The Ideal Champions League Team in the First Matchday

UEFA announced the new Team of the Week for Matchday 1

The ideal Champions League team from day 1

This Friday, UEFA announced the first ideal team for the 2026/2027 Champions League, whose first round was played this week. It includes three Spaniards: Marc Bartra (Betis), Pau Torres (Aston Villa), and Ferran Torres (Paris Saint-Germain); a Barcelona player, Raphinha; and a Real Madrid player, Thibaut Courtois

The first "Team of the Week", selected by the UEFA Technical Observer Panel, consists of Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) in goal, Serginho Dest (PSV), Marc Bartra (Betis), Pau Torres (Aston Villa) and Archie Brown (Fenerbahçe) in defense; Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) and Martin Baturina (Como) in the midfield, and Michael Olisé (Bayern) and Ferran (PSG), Raphinha (Barcelona) and Ermedin Demirovic (Stuttgart) in attack.

Thibaut Courtois is in the team for his seven saves out of the eight shots he faced in Real Madrid's victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu

Regarding Marc Bartra, the report highlights that "Betis' defensive leader demonstrated tactical maturity and mastery in aerial play, scoring two headed goals to help his team celebrate its return to the Champions League with a victory in Lille."

Pau Torres "had a significant impact at both ends of the field, making eight clearances – the most in the match – in his own area, while creating four chances and providing two assists at the other end, which allowed Aston Villa to beat Club Brugge."

Raphinha, Barcelona's captain, "led the pressing with impressive intensity and made runs from behind to create danger from the back, as well as playing between the lines, finishing the job with two magnificent goals" against Feyenoord (5-1).

Ferran Torres "scored his first hat-trick with his new club, PSG, against Slovan Bratislava, drawing attention not only for his reactions in front of the goal, but also for his excellent movements, which allowed him to be in the right place at the right time." EFE