Champions League 17/18 Team of the season  

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final Previews
Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final Previews

The Champions League will come to a close with the final in Kiev, as Liverpool takes on two-time defending champions Real Madrid. Jurgen Klopp will look to put an end to the Zidane era of Madrid dominance in Europe over the past few seasons.

However, a number of top players and teams have produced displays in this year's competition and earned themselves a place in the Champions League team of the season.

With the final in Kiev only days away, we take a look back at the players who performed brilliantly and make the Champions League team of the season.


Goalkeeper: Allison Becker

As Roma goalkeeper Allison Becker<p>at Stadio Olimpico of Rome...
AS Roma goalkeeper Allison Becker at Stadio Olimpico of Rome...

Brazilian goalkeeper, Allison top the charts for keepers in the league with the most saves in the competition with 47 made in total. Roma's shot-stopper has been in superb form and guided the club to the Champions League semi-final and earned himself a place in Brazil's squad for the World Cup.

Allison is Roma's number 1 and had a good season in the league as well. With a number of rumours claiming the player might leave to join former teammate Salah at Liverpool, Roma will have to fend off interest from a number of clubs to keep their man.

An excellent shot-stopper with great positional sense between the sticks, Allison also has a wide range of passing skills making him one of the most complete keepers of the tournament. While Buffon and De Gea miss out on the spot, Allison has produced better saves and guided his club to a higher finish than his other competitiors.

Right back: Joshua Kimmich

Real Madrid v Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg
Real Madrid v Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg

Bayern Munich right fullback, Joshua Kimmich has been by far the best right back in Europe this season and edges out Dani Alves, Dani Carvajal and Kyle Walker to a place in the team of the season.

Having guided Bayern to a semi-final, Kimmich scored two goals in the contest against Real Madrid, although the club failed to beat the defending champions and was knocked out of the competition.

A very attacking fullback and stubborn defender, Kimmich has done a superb job to replace Phillip Lam and cement his spot in Bayern Munich and Germany's main eleven.


Left-back: Marcelo

Real Madrid: Champions League Final Media Day
Real Madrid: Champions League Final Media Day

The most consistent left back not just this season but for the past couple of seasons, Marcelo has been a potent attacking threat as well as a defensive backbone for the Spanish giants.

With great experience, skill and energy Marcelo like many other Madrid players are on the verge of winning his third consecutive Champions League final. The Brazilian is a quality attacking threat and scorer of some quality goals like he did against Munich. Always an option in attack, the marauding fullback, the Brazilian has been huge for Madrid down the left flank.

Marcelo is a veteran player with bags of experience and knowledge on the big games having appeared in so many. It could give the Madrid side a boost knowing they have players who been in the situation before although they've never lost.

Right central defender: Kostas Manolas

A.S. Roma v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg
A.S. Roma v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg

Roma's winning goal scoring hero in their remarkable comeback against Barcelona, Kostas Manolas has been brilliant this season in the Champions League and managed to guide his club to a first semi-final in over 30 years.

The Greek defender, Manolas has been solid at the back and marshalled the Roma back four or five, depending on the tactics. Manolas despite his poor showing in the semi-final against Liverpool makes it in the team due to his consistency and domination up until the tie against the English team.


Left central defender: Giorgio Chiellini

Real Madrid v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Real Madrid v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg

Juventus veteran defender, Giorgio Chiellini was a rock at the heart of the Italian club's defence till their exit in the quarterfinal to Real Madrid. The Italian defender, now 33, controlled the back four but the club was unlucky to go out in the fashion they did to Real Madrid.

However, the player's individual performances were top quality and easily makes the team of the year. A tactical and technical defender and one of the last few players of his generation who viewed defending as an art. Giorgio Chiellini is a special player with qualities like aggression, grit and passion for winning the ball back and making it difficult for the opposition to score, making him a unique talent.

Midfielders: Rajda Nainggolan

AS Roma v Juventus - Serie A
Nainggolan in action for AS Roma

Former Belgian playmaker, Rajda Nainggolan has had a major impact for Roma in the central midfield region and guided the club to a Champions League semi-final. With great power, technique and mindset, Nainggolan controlled the Roma midfield and brought about most of their creative play.

The service Under or Dzeko or Schick received from the midfield, mostly flew through the Belgian playmaker Nainggolan. With great ability to score the wonder goal from distance, Nainggolan's shot on goal is a potent threat and he has to be picked up close to be stopped.

If given any space, the Belgian will exploit it and make you pay and has earned his spot in the team of the season despite not making the final or the Belgian World Cup squad.


Casemiro

Juventus v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Final
Juventus v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Final

Brazilian holding midfielder, Casemiro has been pivotal for the club in the past 3 seasons. A strong, technical footballer with great game reading ability, Casemiro is one of the best midfielders in the world. A great pass interceptor and hard tackler, Casemiro can also do all the dirty work required from the manager in the centre of the park.

A huge player for Brazil at the World Cup, Casemiro was vital in helping Madrid to their last two titles in Europe and will be eager to pick up his third title. Casemiro was not fancied by Carlo Ancelotti but under Zidane has found his stride and cemented his place in the middle of the park.

Casemiro scored in the last two Champions League finals for real and is weirdly on a hattrick of goals in the final across three seasons.


James Milner

A.S. Roma v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg
A.S. Roma v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg

Liverpool's most versatile player over the last two seasons, James Milner has been absolutely brilliant for this season in the competition. Milner from the middle of the park has given Klopp so much energy and work in midfield, while he has also been instrumental in the attacking third.

With the most number of assists in the competition so far, Miler work rate and overall contribution to the game has been massive for Liverpool and will be in the final.

Milner is an experienced veteran who will be playing in his first Champions League final. The Englishman is one of the most capped active Premier League players and is a real veteran of the game.

Forwards: Roberto Firmino

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg

The Brazilian centre-forward for Liverpool, Firmino has been superb for the club and manager in the tournament, notching 10 goals and making 8 assists for his fellow teammates.

An all-around attacking talent who has been given stick for not being an out an out centre-forward, Firmino has risen above the criticism and proven all his critics wrong. The Brazilian can lead the attack through the middle or play off the main striker off the lat and is a versatile player for Klopp.

The Brazilian is the country's favourite to start the tournament as well given his superb form all season long has fended off interest from Lewandowski, Messi, Mane and Neymar to make the team of the season.


Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Real Madrid v Juventus - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg

The Champions League all-time leading goal scorer as well as the leading goalscorer of this season with 15 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo has been in sublime form in the competition.

On the verge of winning his third and the club's third title in a row, Ronaldo will want to go to the World Cup on a high by claiming the Champions League. Ronaldo has won the competition on three separate occasions before with Manchester United and Real Madrid and is gunning for his fourth title.

On the cards to make another run at the Ballon d'Or, Ronaldo set the record this season for the most number of goals in the group stage of the competition. The Portuguese player will be eager to put on a good showing at the World Cup this summer as well.


Mo Salah

2018 Liverpool FC Media Day Ahead of Champions League Final May 21st
2018 Liverpool FC Media Day Ahead of Champions League Final May 21st

With 10 goals in this competition, Salah is tied with Firmino in second place behind Ronaldo with 15. Although, Salah and co could wreck the Madrid party in Kiev and finish what has been a fantastic season for the Merseyside club.

The Egyptian player is searching for his first Champions League title as is his manager Jurgen Klopp. But the duo looks confident and could produce another great display to finish the season.

A ferociously quick and attacking player, Salah has broken a number of club records during his time so far at Liverpool. Salah has proved himself to be a brilliant acquisition by Jurgen Klopp, who has helped the Egyptian play closer to goal and become a contender for the Premier League’s Golden Boot race, and the European Golden Shoe race this season, as Liverpool look rampant going forward.

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