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The Champions League returned to our screens once again this week as the quarter-finals kicked off with some mouth-watering ties taking place.
Manchester United claimed a creditable draw with Bayern Munich at Old Trafford, but Chelsea suffered a 3-1 defeat in Paris to leave open the real possibility that we will not see any English sides in the semi-finals for the second season in a row.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid frustrated Barcelona yet again with a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou, while Real Madrid brushed aside Borussia Dortmund with a convincing 3-0 victory.
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We at Squawka analyse the best performers of the midweek action and put together a team of our own. It’s a fairly tasty one.
GK – Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
So often left out in the cold at Real Madrid over the past 15 months in a move confusing to most outsiders to the club, Casillas was given his standard cup outing for Los Merengues and took it both hands in a solid performance against Dortmund.
The Spanish captain kept his sheets clean to avoid any semblance of an away goal to score a performance score of 35, making two saves and one clearance to keep the Germans at bay.
Casillas was also excellent in his distribution, completing 14 of his 16 attempted passes to help cap an accomplished performance from Real.
RB – Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid)
The young Spaniard has come on leaps and bounds since his spell in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen and you see why Real Madrid were so keen to bring him back in the summer, as he once again excelled against German opposition.
The full-back was at the forefront of the action from the get-go at Santiago Bernabeu, laying the ball into Gareth Bale’s path for the Welshman to open the scoring with only three minutes on the clock.
Carvajal also won seven tackles, made three interceptions and fashioned two further chances from two completed crosses, landing him a Squawka performance score of 70.
CB – Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
Few expected United to take much away from their clash with Bayern Munich, so a draw was considered an excellent result – and Vidic played a massive part in that.
The Serbian defender – who leaves at the endffo the season – opened the scoring with a towering header to give United hope of a massive upset and was otherwise a rock in the centre of United’s rearguard.
The Serb recorded a performance score of 74 after making 13 clearances and two important blocks to keep the Red Devils’ hopes alive going into the second leg.
CB – Pepe (Real Madrid)
Underneath that snarling, play-acting brute of a man, we often forget that Pepe is actually a fine defender and he showed that side to his game as real cruised to victory over depleted Dortmund.
The Portuguese centre-back recorded an impressive Performance Score of 81 for his efforts in the game, which saw him complete 70 passes as Real enjoyed near dominance over their foes.
He won all three of his headed duels as well, while he made six clearances and an impressive four interceptions to quell any notion of a fightback from the German club.
LB – Rafinha (Bayern Munich)
Not in his most natural position as he favours the right-hand side of the defence to the left, but if Jon Flanagan can do it, I’m sure the talented Brazilian will be comfortable there.
Rafinha was the standout performer for Bayern with a performance score of 73, as he completed 69 passes in the game with an accuracy of a stunning 96%.
He won both of the tackles he contested against Manchester United as well, while he created three chances that potentially deserved to see him claim an assist.
CM – Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
A man who splits opinion between those who malign him and those that celebrate his role at the base of the Barcelona midfield, but he makes our team after a fine display against Atletico.
Busquets completed 80 passes against heavy-pressing opponents at a success rate of 95%, as he racked up a Performance Score of 61.
The Spanish international made four interceptions in the middle of the park as well and won two tackles to ensure the game is evenly poised going into the return leg in Madrid.
CM – Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
It’s hard to imagine a time when Modric was voted the worst signing in Real Madrid’s history after a slow start to his £35million move from Tottenham Hotspur, but his progression over the last 15 months has been so rapid since then that Real were happy to allow Mesut Ozil to leave the club in the summer.
The Croatian was in imperious form yet again as Real triumphed over Dortmund, claiming an assist for Ronaldo’s strike and a performance score of 63.
Modric completed all four take-on attempts and three corners found their targets as he created four chances in total for Real.
AMC – Diego (Atletico Madrid)
Finally brought back to Atletico after his loan spell with the club that ended in European success, Diego was at the heart of a fine performance against Barcelona that inches Los Rojiblancos one step closer to a repeat.
Diego netted a spectacular opening goal at Camp Nou with his only shot on goal, while he made two interceptions to stifle the Barca creative engine.
He won four free-kicks to break up the play as well, while he won three tackles of his own as he recorded a score of 50 for his efforts.
AMC – Isco (Real Madrid)
The best player of the week, Isco has had a mixed first season with Real, but really took his opportunity to shine with both hands after finding himself thrust into the first XI after Angel Di Maria was ruled out late on with a virus.
Iscow as awarded a Squawka performance score of 91 for a fine display against Dortmund, scoring the crucial second goal to settle any nerves Real may have had, having won possession himself on the edge of the box.
He completed 95% of his passes as he set up a further three opportunities for the hosts, while he completed an impressive five take-ons as the stand out player of the round.
AMC – Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
It was a disappointing day at the office for Chelsea despite the performance of Eden Hazard, who recorded a score of 60 for his personal display.
Hazard only had the one goal from the penalty spot to show for his efforts, hitting the post and having one further shot saved as well as he proved the one menace in Chelsea’s false nine system.
The Belgian completed all three of his take-on attempts and drew four free-kicks in dangerous areas of the opposition half as there was at least one positive item to think about for the Blues.
F – Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
What more is there to say about the current best player in the world? It was yet another stunning performance from the Portuguese flyer, to draw level with Lionel Messi’s record of 14 Champions League goals in one season.
Ronaldo netted the third goal of the game to make the match and possibly the tie safe, while also having two further shots to keep Roman Weiderfellen busy in the Dortmund goal.
The Real Madrid talisman picked up a Squawka Performance Score of 72 for his efforts as he completed four of six take-on attempts and created another chance for his teammates as well.
DISCLAIMER: This team was selected by the writer and does not reflect Sportskeeda’s views.
