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This season, the group-stage fixtures of the UEFA Champions League witnessed some remarkable performances from defenders. While some of them dug deep to get their team out of trouble, others pitched in with decisive goals and assists.
Today, we will take a quick look at five defenders who made the UEFA Champions League group stage memorable.
Here are the top five defenders who have impressed in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season:
#5 Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
This season, the UEFA Champions League has a sea of talented defenders at its disposal. Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold rightfully belongs to the top echelon of said gifted individuals.
Liverpool were one of three teams, alongside Ajax and Bayern Munich, to attain a 100 per cent winning record in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season. And while Alexander-Arnold played in only half of those matches, he helped Liverpool come out on top in each of the three encounters.
The England international’s first UEFA Champions League assist this season came against AC Milan on matchday one. Alexander-Arnold’s shot on target caught Milan defender Fikayo Tomori off guard and he ended up bundling it into his own net.
Alexander-Arnold’s other two assists came in the matchday four clash with Atletico Madrid. Liverpool thoroughly dominated their Spanish opposition at Anfield and cruised to a 2-0 win.
Alexander-Arnold set up Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane’s first-half goals to ensure a comfortable victory.
#4 Thiago Silva
UEFA Champions League holders Chelsea failed to head into the Round of 16 as Group H winners, courtesy of their 3-3 draw with Zenit on matchday six.
Except for the masterclass they produced in the 4-0 win against Juventus on matchday four, Chelsea rarely managed to be overpowering. And had it not been for Thiago Silva's game-reading skills, qualifying for the next round would have been a lot more complicated.
The Blues managed two narrow 1-0 wins, against Zenit and Malmo on matchday one and four, respectively. Former Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva fired on all cylinders in both fixtures.
The Brazilian was a rock at the back for the Blues and expertly cut out the passing lanes. He also used his leadership skills to organize the Chelsea backline, making sure there weren’t any surprises.
Although not necessarily known for his creativity, Silva managed to get one assist to his name in the UEFA Champions League this season.
The 37-year-old set up Andreas Christensen for Chelsea’s opener in the 4-0 win over Malmo on matchday three.
#3 Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich
At the tender ager of 19, Alphonso Davies won the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2019-20. Over the next two seasons, he has proved himself to be a key cog in Bayern's system. The Canadian international fits Bayern’s explosive football like a glove and regularly pops up with important contributions at both ends of the pitch.
The full-back loves to use his pace to get through the thirds and whip in dangerous crosses into the box. He is also a relentless workhorse, capable of pressing his opponents right until the final whistle.
Davies is yet to hit the back of the net in the UEFA Champions League this season, but already has two assists to his name.
His first assist came on matchday four of the UEFA Champions League, while his second was against Barcelona in gameweek six. The latter contributed to Barcelona’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 17 years.
#2 Eder Militao - Real Madrid
13-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid shipped off two of their most dependable centre-backs, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, in the summer of 2021. Thankfully, Eder Militao has stepped up to the task, leading Los Blancos' backline valiantly in Ramos and Varane’s absence.
The young Brazilian has remarkably improved upon his performances from last season, looking calmer and more collected than ever before. In the UEFA Champions League group stage, Militao made some crucial blocks against Inter Milan over the two legs, helping Real Madrid top the group.
Militao also recovered the ball more than any other Real Madrid player, completing 45 recoveries over six group-stage matches. Additionally, the 23-year-old attempted seven tackles and 17 clearances without giving away cheap fouls.
#1 Joao Cancelo - Manchester City
Manchester City left-back Joao Cancelo was the most adventurous defender in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season. The Portuguese full-back also tracked back religiously and rarely allowed the opposition to dribble past him.
Cancelo featured in all but one UEFA Champions League group-stage game this season. Having already secured top spot, Pep Guardiola decided to leave his precious left-back out of the XI for the trip to Leipzig on matchday six.
City suffered a 2-1 defeat in Germany, but that did not put their knockout journey in jeopardy.
In his five games, Cancelo registered two goals and three assists. Interestingly, all three assists came in one match - in the 4-1 win over Club Brugge on UEFA Champions League matchday four.
His goals came against RB Leipzig and Brugge in gameweek one and three, respectively.
