Magnificent Edegor and Raphinha's deja vu: Dailysports' Champions League team of the week

The first matches of the 2024/25 Champions League Round of 16 took place on March 4-5.

On the first matchday, Aston Villa confidently defeated Belgian side Club Brugge away. In the Madrid derby, which marked Real Madrid’s 500th game in the Champions League, Los Blancos secured their 300th victory in the competition.

Borussia Dortmund and Lille played out a draw, while Arsenal demolished Dutch side PSV, becoming the first team in Champions League history to score seven goals in an away match in the knockout stage.

On the second matchday, Inter left no chance for another Dutch club, Feyenoord. Bayern came out on top against Bayer. Liverpool snatched a dramatic away victory over PSG, and Barcelona, down to ten men, defeated Benfica for the second time this season.

Here is the best XI from the first-leg matches of the Round of 16

• Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker (Liverpool)

The Brazilian became the first goalkeeper in this season’s Champions League to keep a clean sheet at Parc des Princes. Before this match, PSG had scored 40 goals in their last 10 games.

Alisson made nine saves, stopped one shot, completed four clearances, and delivered 10 accurate long passes.

• Left-back: Francesco Acerbi (Inter)

The Italian recorded two interceptions, two tackles, and one clearance against Feyenoord. He completed 65 passes (97% accuracy), including one key pass, six long balls, and one cross. Acerbi won one aerial duel and two ground duels while also attempting one shot on goal.

• Center-back: Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool)

In the match against PSG, Konaté made four clearances and blocked three shots. He completed only 15 passes, but all were accurate, including two long balls. The Frenchman also won his only aerial duel of the game.

• Right-back: Jules Koundé (Barcelona)

The Frenchman recorded 11 clearances, one tackle, and one interception. Out of his 32 passes (86% accuracy), all were successful, including one cross. Koundé won all three of his aerial duels and also drew a foul from an opponent.

• Left midfielder: Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid)

By scoring in the 55th minute, the Spanish-Moroccan secured a crucial victory for Real Madrid in the derby against Atlético. It was his second goal in this Champions League campaign, having also scored against Manchester City in February.

Díaz completed 50 passes (94% accuracy), including one key pass and three long balls. He also managed one successful dribble, won six ground duels, made four interceptions, three tackles, and one clearance.

• Central midfielder: Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)

The Englishman proved to be Arne Slot’s ultimate super-sub. Entering the game in the 86th minute, Elliott scored Liverpool’s winning goal against PSG with his first touch just a minute later.

• Right midfielder: Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)

The 26-year-old Norwegian played a key role in Arsenal’s thrashing of PSV, directly contributing to three of the Gunners' seven goals. He netted twice and provided an assist.

Ødegaard also completed 37 passes (86% accuracy), delivered three key passes, one long ball, and created one big chance.

• Left winger: Raphinha (Barcelona)

Just like in the group stage, Raphinha was the match-winner for Barcelona against Benfica. This time, his decisive strike was the only goal in the Iberian showdown. It marked his ninth goal in this Champions League campaign.

Raphinha also provided two key passes, one long ball, created a big chance, won three ground duels and one aerial duel, and forced two fouls from Benfica’s defenders. Additionally, he recorded one clearance and one tackle.

• Right winger: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

It was the Brazilian’s strike in the 4th minute that opened the scoring in the Madrid derby. This was Rodrygo’s 25th goal in the Champions League. In Real Madrid’s modern era, only Vinícius Júnior (28), Raúl (66), Benzema (78), and Cristiano Ronaldo (105) have scored more in the competition.

Rodrygo completed 52 passes (91% accuracy), including one cross and one long ball.

• Striker: Lautaro Martínez (Inter)

At De Kuip, Lautaro registered one key pass, one long ball, and one cross. He won five out of seven ground and aerial duels, made three tackles, and completed one clearance.

His clinical finish in the 50th minute sealed Inter’s victory over Feyenoord. With 18 goals, Martínez is now tied with Adriano as Inter’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League.

• Striker: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Two of Bayern’s three goals came from the Englishman. One of them was a penalty, which he earned himself. Kane now has 61 goals in European competitions, equaling Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. They share 12th place in the all-time scorers’ ranking for European tournaments, though Kane has played 37 fewer matches than Salah.

• Manager: Arne Slot (Liverpool)

Despite PSG’s dominance, Slot’s tactical discipline and strategic substitutions (introducing Núñez and Elliott) secured Liverpool’s victory with their only shot on target in the 87th minute.

Slot has instilled a resilient mentality in his squad, enabling them to withstand pressure and turn games around. To victories over the champions of England (twice) and Spain, he has now added a triumph over France’s best team.