When news filtered through that Giorgio Chiellini was to miss the Champions League final with a calf injury, many felt that Barcelona’s precession to their fifth European championship had become that much easier. Juventus’ vice-captain is arguably the Old Lady’s best defender, so to lose a player of his calibre was always going to hinder the Serie A side’s chances of securing glory in Berlin at the weekend.
As expected, Barcelona exploited his absence to romp to a 3-1 win, though it’s perhaps reasonable to suggest that the Blaugrana could have won by more after an early onslaught. With Europe’s elite competition having now come to a head for another campaign, we at WhoScored.com have formulated a highest rated XI using our unique rating system from the 2014/15 competition.
Thibaut Courtois - Chelsea
While Chelsea crashed out at the last-16 stage of the competition, the Blues were the only team who did not lose a game in the Champions League this season having been knocked out by PSG on away goals. An underwhelming campaign in the Champions League did not overshadow what was an impressive showing from Thibaut Courtois in Europe’s elite tournament. The young Belgian earned a better WhoScored rating (7.21) than any other goalkeeper, with his average of 2.4 crosses claimed per game bettered only by Roberto (2.5) of all shotstoppers to feature more than once.
Dani Alves - Barcelona
The Brazilian - as one might expect - was the best rated right-back in the Champions League this term after yet another impressive campaign for Barcelona. Some suggested Dani Alves was past his best, but he once again proved his critics wrong, claiming 4 assists in the tournament; only teammates Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta and Porto’s Héctor Herrera (all 5) provided more than the marauding full-back. Alves also exhibited his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘passing’ throughout the competition, with his average of 73.4 passes per game better than every Barcelona star and ranked among the top 10 players.
Emir Spahic - Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen were unlucky to crash out on penalties at the hands of Atletico Madrid at the last-16 stage, with centre-back Emir Spahic playing a central role in the German’s progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Only Chancel Mbemba Mangulu (8.2) made more clearances per game than Spahic (8), while only former Malmo FF frontman Isaac Thelin (5.2) won more aerial duels per game than the experienced Bosnian (5). 3 WhoScored man of the match awards were bettered only by Lionel Messi (9), with Spahic hugely impressive for Leverkusen this term.
Diego Godín - Atletico Madrid
Last year’s finalists once again fell to Real Madrid this season, this time stuttering over two legs at the quarter-final stage. Atletico Madrid were only narrowly beaten by their local rivals however, with Diego Godín pivotal once more to Los Rojiblancos’ efforts. The Uruguay international averaged a commendable 7.3 clearances per game and won 72.5% of his 51 aerial duels in the Champions League.
Alex Sandro - FC Porto
The Brazilian was a stand out performer in Julen Lopetegui’s FC Porto side in the Spaniard’s debut campaign at the Dragões helm. The Portuguese outfit looked a far worse side without Alex Sandro in the starting XI for the second leg quarter-final meeting with Bayern Munich, with Porto underwhelming at the Allianz Arena. Sandro, though, enjoyed a notable Champions League campaign, making more interceptions (39) than any other player. 76 tackles and interceptions combined was also the most in the competition and helped the 24-year-old gain a WhoScored rating of 7.87.
Lionel Messi - Barcelona
The player of the tournament with an average rating of 8.90, Lionel Messi was more than deserving of a Champions League winners’ medal. No player scored more goals (10) or registered more assists (5) than Messi, who was awarded the WhoScored man of the match award in 9 of his 13 appearances in Europe’s elite competition. Messi also completed more successful dribbles (92) than any other player and played the most key passes (36) in the Champions League. The Argentine worked hard off the ball for his team, winning possession in the attacking third (12) more times than any other player in what was a majestic campaign in Europe for Messi.
Casemiro - FC Porto
The on-loan midfielder showcased his talents for Porto, with Casemiro arguably one of the stars of the Champions League this term. An average rating of 8.16 was the fourth best of all players in this season’s edition, with his 75 tackles and interceptions combined bettered only by teammate Sandro (76). Meanwhile, an average of 5.6 tackles per game was bettered only by Nemanja Matic (5.8), with the 23-year-old arguably Porto’s most important player in the competition this campaign.
Nemanja Matic - Chelsea
Nemanja Matic has established himself as one of the finest holding midfielders in football, with his average of 5.8 tackles per game more than any other player in the Champions League this season, and only Toni Kroos (56) and Xabi Alonso (55) won possession more times in the midfield third than Matic (49). The Serb was crucial in Chelsea’s progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League, with Matic one of the Blues’ most consistent performers once more.
Eden Hazard - Chelsea
Edging out final goalscorer Neymar, Eden Hazard features on the left wing in WhoScored’s Champions League team of the season. Hazard averaged more dribbles per game (7.3) and was fouled more times per game (4.7) in this term’s competition than any other player as opposition sides struggled to contain the sprightly Belgian. His 15 successful dribbles against Maribor was the most in a single Champions League match this season as Hazard continued his development into one of the game’s finest.
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Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid
No player scored more goals in the Champions League this season than Cristiano Ronaldo (10), though it was not enough to help Real Madrid become the first team to defend the Champions League as they succumbed to defeat to Juventus at the semi-final stage. The Portuguese averaged more shots per game (5.9) than any other player as he strived to help Los Blancos to their 11th European Cup, but to no avail. Nevertheless, it was yet another commendable showing in Europe’s elite competition from Ronaldo.
Luis Suarez - Barcelona
The scorer of the decisive goal in Saturday’s final partners Ronaldo in attack having formed part of the most destructive offensive triumvirate in Europe. 7 goals and 3 assists for Luis Suarez was a noteworthy return given he did not make his first appearance in the competition until mid-November. Suarez spearheaded the Barcelona attack with aplomb once he established himself as the Blaugrana’s lead striker, with his average of 3.8 shots, 1 key pass and 1.7 successful dribbles per game contributing to a WhoScored rating of 7.89.
Who would have made it into your Champions League team of the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
