in their 1-0 win as the centre-back blocked two shots, made two clearances and two tackles, while he also produced the match-winning assist for Wenderson Galeno.

Arsenal are still favourites to progress, but Porto hold an advantage ahead of their away leg and Otavio is at least partly to thank for that.

CB: Alessio Romagnoli (Lazio)

Harry Kane has been heavily mocked since Bayern’s 1-0 loss to Lazio, with the England international missing one big chance and failing to register a single shot on target.

However, his misery on the night was due to the presence of Alessio Romagnoli and his centre-back partner Mario Gila Fuentes.

The pair completely neutralised Kane’s threat and ensured the ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker was unable to influence the game like he usually would.

Romagnoli made five clearances, hounded Kane at any opportunity and maintained a 94% pass accuracy too.

LB: Wendell (Porto)

Wendell is the second member of Porto’s backline to be included in our Team of the Week, and for good reason.

Bukayo Saka is arguably Arsenal’s most dangerous player, but Wendell limited him to just one shot, which was blocked, and one dribble all game.

As for Wendell, he locked down that flank, making three tackles, three clearances and two interceptions, while he won seven of his 10 ground duels and wasn’t dribbled past once.

CM: Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio)

Bayern Munich weren’t at their best against Lazio, but that was largely thanks to the efforts of the aforementioned Romagnoli, his centre-back partner Fuentes and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.

Guendouzi was awarded the Man of the Match award on the night after a tireless performance that saw him never stop running.

The Frenchman won six of his seven ground duels, while also making six passes into the final-third as he produced arguably his best performance of the season in Lazio’s biggest game in 2023-24 so far.

CM: Kevin de Bruyne (Man City)

Kevin de Bruyne’s return to fitness couldn’t have come at a better time for Manchester City and he was at his best during the 3-1 win over Copenhagen on February 13.

His City team-mate Phil Foden was also majestic, but De Bruyne just edges out his team-mate despite the fact they both scored one and assisted one at Parken Stadium.

De Bruyne opened the scoring with a brilliant finish into the far corner after a Foden pass, while the Belgian returned the favour with a beautiful reverse pass for Foden to finish in second-half stoppage.

He was also instrumental in Bernardo Silva’s goal just before half-time in another brilliant performance.

CM: Nicolo Barella (Inter)

Nicolo Barella ran the show during Inter’s 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid during a surprisingly open encounter at San Siro.

The Italian was important in all game states, combining four key passes with four tackles and five ground duel wins.

Barella was the standout player for either team on Tuesday night and deserved to end up on the winning side.

RW: Donyell Malen (Dortmund)

With very few goals scored during the first set of last-16 fixtures, Donyell Malen was one of the players who was able to find the back of the net, with the Dutchman bagging the first goal of Dortmund’s 1-1 draw versus PSV.

Malen was Dortmund’s most dangerous attacker by far and he opened the scoring in Eindhoven with a ferocious near post finish that caught Walter Benitez out.

He was unlucky to not score a second against his former club having amassed four shots on target and five in total, while he also completed more dribbles than any other player (three).

ST: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)

Robert Lewandowski is no longer in his prime, but he still managed to find the back of the net with a fantastic finish against Napoli.

After receiving a pass from Pedri, the ex-Bayern Munich forward made a yard of space inside the 18-yard box and fired a brilliant shot past Alex Meret into the near corner.

Lewandowski was fairly quiet throughout the rest of the game, but he made the difference for Barca and was the only player who really looked like scoring for Xavi’s side. His six touches in the penalty area was also the most of any player on the pitch.

LW: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid)

In Jude Bellingham’s absence, Real Madrid needed someone else to step up and Brahim Diaz was that man.

The Spaniard has found game time hard to come by since returning from his loan spell at AC Milan, but he has been a reliable player in the Champions League this season.

His sublime solo strike against Leipzig was Brahim’s third goal contribution in just three European starts this campaign and ensures Real Madrid have control of the tie.

After picking the ball up on the right flank just minutes into the second-half, Diaz bamboozled David Raum with a fantastic turn, breezed past Xavi Simons and Xaver Schlager with ease and unleashed a curling effort that nestled into the far corner past the outstretched hand of Peter Gulacsi.

Diaz also completed six dribbles and provided four key passes on the night, but was unfortunately withdrawn in the 81st minute after suffering a calf injury.