Sevilla hat-trick hero sets the standard in Champions League best XI

After a midweek hat-trick in the 3-0 home win over Maribor, Sevilla forward Wissam Ben Yedder is our Champions League player of the week. The 27-year-old may be struggling for domestic game time and goals for the La Liga side, but Ben Yedder has been in fine form in Europe’s elite club competition, notching four goals already, a return bettered only by Harry Kane (5). His three-goal salvo on Tuesday night, coupled with four key passes and two aerial duels won, helped earn the Frenchman a perfect WhoScored rating of 10. 

Partnering the Sevilla star in attack is Anthony Martial, whose WhoScored rating (9.87) was second only to Ben Yedder in gameweek two of the Champions League. The Manchester United forward has been in incredible form for the Premier League side of late and maintained his high standards with one goal and two assists in the 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow. With five key passes and six successful dribbles, Martial’s inclusion in this XI is not undeserved. 

The 21-year-old is one of three Premier League representatives as we cross the Manchester divide to pick out the remaining two. Kevin De Bruyne opened his account for the season in some style with a sumptuous finish in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Shakhtar on Tuesday night. Three key passes and two successful dribbles saw the Belgian pick up the man of the match award, though Fabian Delph warrants praise and his place in the XI. The England international deputised at left-back for the injured Benjamin Mendy and put in a solid showing, making three tackles and four interceptions to help City keep a clean sheet. 

On the opposite flank is Brazilian Dani Alves, who opened the scoring in PSG’s resounding 3-0 win over Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. The 34-year-old pushed forward well, making one key pass and three dribbles, and defended impressively as he made four tackles and two clearances. Compatriot Thiago Silva also features at the back having made 14 clearances, a record in a Champions League match this season, one of which was one off the line to ensure a clean sheet for PSG. 

Porto secured a notable 3-0 win in Monaco on Tuesday night, in part due to the resolute display by Felipe at the heart of the defence. Indeed, he won five aerial duels, made 10 clearances, two interceptions and blocked three shots to line up alongside compatriot Silva at centre-back. Rounding off the back five is PSG shotstopper Alphonse Areola on the back of the win over Bayern. While the German side struggled to create enough clear-cut goalscoring chances, the 24-year-old goalkeeper was on hand to make six saves and successfully claim two crosses to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.82 and a fourth successive clean sheet in all competitions. 

Swiss outfit FC Basel landed one of the results of the round with a 5-0 trouncing of Portuguese champions Benfica, with winger Dimitri Oberlin a key player in the victory. The 20-year-old wideman bagged a brace in the victory and was a constant attacking threat over the 90 minutes as he made three successful dribbles to land the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 9.53. 

Two Sevilla stars round of the XI, first with Joaquin Correa, who registered an assist from one of his three key passes on Tuesday night. Factor in his six successful dribbles and it was a commendable attacking performance from the Argentine at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Midfielder Franco Vazquez also notched an assist in the victory from one of his four key passes, while two tackles and one interception helped guarantee an important three points for the La Liga outfit.