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The Champions League is unique because it gives us matches that we can otherwise only live through FIFA. Europe's elite club competition is known for its twist and turns, and for throwing two of the best teams across Europe against each other at a consistent basis.
This game week, we will be seeing one such matchup, when Real Madrid host Paris Saint-Germain at the Santiago Bernabeu.
When these two teams met a couple of months ago in Paris, the home team thrashed the visitors and won convincingly. However, Real Madrid were not as in-sync and cohesive as they are right now, and they were missing the services of a few players.
This time around, the Los Blancos will be looking to give a tougher fight to their opponents, and it should be the best game of the week.
Both the teams have some of the world's best players at their disposal - here, we take a look at how their combined XI would look like.
Note - Only this season's form has been taken into account, and players who are injured for this game will be excluded from the list. Both of these teams have been stronger in attack than defence this season, so the formation is a 3-4-3 which allows the best of the forwards/midfielders to be included in the team.
Goalkeeper - Keylor Navas
Even though Thibaut Courtois has been improving a lot in recent times, his shaky start to the season combined with the number of goals Madrid have leaked give him a disadvantage. As such, Madrid's former goalkeeper Keylor Navas gets the go-ahead in this list over his successor.
Navas has adjusted very well into life at the French capital, and he has been a very competent goalkeeper for PSG this season. The Costa Rican international has already made a few crucial saves this season, and he will be relishing this challenge back in Madrid.
Defence
Centre-back (left)- Thiago Silva
Paris Saint-Germain's long-standing captain is an easy inclusion in this list. Thiago Silva has been one of the most consistent defenders for the past few seasons, and he is still one of the very best at what he does.
The 35-year-old has been without a doubt the club's best defender this season, and his presence at the back is always an issue for any forward in the world. This season, the Brazilian international is averaging 1.6 tackles and interception and 2.7 clearances per game while completing almost 96% of his passes.
Centre-back (center) - Sergio Ramos
In truth, there is very little to separate Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane this season. However, the Real Madrid captain gets in because of his slightly better defensive stats and his experience.
Ramos is averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, and 3.5 clearances per game in La Liga this season. He has also played every single game in the league so far and has 2 goals to his name. Having played as a right-back previously in his career, the Spanish captain would also be more versatile as this 3-4-3.
Centre-back (right) - Dani Carvajal
The ever-underrated Dani Carvajal has been Real Madrid's best defender so far this season. The Spaniard's performances often go under the radar due to the presence of his star teammates, but the defender always puts in a solid shift in a Madrid jersey.
This season, the right-back is averaging 2.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, while completing 88% of his passes. He has 4 assists to his name this campaign and makes almost 2 key passes per game. He is a complete offensive and defensive threat, and his form so far would make it a crime to exclude him from this list.
Also check out:Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers
Midfield
Right attacking-midfielder - Angel Di Maria
The former Real Madrid player has been in imperious form this season. Angel Di Maria has nine goals and nine assists in 19 outings this season, including two goals and four assists in four Champions League appearances.
The Argentine international has been PSG's most potent attacking threat this season. Apart from his goals and assists, the winger also averages almost 3 key passes and dribbles per game. His place here is indisputable.
Centre-midfielder - Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos just makes this list over his partner Luka Modric. The World Cup-winning midfielder has played more minutes and has been in better form than his Croatian teammate, and he slides into this midfield.
After a bad 2018/19 season, the German international has stepped back up and is now his usual, composed self. Kroos averages 2.8 key passes and an astounding 7.5 long balls per game while completing over 93% of his passes. He will be crucial in this game and will be expected to control Madrid's midfield.
Centre-midfielder - Marco Verratti
An underrated part of the star-studded PSG team, Marco Verratti has been one of the best midfielders in the world this season. The Italian international is the engine that makes the midfield run, and his vision and ability to dictate the play make him a very dangerous player for the opposition.
Verratti completes almost 90 passes per game and makes 2 key passes and 4.5 long balls per game. He vs Kroos will be one of the best battles in this game, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Left-attacking midfielder - Eden Hazard
Real Madrid's star signing this season is yet to reach the heights that he did at Chelsea, but excluding him from this list would be unfair. Eden Hazard on his day is one of the best players in the world, and he has been getting better and better in the past few weeks.
Although the Belgian international has scored and assisted only one goal each in La Liga, he is one of the most fouled players in the league and completes 4.4 dribbles per game. This is the game where Hazard can shine and announce himself on the big stage, and he will be looking forward to this opportunity.
Attack
Forward - Neymar
It feels like ages since we have seen Neymar play consistently for the Paris based club. The Brazilian international missed a lot of games last season due to his injury, but he is back now and looks as good as ever.
Neymar is yet to play in the Champions League this season but has 4 goals already in 6 Ligue 1 games this season. Whenever Neymar played, PSG looks ten times more threatening and they will be relying on him to finally step up in the Champions League this time around.
Real Madrid will be Neymar's debut game in the CL this campaign, and the forward will be raring to go on the big stage against his former La Liga rivals.
Forward - Karim Benzema
One of the most underrated players in history, Karim Benzema right now is the most in-form Real Madrid player. The striker has been involved in 20 goals this campaign already, with 10 goals in La Liga alongside 4 assists. As impressive as Mauro Icardi has been for PSG this season, his stats and form do not match Benzema's.
The French international has been Real Madrid's best forward since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he will be looking to continue his brilliant form in this big game.
Forward - Kylian Mbappe
This one needs no introduction - Kylian Mbappe has 3 goals and 1 assist in just 150 minutes of Champions League this season, and in current form, he is the best PSG player. The 20-year-old has established himself as one of the best players in the world.
Mbappe scored a hattrick as a substitute in PSG's last Champions League game, and he will be relishing this challenge as he faces his dream team at the Bernabeu. A goal here would only add on to the French international's dominating Champions League stats, and he will be one of the stars to look out for in this fixture.
