UEFA.com's quarter-final team of the week
Thursday, April 23, 2015
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FC Bayern München have four representatives in UEFA.com's quarter-final second-leg team of the week, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF each supplying two.
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GK: Jan Oblak (Club Atlético de Madrid)
Exceptional in last week's goalless first leg, the Slovene international turned in a performance that was solid rather than spectacular at the Santiago Bernabéu, making a fine late block from James Rodríguez, only for Javier Hernández to finally beat him in the closing seconds.
DF: Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München)
Scored for the second successive UEFA Champions League match in Munich – his third goal of this season's competition – to bring Bayern level on aggregate against FC Porto. Rose powerfully to head in after centre-back partner Holger Badstuber had nodded the ball across goal, for the second of his team's six.
DF: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
The game plan was simple for the Bianconeri at AS Monaco FC: soak up the pressure and look to hit them on the break. The second bit never really happened but the first part went almost to perfection. Bonucci had much responsibility for that, and Juve have conceded only once in their last six fixtures in the tournament.
DF: Juan Bernat (FC Bayern München)
The Spanish international left-back was a livewire down the flank for Bayern, supplying the cross from which Thiago Alcántara headed Bayern into a 14th-minute lead. Completed 90% of his passes and made two important clearances, also winning three free-kicks as he menaced the visiting defence.
DF: Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona)
Neymar took the headlines against Paris Saint-Germain, but behind every star performer there is often a more unsung hero. So it proved. The indefatigable Alba did double-time on the left, keeping a watchful eye on Edinson Cavani and covering the occasional lapse at the back while offering excellent support for Neymar going forward.
MF: James Rodríguez (Real Madrid CF)
Making his first UEFA Champions League appearance since matchday five, the Colombia star came close to a goal on several occasions. Instead he had to be content with a key role in Javier Hernández's late winner, playing a one-two with Cristiano Ronaldo as the No7 broke into the penalty area before crossing for Hernández.
MF: Geoffrey Kondogbia (AS Monaco FC)
The combative midfielder was a doubt with an ankle injury but did not hold back in an all-action display as he outshone Andrea Pirlo. He broke up Juve attacks and was excellent in the transition – he nearly went close to scoring too, firing just wide in the first half. Given he is 22, we will doubtless be seeing more of him in years to come.
MF: Thiago Alcántara (FC Bayern München)
Bayern's sole representative in the first leg XI, the Spanish international continued his reinvention as a goalscoring midfielder with a powerful header from Bernat's cross to set the German champions on their way to a memorable victory. Kept the ball moving smartly and also earned an assist for Thomas Müller's strike.
FW: Neymar (FC Barcelona)
The Brazil ace was a menace throughout at home to Paris and fully deserved his two well-taken goals. For all Andrés Iniesta's brilliance as supplier, Neymar's first touch was sublime for the opener and he leaped imperiously – if unmarked – to nod in the second, his 30th of the season. A fine all-round showing.
FW: Javier Hernández (Real Madrid CF)
Making just his second UEFA Champions League start of the campaign in place of the injured Karim Benzema, the Mexico striker passed up two fine openings to break the deadlock in a tight tie and seemed destined to endure a frustrating return – until Ronaldo's surge gave him the chance to tap in his first goal in the competition for 895 days.
FW: Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München)
A typically efficient evening from the Bayern forward, who notched his team's fourth goal with a deflected drive and laid on another two for his strike partner Robert Lewandowski, the first with a cushioned volley and the second with a fine cutback.