The Champions League quarterfinals are upon us. Each team has
had its chance to show the world what it has and more importantly who it
has.
There have been a number of outstanding performances from
the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus while Paris
Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich must not be
discounted. Not to mention the surprise packages of the Isco-led Malaga
and Galatasaray.
But no team has been consistently brilliant—yet. A
number have built momentum, and as the quarterfinals roll around, a
large number of players—including Andrea Pirlo, Xavi Hernandez, Lionel
Messi and
Cristiano Ronaldo—are looking to lead their team to victory.
Which players have captured the eye and stood tall when others around them have wilted?
Who had the strength of character to lead his team to the quarterfinals when all else had failed?
And who has just been brilliant?
Read on for the complete rankings, and be sure to leave your top stars, suggestions and tactics in the comments below.
Gianluigi Buffon, Goalkeeper (Juventus)
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For the position of goalkeeper, there can be only one: Gianluigi Buffon
.
The
Italian shot-stopper is one of the best 'keepers the game has ever
seen, if not the best. At 35 years old, he still defies the years with
almost cat-like reflexes and a telepathic understanding of his own
defence as well as what hopeful strikers have in mind.
Supremely
influential at the international level, Buffon is equally as important
for Juventus and has been a key figure in their revival
after Calciopoli.
He
has featured in all eight of the Old Lady's games this term and is
easily the top goalkeeper in the Champions League. For evidence, note
that Juventus have not allowed a goal in their last five matches in the
tournament.
Philipp Lahm, Right-Back (Bayern Munich)
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Philipp Lahm is easily the finest full-back in the game today.
The ultra-cool, ultra-consistent Bayern Munich and German captain is the
very prototype of a defender in the modern game.
Quick,
intelligent in attack and defence and superbly disciplined, Lahm has,
once again, been at the forefront of all that is good about Bayern in
the Champions League this term. He has played in seven Champions League
games and contributed four assists with a passing average of 89 percent.
He
also averages 2.7 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per game, making him a
real all-arounder on defence. Lahm is comfortable on either side of the
pitch, but in 2012-13 he has made the right side of defence his own.
Mats Hummels, Centre-Back (Borussia Dortmund)
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The hulking figure of Mats Hummels is fast becoming a regular feature in any article on the top defenders in the game.
While
Dortmund have become the darlings of European football with their silky
style, their defence, led by Hummels, is one of the main reasons for
their success.
The 6'3" 24-year-old was one of the best defenders
at Euro 2012 with Germany and has carried his form into this season. In
his seven Champions League matches, he has contributed 22 tackles, 17
interceptions and a gargantuan 76 clearances, which places him atop the
defensive statistic charts.
However, his intelligence and
consistency really separate him from the also-rans. A competent passer
out of defence, Hummels is also known to dribble the ball into midfield,
which commits opposing players to uncomfortable areas of the pitch.
For
a team like Dortmund, this simple but effective tactic creates all
manner of space across midfield, which they can and usually do expose.
The
very fact that Hummels is still learning his trade should not be lost
on anyone. He has the potential to one day be talked about in the same
breath as Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi.
Mats Hummels, Centre-Back (Borussia Dortmund)
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
The hulking figure of Mats Hummels is fast becoming a regular feature in any article on the top defenders in the game.
While
Dortmund have become the darlings of European football with their silky
style, their defence, led by Hummels, is one of the main reasons for
their success.
The 6'3" 24-year-old was one of the best defenders
at Euro 2012 with Germany and has carried his form into this season. In
his seven Champions League matches, he has contributed 22 tackles, 17
interceptions and a gargantuan 76 clearances, which places him atop the
defensive statistic charts.
However, his intelligence and
consistency really separate him from the also-rans. A competent passer
out of defence, Hummels is also known to dribble the ball into midfield,
which commits opposing players to uncomfortable areas of the pitch.
For
a team like Dortmund, this simple but effective tactic creates all
manner of space across midfield, which they can and usually do expose.
The
very fact that Hummels is still learning his trade should not be lost
on anyone. He has the potential to one day be talked about in the same
breath as Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi.
Giorgio Chiellini, Left-Back (Juventus)
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Giorgio Chiellini has enjoyed a superb Champions League. The
hard-nosed Italian international has played in six of Juventus' matches
and is a force to be reckoned with at left-back or centre-half.
His
pass completion rate sits at a healthy 87.7 percent, and on defense
skills he has contributed 2.7 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per match
and a blistering 70 clearances in six games.
He is an old-school
defender who takes very few chances. That makes him one of the most
reliable defenders on the planet for club and country.
He is a supreme warrior in the air or on the ground and has the ball skills to get himself out of trouble in any situation.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Centre-Midfield (Bayern Munich)
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Bastian Schweinsteiger is one of the best midfielders on the
planet at this moment in time. Whether he is organising and running
Bayern Munich or the German national team, Schweinsteiger is the leader
on the pitch to whom every player looks for example.
He patrols
the pitch like a guard dog and covets his space and the ball jealously.
When playing against him, opponents know they have to win the physical
war before they can even attempt to play.
The 28-year-old is
ultra-competitive in midfield and isn't afraid to put his boot where
others fear to tread. In seven Champions League appearances, he has 19
tackles, two goals and an 87.6 percent success rate on his passes. He is
the player teams have to best if they want to beat Bayern Munich.
Xavi Hernandez, Centre-Midfield (Barcelona)
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Xavi Hernandez is a true giant of the game. The little
Barcelona star is probably the best midfielder the game has produced in a
generation, and he links every single part of Barca's team.
Lionel Messi may grab all the headlines for his goals and supreme play, but Xavi provides the foundations for Messi's play.
He
has made a staggering 962 passes with a completion rate of 94.9 percent
in his seven matches for Barca in this Champions League term. That is
more passes than many teams have managed in the same amount of games.
He
is the fulcrum upon which Barca turn. He beats his opponents with
intelligence, ingenuity and guile that goes unmatched in the modern
game.
Andrea Pirlo, Centre-Midfield (Juventus)
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At 33 years old, Andrea Pirlo may be in the latter years of his
career, but he has had some of the best performances many have seen in
this season's Champions League. Central to everything that is good about
Antonio Conte's Juventus team, Pirlo is a creative force for
excellence.
He can pick a pass out through the eye of a needle,
and he dictates the ebb and flow of Juve's every match. Unafraid to bite
into tackles and brave enough to pick the ball up under intense
pressure, Pirlo may just be the best all-around midfielder left in the
competition.
During his eight-game journey in the competition, he
has made 492 passes with a completion rate of 84.8 percent, but it is
his eye for a pass that stands out. You must consider that Juve are a
caution-first team and don't commit to attack unless a chance is
clear-cut.
Thus, the very fact that Pirlo has created 25
goal-scoring opportunities (three assists) in so few games exemplifies
his supreme creativity and vision.
Lionel Messi, Forward (Barcelona)
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One could not have a Champions League team without the God who is Lionel Messi.
Once
again, the little Argentinian is in the form of his life in domestic
action and has scored a ridiculous 40 goals in his last 27 matches.
As far as the Champions League is concerned, though...
Messi
has scored seven goals in eight appearances and is moving closer to
becoming the all-time top scorer in the competition. He averages a
whopping 4.8 shots per game, completes 86.2 percent of his passes, has
created 15 goal-scoring chances and is one of the most fouled players in
the competition.
To say that Messi has made his mark in 2012-13
would be an understatement. He is so dangerous in any position that he
is now hailed in the same breath as the likes of Pele and Diego
Maradona.
That's not bad company for the 25-year-old.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Forward (Real Madrid)
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If Messi makes the team, there must be a place for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is a little more direct than Messi as a player but has managed a superb eight goals in eight Champions League games.
He
averages 7.3 shots per game to Messi's 4.8 and has made just 269 passes
compared to the Argentinian's 468. However, the devil is in the
details, and this shows that Real Madrid employ a far more direct and
swift counterattacking style more than anything else.
Like Messi,
Ronaldo is dangerous in any situation, but unlike Messi, the Portuguese
has the power and pace to attack his opponents from a far greater
distance to the goal. In this respect, Real Madrid possess a forward who
works back to help his midfield but can also be employed up front by
himself.
To have both Ronaldo and Messi on the same side is the stuff of dreams for fans—and nightmares for defenders.
Robert Lewandowski, Striker (Borussia Dortmund)
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Borussia Dortmund have wowed fans with their superb passing
game, but they owe a lot to Mats Hummels at the back and Robert
Lewandowski up front.
Lewandowski, one of the greatest Polish
footballers of all time, has been lethal for Dortmund this term. He has
scored five goals in eight Champions League appearances from just 28
shots and has also contributed two assists.
What makes him so
special is his phenomenal work rate. The 24-year-old runs the lines as a
lone striker but also possesses the energy, desire and stamina to drop
deep and help out his midfield when the need arises.
He is
comfortable as the main striker or just behind, where he can use his
great strength, pace, creativity and vision combined with his work ethic
to wreak havoc on unsuspecting opponents.
Honourable Mentions
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There will always be a select few who miss out.
They may
not fit into the starting XI but would certainly make a 23-man squad. Or
through just bad luck, they won't get selected. All the same, they
should be honoured for their superb contributions to the Champions
League.
Goalkeeper
As far as the
final eight teams are concerned, the two other best 'keepers in the
tournament are Iker Casillas and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer. Both are
superb shot-stoppers but miss out on selection because of Buffon's
incredible consistency. Casillas also falls behind a bit for being
absent for each of Real Madrid's ties against Manchester United.
Defenders
There
are quite a few defenders who deserve special mention. Alex has been
brilliant for PSG so far, as has Dortmund's Lukasz Piszczek and Bayern's
David Alaba. Add in Juve's Andrea Barzagli, and you have four of the
best defenders in the world at the moment.
Midfield
The
biggest casualty of all is probably Malaga's Isco. The little
midfielder has been incredible in leading his team to the quarterfinals.
Expect him to move on to bigger and better things next season. The same
could be said of Juve's Arturo Vidal and Bayern's Toni Kroos, although
they won't go anywhere next year.
Forwards
Zlatan
Ibrahimovic has been brilliant in guiding PSG so far in the
competition, as has Galatasaray's Burak Yilmaz, who is joint top scorer
with Ronaldo. Ibra's partner, Ezequiel Lavezzi, has been no slouch
either, and PSG are real dark horses for the competition with players
like them up front.
PLS prvde ur viewsss--------------------------------------
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