UEFA.com's Champions League team of the week
Thursday, April 14, 2016
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Atlético's superb showing is recognised with four players in this week's side, which also features three from Real Madrid and Manchester City – tell us whether you agree using #UCL.
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Goalkeeper: Joe Hart (Manchester City)
An assured performance, complete with two crucial saves from Zlatan Ibrahimović free-kicks, helped City record successive UEFA Champions League home clean sheets.
Defender: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
No Madrid player worked harder than the right-back, who ran 10.85km and provided the cross for the opening goal, setting them on the road to a memorable comeback.
Defender: Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City)
Part of a defensive unit that limited Ibrahimović and Edinson Cavani to mainly long-range efforts, the Argentinian international was on hand to make last-ditch clearances whenever Paris did look threatening.
Defender: Diego Godín (Atlético Madrid)
The Uruguayan put in a heroic showing at the heart of Atlético's defence, producing four clearances in his key role which kept Barcelona's vaunted 'MSN' attack goalless.
Defender: Filipe Luís (Atlético Madrid)
A vibrant presence down the left all night, the Brazilian made several vital challenges before capping off his display with a marauding run that earned his team their clinching penalty.
Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
The most creative outlet for the Citizens on the night, his stunning curling strike past a helpless Kevin Trapp was the highlight as his side booked their first-ever semi-final in the competition.
Midfielder: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
With all of Madrid's attacking stars sparkling, the Brazilian international offered energy, intelligence and balance to Zinédine Zidane's team both going forward and dropping back.
Midfielder: Arturo Vidal (Bayern München)
Vidal was a lively attacking outlet whom Benfica found hard to handle across the 180 minutes. His crisp half-volley for Bayern's crucial first in Lisbon was walloped into a gaping net yet still managed to look like a thing of beauty.
Midfielder: Saúl Ñíguez (Atlético Madrid)
The 21-year-old has had a stellar season and this was perhaps his best game yet, tucking into a compact midfield and impressing in defence as well as attack – teeing up Antoine Griezmann's opener with a delicious cross.
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
The Portuguese talisman hit his fifth UEFA Champions League hat-trick, and third this term, to send his side to the semis and move onto 16 goals in ten matches this campaign, one short of his competition record from 2013/14.
Forward: Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)
Often left up front alone, the Frenchman never stopped running and got his reward with two goals, rising superbly to nod in Saúl Ñíguez's pinpoint centre before coolly securing progress from the penalty spot late on.