UEFA names Paz, Mbappé, Kane, Rice and Brazilian hero in Champions #3 XI

UEFA announced its Team of the Week for Matchday 3 of the Champions League league phase on Thursday (22).

The ideal lineup, selected by UEFA's Technical Observer Group (with support from its data analysis team in Nyon), features established stars and surprise performers who shone this matchday, including Brazilian Carlos Augusto.

Find out why UEFA chose these players!

Goalkeeper: Yann Sommer (Club Brugge): The veteran was crucial in helping Brugge survive a difficult first half before securing a 3–0 win over Lens. He made six important saves, preventing a total of 1.26 expected goals.

Defenders: Xavier Mbuyamba (LASK): A true defensive rock in LASK's big win over Sporting CP. Alongside his well-known ability to play out from the back, the centre-back dominated defensively, contesting 17 duels, making six tackles and recording five clearances.

Lutsharel Geertruida (PSV): A key figure in PSV's first Champions League clean sheet since November 2024. He showed a cool head and great composure under pressure, while also helping his team build effectively from the back.

Carlos Augusto (Inter Milan): Solid defensively, the Brazilian capped his performance by becoming the Italian side's hero. Even with Inter down to ten men, he pushed forward and scored the only goal in the win over Shakhtar Donetsk — his second of this campaign.

Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal): As well as coming to the rescue with a late equaliser against Bayern Munich, the England international carried the ball superbly in transition and was immense without it. He won most of his 13 duels, with a perfect record in the air (three out of three).

Scott McTominay (Napoli): Made the difference against Bodø/Glimt by scoring his first two goals of the 2026/27 season. He also stood out for his leadership on the pitch, his strength in physical battles (winning six of nine duels) and his flawless accuracy: he completed 100% of his passes across all areas of the pitch.

Nicolás Paz (Como): The midfielder shone in Como's historic win over heavyweights Manchester United. Showing great balance and exquisite ball control, he was lethal on the night, scoring twice and providing an assist.

Phil Foden (Manchester City): Put on a finishing masterclass with a hat-trick in the win over AEK Athens. Operating between the lines, he showcased his creativity in linking up play and also set up Rayan Cherki's goal.

Forwards: Désiré Doué (PSG): Broke the deadlock against Barcelona with a stunning, precise shot from outside the box. He was a constant nightmare for the opposition defence, recording three key passes and an assist.

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): With his trademark aggressive and intelligent movement, he created numerous chances on the night. He set up Arda Güler's goal and got on the scoresheet himself with a stunning strike — his 25th goal in 28 Champions League appearances for Real Madrid.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): The prolific striker was as ruthless as ever. By finding the net against Arsenal, Kane scored in his 10th consecutive Champions League match. Just as he had done against Viking last week, he also conjured up a spectacular through ball to assist Alphonso Davies' goal.

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