Picking the Best-on-Paper 2014/15 Champions League Group Stage XI

With the much-anticipated 2014/15 Champions League now very nearly with us once again, we pick the best-on-paper XI from the upcoming group stage.

And lining up in a 3-1-3-3 formation, these are the 11 stars we have selected, taking into consideration a player’s overall displays in the Europe’s premier club competition over the years, especially of late, and their domestic and international form too…

*All stats are taken from www.transfermarkt.co.uk

In truth, only Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois can really rival Bayern No. 1 Manuel Neuer at present for the title of world’s best shot-stopper, but the 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Glove winner’s greater all-round experience just sees him edge this particular battle.

Silky-smooth Belgium international Vincent Kompany may have only featured in 31 Champions League contests in his career so far, but the 28-year-old’s pace at the back and ability to read the game sees the player occupy one of our three central-defensive berths.

Diego Godin was an absolute rock at the heart of Atletico’s back four last season as the club won La Liga and reached the Champions League final, with the dominant Uruguayan marshalling his team’s defence superbly, while also popping up with some key goals.

There’s a reason why PSG were prepared to make Thiago Silva the then most expensive defender in the world when luring the Brazil international from the San Siro to the French capital two years ago, with the 29-year-old’s displays since making it look money well spent.

Philipp Lahm can operate at right-back, left-back or, as we have seen of late, as a deep-lying holding midfielder, such is Mr. Dependable’s versatility. All these attributes led Pep Guardiola to praise him as “the cleverest player I’ve ever worked with,” according to Alec Fenn on Goal.com.

The German veteran is a shoe-in for this XI.

Not only did Toni Kroos play an integral part in Bayern’s 2012-13 UEFA Champions League win before getting injured in the last eight, but the German pass master also shone in the centre of the park in last season’s competition and as his country won the FIFA World Cup.

While James Rodriguez may have only previously played in a handful of UEFA Champions League games while with Porto (14), Madrid’s new €80 million purchase gets the nod on the right after shining for Colombia at the recent FIFA World Cup, which he ended as top scorer.

Arjen Robben has been lighting up Europe’s premier club competition for the past decade, during which time the Flying Dutchman recorded 14 assists and 22 goals in his 79 games, including a man-of-the-match display after netting the winner for Bayern in the 2013 final.

Despite Uruguay attacker Luis Suarez currently being suspended from all football for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at last summer’s FIFA World Cup, Barca’s £65 million acquisition lines up on the left of a front three from where he’ll provide assists, goals and a general menace.

Cristiano Ronaldo was top scorer in the competition for a second year in a row last season with a record-breaking 17 goals as Madrid finally won La Decima, while overall the Portuguese forward has recorded an incredible 26 assists and 67 strikes in just 103 contests.

Sure Lionel Messi endured what, by his relatively high standards, was a disappointing campaign in front of goal for Barca last time out, but the twinkle-toed Argentinian still finished as the leading goalscorer in Europe’s top club competition between 2009 and 2012.

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