Champions League Team of the Week: Vinicius Jr and Raphinha included

Cameron Smith

• 11 Apr 2024 05:20 CDT
• 5 min read

The 2023-24 Champions League quarter-finals started with a bang as 18 goals were scored in the four first-leg encounters.

Tuesday night was one of the most memorable in the competition’s history, while Wednesday also delivered two brilliant games.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through our Team of the Week from the first-leg fixtures.

GK: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund)

Gregor Kobel has been one of Borussia Dortmund’s best players so far this season and he is a key reason why they still have a chance of qualification after their first-leg tie against Atletico Madrid.

The Swiss shot-stopper made seven saves at the Wanda Metropolitano, including an unbelievable stop to deny Samuel Lino from a close range following an Antoine Griezmann set piece.

Atletico could easily have been out of sight if it wasn’t for Kobel and Dortmund will have their ‘keeper to thank if they pull off a second-leg comeback.

RB: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)

Atletico Madrid conceded the fewest goals (one) of any team in the first round of quarter-final fixtures and right-wing-back Nahuel Molina has earned a spot in this XI as a result.

The Argentine was a constant threat down the right flank, while he made five tackles, four clearances and one interception as Dortmund’s tricky wingers didn’t have a sniff.

CB: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)

Barcelona have produced another La Masia wonderkid in the form of Pau Cubarsi. The centre-back is just 17 years old, but he is already a fully-fledged Spain international and has added the entire Paris Saint-Germain attack to the list of forwards he’s completely nullified this campaign.

Barca may have conceded twice against Luis Enrique’s side, however Cubarsi was outstanding

CB: Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Erling Haaland was anonymous against Real Madrid and Antonio Rudiger is the reason why.

The ex-Chelsea defender was excellent when faced with the Norwegian last year and he was yet again dominant at the Santiago Bernabeu this season. Rudiger made three tackles, three clearances and two interceptions, while Haaland took just one shot and only mustered 20 touches.

Real Madrid may have conceded three goals, but all three were from outside the penalty area and Rudiger helped ensure the score was level heading into the second-leg.

LB: Josko Gvardiol (Man City)

Josko Gvardiol endured a tricky start to life at Man City, however he has started to show his true quality over the past weeks.

The Croatian netted his third Champions League goal with a fantastic weak foot effort, which curled past Andriy Lunin’s outstretched hand and into the far corner of the Real Madrid goal.

Gvardiol was also solid defensively, with most of Real Madrid’s threat coming down Man City’s right-hand side.

CM: Leon Goretzka (Bayern)

Leon Goretzka has been a slight liability over the past few seasons and Bayern Munich certainly need to think about moving on from the German, but he was excellent at the Emirates Stadium.

Goretzka produced a lovely assist for Serge Gnabry’s first-half equaliser and he played a key role in stopping Arsenal running away with the tie thanks to several crucial defensive interventions.

He was given the highest match rating of any Bayern player by FootballCritic, and looked like the box-to-box force who shone during the Bavarians’ last Champions League triumph.

CM: Vitinha (PSG)

Vitinha was PSG’s standout performer during their loss to Barcelona, with the Portuguese international scoring his first Champions League goal of the season at the Parc des Princes.

The 24-year-old was excellent on the night and combined his usual technical proficiency with a brilliant goal and five clearances in a solid defensive shift.

CM: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s backline was uncharacteristically poor during their 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich, but Gunners captain Martin Odegaard ensured his standards didn’t slip in midfield.

The Norway international completed five key passes during the match as he pulled the strings for Mikel Arteta’s side yet again. He didn’t come away with a goal contribution, but Odegaard was brilliant yet again.

RW: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

Antoine Griezmann continues to be the world’s most underrated player and he grabbed yet another key assist as Atletico Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1.

The France international dinked a beautiful pass into Samuel Lino’s path and the Brazilian finished expertly to put Atleti 2-0 up on the night.

Griezmann is the star quality in a work-horse Atletico Madrid side and he will need to maintain his current level of performance otherwise hopes of Champions League glory are somewhat fanciful.

ST: Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

Carlo Ancelotti has used Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo in a split striker system this season, but the Italian changed Real Madrid’s style against Man City, with Vinicius partnering Jude Bellingham through the middle and Rodrygo deployed as a left midfielder in a 4-4-2 shape.

The slight positional change didn’t impact Vinicius, however, as the Brazilian produced two assists in the 3-3 draw.

Vinicius did miss several chances himself, but his impact on the game was huge and Man City will be desperate for Kyle Walker to return in order to nullify the Brazil international’s threat in the second-leg.

LW: Raphinha (Barcelona)

Before Barcelona travelled to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, Raphinha had never scored a Champions League goal. He now has two.

The Brazil international impressed as a left winger against Las Palmas during the Blaugrana’s most recent LaLiga match and he was deployed in that unfamiliar role again versus PSG and it worked out perfectly.

His first goal was a composed right-footed finish after a Lamine Yamal pass and a Gianluigi Donnarruma parry, while his second was an excellent volley following a chipped through ball from Pedri.

A cracking performance from a player who has now announced himself on the European stage.