FC Barcelona trio of Neymar, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez were snubbed in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage XI, as Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Bayern goal machine Thomas Mueller and English Premier League pair of Raheem Sterling and Willian were included in the side.
The group stage ended throwing not a lot of surprises, as the usual big guns went about their business with utmost professionalism.
However, injury to stars Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. did deprive the fans of the Europe’s biggest club competition of two great players, who were, also, ultimately left out of the Group Stage XI earlier today when UEFA unveiled the side.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the top scorer in the group stage with 11 goals and three assists, was included alongside Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller (five goals, two assists) and Zenit St Petersburg’s goal machine Hulk, whose three goals and four assists helped the Russian end the Group H on top.
Introducing the https://t.co/sQezPQoaea #UCL team of the group stage… pic.twitter.com/Tqo5uqy6xv
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 15, 2015
The midfield three included the only two English Premier League based players in the squad in the form of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City and Willian from Chelsea FC.
The 19 year old former Liverpool FC winger set the Group Stage on fire, with his performances being key in ensuring City come out of an incredibly difficult group. Some way, this, to start paying off the 50m GBP fee that City paid to Liverpool FC.
Willian and Sterling were accompanied by Genk star Sven Kums, who played a pivotal role in keeping Valencia off the second place and ensuring the Belgians qualify from the Group Stage.
PSG conceded just one goal during the group stage, and hence ‘keeper Kevin Trapp and centre-back Thiago Silva make the XI, The defensive line is completed with Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba, Juventus’ Andrea Brazagli and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Godin.
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Overall, FC Barcelona, the defending European Champions had no players in the XI, while Bayern Munich and PSG had the most players with two each.
