This week, the UEFA Champions League, back in the stadiums, certainly did not disappoint. London's "Arsenal" and Madrid's "Atletico" secured their places in the next stage, Turin's "Juventus", "Monaco" and "Manchester City" managed to win crucial victories, and "CSKA"-"Roma" and "Liverpool"-"Ludogorets" matches ended in dramatic draws. In addition, Lionel Messi set another record. Goal.com presents the best eleven of the week.
In the goal - Moscow's "CSKA" representative Igor Akinfeev. Despite receiving a lot of criticism this year, the Russian allowed his club to keep their chances of reaching the tournament's quarter-finals. Resisting the shots of "Roma" strikers Adem Ljajic and Alessandro Florenzi allowed the Russian champions to earn an important point.
Right-back Chancel Mbemba became the second player for Brussels' "Anderlecht" in the Champions League to score two goals. He accomplished this against Istanbul's "Galatasaray". In the heart of defense - "Arsenal" defender Per Mertesacker, excellently stopping fast Dortmund "Borussia" attackers and making a crucial pass, creating a goal for Alexis Sanchez. Alongside him in the symbolic team is Aymen Abdennour from "Monaco", who helped the team hold on to a one-goal lead against Leverkusen's "Bayer" and secure an unexpected victory away. On the other side of defense, Bilbao's "Athletic" representative Mikel Balenziaga shines, holding off the phenomenally playing Donetsk "Shakhtar" Brazilian Douglas Costa.
The trio of midfielders starts with "Porto" representative Hector Herrera. He not only scored an impressive goal himself but also created two more opportunities for his team's teammates. Also among the best in the midfielders' ranks is London's "Chelsea" Spanish player Cesc Fabregas, around whom the entire "aristocrats" game revolved, when they defeated Gelsenkirchen's "Schalke". Also playing a great match was "Paris Saint-Germain" player Javier Pastore. The Argentine contributed to two precise goals for the French champions, leading to a hard-fought victory against Amsterdam's "Ajax".
In the "number ten" position - none other than Lionel Messi. Just recently breaking the record in the Spanish league, the "magician of the ball" immediately surpassed Raúl in the list of all-time top scorers in the Champions League. The 27-year-old Argentine national team player scored a hat-trick against Nicosia's "APOEL". It is worth mentioning that Messi scored all the goals with his weaker right foot.
Up front, two more hat-trick scorers shine. Sergio Aguero was simply fantastic in bringing "Manchester City" victory against Munich's "Bayern" and reviving the hopes of the English champions to advance to the quarter-finals. And Mario Mandzukic drove the distraught Piraeus "Olympiacos" fans into despair with his accurate shots. "Atletico" this victory guaranteed a place among the strongest sixteen teams in Europe.
