Courtois, Bartra and three more Spaniards headline Champions League Team of the Week

UEFA announced on Friday the first Team of the Week for the 2026/2027 Champions League, covering the opening round played this week. The lineup, chosen by UEFA's Technical Observer Group, features Thibaut Courtois, Marc Bartra, Pau Torres, Ferran Torres and Raphinha among the standout names from the first matchday.

• Courtois earned his place with seven saves from eight shots faced against Inter Milan.
• Marc Bartra and Pau Torres anchor the back line after decisive performances for their clubs.
• Ferran Torres scored his first PSG hat-trick against Slovan Bratislava.
• Raphinha, Barcelona's captain, struck twice in the 5-1 win over Feyenoord.
• Dest, Brown, Odegaard, Baturina, Olise and Demirovic complete the lineup.

Courtois carries Real Madrid past Inter with seven saves

The Belgian goalkeeper earned his spot in the Team of the Week after Real Madrid's victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. Courtois stopped seven of the eight shots he faced, a performance that made him the best goalkeeper of the opening round in European club football's elite competition.

Real Madrid began their new Champions League campaign on solid ground, leaning on their goalkeeper's reliability in the most demanding moments. Courtois' inclusion in the first Team of the Week underlines the Belgian's importance to Madrid's defensive structure.

Bartra and Pau Torres form the Spanish core of the ideal defense

The back line of the Team of the Week is made up of Serginho Dest from PSV, Archie Brown from Fenerbahçe, and the Spanish pair of Marc Bartra and Pau Torres. The Betis center-back played a key role as his club marked their return to the Champions League with a win in Lille, while the Aston Villa defender left his mark at both ends against Club Brugge.

On Marc Bartra, the technical report notes that "Betis' defensive leader showed tactical maturity and aerial dominance, scoring two headers".

Pau Torres recorded eight clearances, the most of the match, inside his own box, while also creating four chances and providing two assists at the other end. His display directly contributed to Aston Villa's win over Club Brugge in the first round.

Raphinha and Ferran Torres shine up front with braces and a hat-trick

The forward line of the ideal XI brings together Michael Olise from Bayern, Raphinha from Barcelona, Ferran Torres from PSG and Ermedin Demirovic from Stuttgart. In midfield, Martin Odegaard of Arsenal and Martin Baturina of Como get the nod.

Raphinha, Barcelona's captain, pressed with impressive intensity, made runs in behind and linked play between the lines before capping his display with two goals in the 5-1 victory over Feyenoord. Ferran Torres, meanwhile, recorded his first hat-trick for Paris Saint-Germain against Slovan Bratislava, standing out not only for his finishing instincts but also for his movement, which allowed him to arrive in the right place at the right time.

A lineup with strong Spanish influence and representation from seven leagues

The first Team of the Week of the continental season reflects the diversity of European football, featuring players from the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Eredivisie and the Turkish Süper Lig. The presence of three Spanish players and three representatives of Spanish clubs —Real Madrid, Betis and Barcelona— highlights the prominence of Spanish football at the start of the tournament.

UEFA's Technical Observer Group made its selection after an opening round that included emphatic results such as Barcelona's 5-1 win over Feyenoord, PSG's victory against Slovan and Real Madrid's narrow triumph over Inter. The next matchday will reveal whether these players can maintain the level they showed in the competition's opening fixtures.

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