Best Champions League XI from the 2015/16 Group Stage

Following six matchdays of great goals and sensational shocks, the UEFA Champions League group stages reached its climax on Wednesday. While eight sides bid farewell to European competition altogether, for this season at least, a further octuple slipped down into the Europa League. But most importantly, we discovered which 16 clubs would be continuing their journey in the elite continental competition.Usual suspects Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona all advanced, while there were also some surprises on the cards, as the likes of PSV, Gent and Dynamo Kiev also paved their paths to the knockout phase.It has been a fantastic footballing display from the 32 club sides involved and it is now time to reflect on some of the sharpest individual performances so far this season. We pick the best Champions League XI from the 2015/16 group stage.

#1 Goalkeeper: Kevin Trapp - PSG

Arguably the most vital component of the competition’s meanest defence this season, German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp played every minute of PSG’s Champions League group stage campaign this season. He conceded a goal on just one occasion, racking up 5 clean sheets in the process.

Granted the one and only goal he let in was a blunder against group toppers Real Madrid but, that aside, Trapp has barely put a foot wrong and was especially convincing in his side’s stalemate with the same opposition at home.

Having made an average of 3 saves per game, as well as having secured a 100% claim success rate, the 25-year-old lead from the very back and could be key in navigating his side through a potentially tricky Round of 16 encounter.

#2 Right Back: Mario Fernandes - CSKA Moscow

In the 450 minutes of Champions League football Mario Fernandes took part in this season, he may have witnessed his side dispatched from the competition, but his individual performances rendered him the sturdiest right-back of the group stages.

No player made more tackles per game (6) while the Brazillian also lead the way on the number of interceptions made per game (5.4). Added to that, in the only game that CSKA Moscow did win, Fernandes bagged an assist, as his stellar pace gave him license to delve forward.

Unfortunately, we won’t see any more of the influential 25-year-old this season. But had it not been for his solid shifts at the back, his side could have been out of contention a lot earlier instead of the final day.

#3 Centre Back: Raphael Varane - Real Madrid

The Frenchman’s involvement in the competition’s joint-second sharpest defence so far this term can be pinpointed to a stunning goal-line clearance against PSG on matchday 4. It confirmed three points in an important encounter and encapsulated the 22-year-old’s compelling desire to win.

Boasting an 63% aerial duel success rate as well as contributing to four of his club’s five clean sheets in the group stage, Varane was also key to Real maintaining possession for long periods, as his average pass accuracy exceeded 90%.

The club from the Spanish capital conceded the second fewest shots per game on average and a great deal of credit has to go to Varane, who has used an idyllic setting in this year’s competition to voice his world class potential and take greater responsibility during Sergio Ramos’s short-term absence.

#4 Centre Back: Diego Godin - Atletico Madrid

Under the watchful eye of Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid have translated their excellent league form to assemble a formidable European campaign. So far, they have lost on just one occasion and conceded just 3 goals in Group C.

Godin, as ever, has marshalled the Colchoneros’ back-line throughout the competition and assisted going forwards as well, with an average pass completion of 87%. His presence was especially crucial when his side faced up to an intimidating trip to Turkey to face Galatasaray as well as two testing encounters with Benfica, in which mental muscle and physical dominance were required – traits the Uruguayan has in abundance.

Winning 70% of his aerial duels, his role from set-pieces was especially vital and Atletico’s steady defending enabled them to top the group so an easier tie awaits in the last sixteen.

#5 Left Back: David Alaba - Bayern Munich

Perhaps the most dynamic defender in world football right now, David Alaba has not failed to impress so far this season. And the Champions League especially has highlighted his bag of tricks.

A truly incredible average pass completion success amounting to 94% outlines the Austrian’s impressive appetite to bolster the numbers through the middle, which was vital in winning the midfield battle during Bayern’s 5-1 drubbing of Arsenal. His work rate is infectious and he nullified many an opposition winger with his average of 2 interceptions per game and prominent physical strength.

Bayern conceded just three times during this term’s group phase and while Alaba’s goal and assist prove he has plenty of attacking impetus in his locker, it was his defensive duties which the 23-year-old has carried out more smoothly than most so far this tournament.

#6 Central Midfield: Thiago Alcantara - Bayern Munich

At the hub of the Champions League’s best midfield this season, Thiago Alcantara has transferred a host of skills, undoubtedly refined in sunny Spain in his time with Barcelona, to guide Bayern Munich to the knockout stages.

The German Giants top a myriad of key statistics such as the highest average possession in the Champions League this season (72%) and the highest pass accuracy (91%). And it has been Alcantara who has been at the heart of the action, winning three Man of the Match awards in this season’s edition to date.

Having made 4 assists and striking an average of 4 shots per game, his enthusiasm going forwards got the front-line ticking. Robert Lewandowski owes 3 of his 7 goals to the former Barca man, who was the source of many a Bayern attack.

#7 Central Midfield: Hakan Calhanoglu - Bayer Leverkusen

Renowned for his dead-eye at set-pieces, Bayer Leverkusens Hakan Calhanoglu is the second and final player on this list that we will not see in the next round, and it really is a great shame.

Like his Spanish counterpart, the Turkishmidfielder also made 4 assists during the opening six match-days.His link-up play with forward Mehmedi was especially pleasing on the eye and the 21-year-old has only used this competition to boost his star-studded reputation further.

Able to operate behind the strikeror out on the flank, Calhanoglu is evidently Bayer Leverkusens most valuable asset and navigated them to their only win in the competition on matchday 1, where he scored a brace against BATE Borisov. In a side morecompetent defensively, he may very well have thrived and been able to inflict greater damage going forwards but, nonetheless, he did a fantastic job for the Bundesliga side.

#8 Attacking Midfield: Mesut Ozil - Arsenal

It is fair to say it hasn’t been an easy Champions League campaign for Arsenal this term. The North Londoners advanced by the skin of their teeth, beating Olympiakos in the final group game this Wednesday – a crucial win that saw the Gunners qualify on head-to-head goal difference.

Through all the hardships and injuries though, one man has thrived and Mesut Ozil has put together some pretty impressive statistics this campaign.

An average shot accuracy of 89%, 11 key chances created in the competition so far and two goals to his name and Ozil has proven to be the Gunners’ main creative outlet this European season. He has stepped up to the mark, especially in big games such as the monumental 2-0 win over Bayern, a game which, if lost, would have spelt the end of Arsenal’s Champions League campaign, and the 3-0 victory of Dinamo Zagreb, which fuelled the Gunners’ progression to the next round.

The German’s key passes were also instrumental in the final game against Olympiakos to ensure qualification.

#9 Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid

Following Real’s emphatic 8-0 humiliation of Malmo in the final group match, the Spaniards are poised to be one of the red-hot favourites to lift the Champions League trophy this season. But a chance at such a feat rests heavily on the shoulders of one Cristiano Ronaldo.

After bagging four goals in Wednesday’s thumping of the Swedes, Ronaldo becomes the first player ever to reach double figures in the Champions League group stages, with his tally now sitting at 11 goals in this season’s competition.

The three-time Ballon d’Or winner has also made 3 assists this season and, no matter how poor Los Blancos’s form has been domestically, the Portuguese international has maintained his other-worldly ability to fire his side back into continental contention.

#10 Forward: Willian - Chelsea

Chelsea’s group was certainly a competitive one. FC Porto began the campaign with nine points from a possible 12 while Dynamo Kiev’s never-say-die attitude eventually lead them to topple the aforementioned Portuguese outfit. But the Blues’ attacking armoury ensured safe progression on matchday 6 with a win over Porto.

Willian was a key part of this and it was his fifth goal of the tournament so far that sealed the deal on Wednesday night. His runs on the right and ability to cut inside and wreak havoc supplied Chelsea with an altenative to focusing their attacking energy through the middle. And how can one forget his free kicks that had goalkeepers rooted to the spot?

Such performances earned the Brazillian three Man of the Match awards and it seems difficult to invisage the Londoners winning this group without the aid of the 27-year-old wide-man.

#11 Striker: Luis Suarez - Barcelona

Contenders varied from Zenit’ St. Petersburg’s Artem Dzyuba to the prolific Robert Lewandowski. But Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez takes the title as best striker of the Champions League group stages this season.

Not only did the former-Liverpool man create more for his other front-men, chipping in with 2 assists to add to his total of 5 goals, but his club’s circumstances were a lot more challenging. Lionel Messi’s temporary absence from the first team, by virtue of a knee injury, placed the burden on his teammates’ shoulders – especially Suarez.

And he delivered by bagging a brace as Barca made light work of AS Roma while his winner on matchday 2 against Bayer Leverkusen set the Catalonians on their way to top the group.

#12 Manager: Dieter Hecking - Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg’s qualification for the Champions League was something of an overachievement in itself given the strength of outfits the Bundesliga is now home to. But Hecking’s ability to lead his side to the last 16 has been incredible.

Their group consisted of Louis van Gaal’s defensively-astute United, who Wolfsburg overturned 3-2 on the final day to advance group winners, PSV Eindhoven (the runners-up) and CSKA Moscow, who would pose a difficult test away in Russia.

Despite all these hurdles to jump through, the German side won four of their six matches, finishing top scorers in the group with 9 goals and will face a much more agreeable tie in the knockout phase than most. Hecking utilised the skills of a rather stretched squad of players and masterminded a terrific set of results.

2015/16 Champions League Group Stage Best XI

Substitutes: Keylor Navas, Chris Smalling, Nicolas Gaitan, Kevin De Bruyne, Neymar, Hulk, Artem Dzyuba