Our Champions League Team of the Week following the last-16 second legs, featuring names from Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Goalkeeper: Uğurcan Çakır – Galatasaray
You know it’s been a busy night as a goalkeeper when your manager praises an ‘amazing game’ despite shipping four goals.
Galatasaray were thrashed at Anfield to exit the Champions League, but without Çakır, they could have suffered an all-timer embarrassment. He made a whopping 11 saves as Liverpool ran riot, including stopping Mohamed Salah’s penalty.
Centre-back: Gabriel – Arsenal
Should have done better with some goalscoring opportunities, but was solid as ever defensively. The big Brazilian won 100% of his aerial battles (6/6) in a commanding performance, as Arsenal locked out Leverkusen at the Emirates.
Centre-back: Dean Huijsen – Real Madrid
One of his better performances of the season. So composed throughout at the Etihad and made some vital first-half interventions to snuff out any Manchester City hopes of a comeback.
Centre-back: Goncalo Inacio – Sporting CP
A top display from the defender, who led Sporting’s stirring comeback against Bodo/Glimt. Inacio scored the first goal of the night with a great header and helped keep the hosts on the front foot with his raking distribution. Inacio completed 12/17 long balls forward.
Midfield: Declan Rice – Arsenal
Declan Rice has started to come alive in the Champions League’s knockout rounds. The Arsenal midfielder made it three consecutive man-of-the-match awards in the club’s most recent knockout stage wins after a standout display against Bayer Leverkusen. A characteristic rampaging forward was capped with the second goal.
Midfield: Archie Gray – Tottenham Hotspur
Marcos Llorente made a point of coming over to shake Archie Gray’s hand as he was substituted against Atletico Madrid and the Spaniard was not the only one mightily impressed.
Amid the chaos that has been Spurs’ season, Gray has been a shining light. He led by example as Spurs won on the night against Atletico, with a determined interception and drive to assist the second goal. The 20-year-old as a huge future.
Archie Gray has now made more Champions League starts for Tottenham while aged under 21 than any other player in the club’s history (7).
He overtakes Dele Alli (6). 💫 pic.twitter.com/8obY3p8Xxe
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 18, 2026
Midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool
Has become Liverpool’s talisman this season and was at it again against Galatasaray. Szoboszlai scored the opener in the 4-0 win at Anfield, arriving to finish a set-piece routine with real class. The Hungarian pops up everywhere for Liverpool and has become a captain without the armband. He has to stay in midfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai is the highest-rated midfielder (7.70) in the #UCL this season. 🇭🇺 💫 pic.twitter.com/JaFVWnHRda
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) March 18, 2026
Right-wing: Xavi Simons – Tottenham Hotspur
A good night for Simons, whose time at Tottenham has been tough. The Dutchman fired in the second goal, before winning and converting a penalty to double his haul against Atletico. In between, there were plenty of bright moments.
Left-wing: Raphinha – Barcelona
Raphinha continued his red-hot form as Barcelona tore apart Newcastle at Camp Nou. After a hat-trick in La Liga at the weekend, Raphinha was involved heavily as Barcelona hit seven to ease into the quarter-finals. Two goals, two assists, and a penalty won, his influence was everywhere.
Only Lionel Messi has a higher goal contribution rate than Raphinha at home in the UCL 🤩🏠
Elite company 👑 pic.twitter.com/D5jxeZY8co
— LiveScore (@livescore) March 18, 2026
Forward: Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
The third-fastest man in Champions League history to reach 50 goals, it was just another night at the office for Harry Kane.
Back from a recent ankle issue, he scored twice against Atalanta as Bayern batted the Italians in one of the Champions League’s biggest-ever aggregate wins.
Forward: Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
The veteran fox in the box has still got it. Kept quiet in the first half against Newcastle, Lewandowski fired a quick-fire double after the break to take the game away from the Magpies. Give him the service, and he will find the net.
Read – Champions League Awards – Ruthless Raphinha, Sporting stun Bodo
