Our Champions League Team of the Week following the second legs of the play-off round ties. Who has made the cut?
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak – Atletico Madrid
Registered the assist for Atletico’s opener against Club Brugge with a punt forward for Alexander Sorloth, and did his job well with five saves at the other end. A big stop from a close-range header – with the aggregate score level – was a key moment in the tie.
Right-back: Davide Zappacosta – Atalanta
Atalanta became the first team since 2018-19 to overturn a two-goal deficit from a first leg, beating Borussia Dortmund 4-1 to advance in style. It was an unlikely name that led the charge, with Davide Zappacosta ending a 52-game goal drought in major European competition. A man-of-the-match performance from the veteran also included three tackles, two interceptions, and a chance created.
Centre-back: Odin Luras Bjortuft – Bodo/Glimt
The man with the name of a Norse deity helped Bodo/Glimt write a new chapter in Norwegian folklore this week. Bodo/Glimt dumped out Inter Milan at San Siro, with Bjortuft terrific. He made six clearances, blocked three shots, and made a goal-line clearance as Bodo battled to a historic win.
Centre-back: Edmond Tapsoba – Bayer Leverkusen
A professional performance from Bayer Leverkusen, who contained Olympiacos to progress, courtesy of a first-leg lead. Tapsoba was near faultless for Leverkusen, winning 100% of his ground duels (3/3/) and racking up a huge 14 clearances to consolidate the clean sheet.
Left-back: Federico Dimarco – Inter Milan
Inter Milan’s exit will haunt the Italian giants, but Federico Dimarco can at least hold his head up. The left-back was on a one-man crusade against Bodo/Glimt at times, though he was let down by some wasteful finishing from his teammates. Even in defeat, he set numerous season-highs for creativity.
Despite Inter being knocked out the competition, Federico Dimarco broke 6 #UCL records for the season vs Bodoe/Glimt last night. 🤯
🪄 9 – Chances created overall
🎯 6 – Chances created from set pieces
⚠️ 23 – Passes into the opponent’s box
☄️ 23 – Total crosses
🏹 10 – Accurate… pic.twitter.com/jK7wElX5aD— WhoScored (@WhoScored) February 25, 2026
Midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni – Real Madrid
A massive moment for the midfielder to level for Real Madrid, after Benfica had opened the scoring at the Bernabeu. Tchouameni took his goal with class and helped control proceedings as Real Madrid moved into the last 16.
Midfield: Manuel Locatelli – Juventus
A captain’s performance as Juventus came agonisingly close to a stunning comeback. Trailing by three goals from the first leg, Juventus forced extra time against Galatasaray despite Lloyd Kelly’s red card. Locatelli scored the first from the penalty spot and was a driving force, creating three chances, making seven tackles, and winning 9/11 ground duels.
Winger: Jens Petter Hauge – Bodo/Glimt
Jens Petter Hauge is having quite the season for Bodo/Glimt. A star in the Norwegian side’s run to the Round of 16, Petter Hauge scored one and created another in the win at Inter Milan.
It’s now six goals for the winger, who has thrived since returning to his homeland. Another big move may beckon after the ex-AC Milan prospect dumped Inter out of Europe.
Jens Petter Hauge has scored six goals for Bodø/Glimt in the #UCL this season – the most by a Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign.
He’s scored against Tottenham (x2), Dortmund, Man City and Inter (x2). 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/lL1lfX5XxL
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 24, 2026
Winger: Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid
A sweet moment for Vinicius after events in Lisbon. The Brazilian sealed progress for Real Madrid with the winner against Benfica, to cap a performance full of trademark zip and forward threat.
Forward: Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray
A gargantuan goal for Galatasaray from their most reliable source, as Osimhen’s extra-time effort prevented the Turkish champions from a collapse at Turin. Galatasaray had surrendered a three-goal advantage, but Osimhen’s cool put them back in front in the added period.
He’s now Galatasaray’s leading foreign scorer in the Champions League, after netting his seventh of the current campaign.
Victor Osimhen has 6️⃣6️⃣ goal involvements in 65 games for Galatasaray 😱🦅🇹🇷
A truly brilliant player 👏 pic.twitter.com/vbkImrNoiC
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) February 26, 2026
Forward: Alexander Sorloth – Atletico Madrid
The sort of performance that makes you question how Alexander Sorloth is not a guaranteed starter at Atletico Madrid.
Power, presence, and ruthless finishing, the Norwegian’s hat-trick helped Diego Simeone’s side into the next round.
Read – Eddie Howe sets new Champions League record after Newcastle win
See more – Champions League Awards: Bodo make history, Super Sorloth
