Which players excel for their clubs on the largest stage without getting the attention their performances warrant?
We’re all familiar with the big names of Europe’s premier competition, but which players are consistently performing under the radar?
This XI is comprised of the Champions League’s finest players who don’t get the credit they deserve.
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GK: Fernando Muslera – Galatasaray
The Uruguayan international goalkeeper has impressed since moving to the Turkish club from Lazio in 2011. His shot stopping has been kept sharp by his team’s shaky defending, and he was rewarded with a new contract at the end of last season.
LB: Alex Sandro – Porto
Sandro has started this Champions League season well, after having an exceptional campaign last year. The attacking full-back provides width going forward, as well as solid defensive cover and a strong physical presence at set-pieces.
CB: Nicolas Lombaerts – Zenit St Petersburg
Playing in Russia is often a guarantee of underratedness, and Belgian defender Lombaerts falls into that category. Rock solid at the back, Zenit have relied on his steady presence at the back for seven seasons.
CB: Kostas Manolas – AS Roma
Talented young centre-back Manolas made the move to Roma to replace Mehdi Benatia after excelling at the back for Olympiakos, and has not slotted in faultlessly as as replacement for the Moroccan.
RB: Atsuto Uchida – Schalke 04
The flying full-back has an incredible engine and a great attitude, and was heavily linked to Arsenal in the summer before their move for Calum Chambers. He remains on the radar of Europe’s top sides.
DM: Giannis Maniatis – Olympiakos
The strong midfielder is the rock upon which the Greek team is built, and has been key to their impressive results against teams like Juventus, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid in the last 12 months.
CM: Simon Rolfes – Bayer Leverkusen
The experienced midfielder has been around for years without getting the credit he deserves. The Leverkusen captain has struggled with an ankle injury this season, and his side have missed the control he provides from the centre of the pitch.
CM: Nigel De Jong – AC Milan
De Jong was known as a gritty defensive midfielder in his time at Manchester City, and he certainly knows how to get stuck in; but his passing ability is greatly underrated.
AM: Alex Teixeira – Shakhtar Donetsk
Another player underrated because of his geographical location, Teixeira is part of the large Brazilian contingent at Shakhtar. His technical ability behind the striker has caused him to be linked with a host of English clubs, including Man United, over the years.
LW: Jefferson Farfan – Schalke 04
The Peruvian’s speed and dribbling have been causing European defences problems for many years now. His link-play with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is an essential part of Schalke’s attacking threat.
RW: Heung-Min Son – Bayer Leverkusen
The South Korean has gone from strength to strength since his move from Hamburg. Leverkusen are top of a group featuring Monaco, Zenit and Benfica thanks to Son’s threat on the counter.
Liverpool were heavily linked with the forward and his team-mate Emre Can over the summer, but ended up only signing the latter. The Reds may return for the flying winger if his form continues.
ST: Burak Yilmaz – Galatasaray
The Turkish forward has proved himself a prolific goalscorer at the highest level for Gala since his move from Trabzonspor in 2012. He scored eight in eight games in his first Champions League campaign, and already has two from three games in the competition this year.