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Centre-back: Gerard Pique (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Another Spanish defender who's at his peak this season, Gerard Pique has successfully shrugged off the struggles of last season to get back into his element and perform like he's never had a bad run. His consistent showings were rewarded last month when the club extended his contract till 2022.
Pique averages over 4 interceptions and one key tackle per game this term, and his towering presence at the heart of the backline has helped Barcelona record 13 cleansheets in 29 league games.
He'd once again be an important part of the Spanish backline while his partnership with great rival Sergio Ramos would be just as vital in helping the Reds fend off challenges from other big teams in the tournament.
Centre-back: Mats Hummels (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
The former Borussia Dortmund captain is a player reborn under Jupp Heynckes. Following a difficult start to life at Bayern that only threatened to worsen this season, Hummels has successfully got his ducks back in order after Carlo Ancelotti was shown the door, and is breathing new life in his Munich tenure.
Add the erratic form of Sergio Ramos into the mix, and it's all the easier to pick him in this team ahead of the Los Blancos skipper.
His recent bout of injuries saw his defensive actions drop from 6.6 to only 5, but up until that point, he was more involved in the defence than any other Bayern player and has overseen three clean-sheets in four games since returning to the fold.
