Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid): MADE A NUMBER of excellent saves to keep Real at bay and help earn his side a respectable 0-0 draw.
Miranda (Atletico Madrid): Produced some key blocks to deny Real Madrid’s considerable attacking forces, securing a well-deserved clean sheet in the process.
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona): Made one vital tackle in the first half and generally performed solidly. The outcome of the game may have been significantly different without the influence of the underrated Argentine international.
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus): The 30-year-old must be considered one of the world’s best defenders at this stage. He was as integral a player as anyone at the back in Juventus’ 1-0 over Monaco.
Guilhereme Siqueira (Atletico Madrid): Epitomised Atletico’s energy and enthusiasm down the left flank, Siqueira was also important defensively for Diego Simeone’s side.
Ricardo Quaresma (Porto): The winger scored a brace and was influential throughout in Porto’s surprise defeat of Bayern.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid): Dictated play with his customary technical excellence and incisive passing. Real are simply not the same team without their influential Croat.
Arturo Vidal (Juventus): Scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Juve gained a first-leg advantage over Monaco, and produced his usual hard-running, powerful performance.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona): Beautifully set up Barca’s all-important first goal for Neymar to slot home, and proved a regular thorn in PSG’s side thereafter.
Jackson Martinez (Porto): Eventually got the goal that his tireless performance deserved, and also had a hand in the Portuguese side’s opener, dispossessing Xabi Alonso in the build up.
Luis Suarez (Barcelona): Arguably the player of the round, Suarez produced two delightful nutmegs on David Luiz, before backing up his outrageous skill with superb finishes to match.
Formation: 3-5-2
Oblak
Miranda Chiellini Mascherano
Quaresma Modric Vidal Siqueira
Messi
Martinez Suarez
Subs: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Diego Godin (Atletico), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Yacine Brahimi (Porto), Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (Monaco), Neymar (Barcelona).
Manager: Julen Lopetegui (Porto)
