Hummels the star as Dortmund dominate Champions League semi-final best XI
After the conclusion of a thrilling set of Champions League semi-finals this week, we’ve taken a look at the standout performers across both legs of each tie. Borussia Dortmund are the dominant side in our Team of the Round, while PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all represented.
Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.45
Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel helped his side to a clean sheet both home and away against PSG, with his eight saves across both matches crucial to keeping the French side at bay and securing a place in next month’s final.
Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund) - 6.99
Norwegian right-back Julian Ryerson earns a place in our XI having made seven tackles, two interceptions and five clearances across both legs of BVB’s semi-final tie, a huge part of what was a mammoth defensive effort by the German side.
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) - 8.03
With a WhoScored rating of 8.03 across both matches, Borussia Dortmund defender and hero Mats Hummels is our Champions League Player of the Round. The 35-year-old headed home a crucial second-half goal in Tuesday’s second leg, while over both games he made eight tackles, three interceptions and 13 clearances.
Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.48
Hummels’ centre-back partner Nico Schlotterbeck joins him at the heart of our backline, having excelled in both legs against PSG. Schlotterbeck found Niclas Fullkrug with a wonderfully weighted pass in the first match, to help his side to victory, before making four tackles and seven clearances in a world-class defensive display in Paris.
Ian Maatsen (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.36
Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen rounds off a complete Borussia Dortmund back five, having made three tackles, two interceptions, 10 clearances, two key passes and three successful dribbles across both games against PSG.
Despite his side bowing out at this stage, PSG midfielder Vitinha can hold his head high after impressive performances in both games against Borussia Dortmund. The 24-year-old, who scored home and away against Barcelona in the quarter-finals, managed three tackles, four interceptions, seven shots and four key passes against the German side.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) - 7.29
Like his compatriot Hummels, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos continues to star in the biggest games of them all, despite his age. The 34-year-old set up Vinicius Junior for the visitors’ opening goal in Munich with a magnificent through ball - one of seven key passes made across both matches - while in the return leg he completed 18 accurate long balls, a record in a Champions League match this season.
Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.34
Borussia Dortmund’s sixth representative is attacking midfielder Julian Brandt, whose corner found the head of Mats Hummels in Paris on Tuesday night to help the German side on their way to the final. Across both legs, the 28-year-old managed two tackles, four shots, three successful dribbles and six key passes, all contributing to an average WhoScored rating of 7.34.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.74
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho is the seventh and final Borussia Dortmund representative in our Team of the Round, having caused PSG all sorts of problems in a remarkable first-leg performance at the Signal Iduna Park last week. Sancho completed a record-breaking 13 successful dribbles that night, while he also managed three key passes, in one of the standout showings of the season.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) - 7.38
England captain Harry Kane was substituted at the Santiago Bernabeu after 85 minutes, with his side 1-0 up and seemingly set for a place in the Champions League final, but it was not to be. Kane, remarkably, will have to settle for a trophyless season in his first campaign at Bayern, the Bavarian club’s first in 12 years. Kane arguably fulfilled his role, though, scoring and assisting across the tie while also managing eight shots on goal and five key passes.
Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) - 7.88
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior dazzled in both legs against Bayern, bagging a brace at the Allianz Arena last week before tormenting Joshua Kimmich on home soil in the return fixture. Across both games, the Brazilian attacker managed nine shots on goal, two key passes and eight successful dribbles.
