Not Barça or Madrid: LaLiga player in Champions League team of the season

Europe’s elite competition came to a dramatic close on Saturday with the final of the Champions League providing one of the most memorable finishes in recent years.

An electrifying PSG side made it all the way for the second time in two years and went up against the immovable object Arsenal, a team moulded by Mikel Arteta.

The game itself was a tense affair, as finals usually are, with VAR decisions sparking debates that raged long into the night. In the end, the game went all the way to penalties, with Arsenal’s Gabriel sending his spot-kick into orbit to give PSG their second trophy in as many years.

Now UEFA have released their Team of the Season, and it reflects much what we saw throughout the year. PSG and Arsenal stand out as main contributors, as well as Bayern Munich, who performed well and were knocked out in the semi-finals by PSG.

But the standout inclusion is actually a LaLiga player, and he doesn’t play for either Barcelona or Real Madrid. Marcos Llorente, Atlético Madrid’s right-back, is a curious character and a former midfielder who has adapted well to playing on the right side of Diego Pablo Simeone’s team. The UEFA Technical Observer Group, professionals who are drafted in to look at the game from a tactical and analytical perspective, put the team together and agreed on his inclusion in the XI.

The team is as follows:

GK: David Raya (Arsenal)

RB: Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid)

RCB: Marquinhos (PSG)

LCB: Gabriel (Arsenal)

RM: Michael Olise (FC Bayern)

CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal)

CM: Vitinha (PSG)

LM: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)

ST: Harry Kane (FC Bayern)

ST: Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.