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Monaco-Juventus combined XI

By Thomas Wheaton

MONACO, MONACO - APRIL 19: Kylian Mbappe of AS Monaco celebrates his goal with teammattes during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg between AS Monaco and Borussia Dortmund at Stade Louis II on April 19, 2017 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images )
MONACO, MONACO - APRIL 19: Kylian Mbappe of AS Monaco celebrates his goal with teammattes during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg between AS Monaco and Borussia Dortmund at Stade Louis II on April 19, 2017 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images ) /
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Monaco and Juventus will battle it out in the Champions League on Wednesday, May 3. Here’s the best combined XI from the two sides.

Monaco welcome Juventus to Stade Louis II on Wednesday for the first leg of the Champions League semifinal. What better way to get ready for the match than a combined XI? This XI includes only those players who are available for selection on Wednesday, so no one injured or suspended. To best utilize the players available, we’ve gone for a 4-4-2 diamond formation.

GK: Gianluigi Buffon

In goal is none other than Juventus’ captain Gianluigi Buffon. Buffon has been a key reason Juve have made it to the semifinals. The Bianconeri have only conceded two goals over 10 Champions League matches this season, and haven’t conceded at all in the knockout rounds. Buffon’s too good and too experienced not to start.

CBs: Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci

Giorgio Chiellini is the obvious choice. Chiellini is the definition of consistency for the touted Juventus defense that managed to shut Barcelona (among many others) out over two legs. Chiellini’s up there with the very best center-backs in the world.

His partner might be just as good. Leonardo Bonucci has been lights out for Juventus so far in their Champions League campaign, keeping clean sheets while also finding himself a goal. Juve typically play with three at the back, but Chiellini and Bonucci are smart enough and good enough to be just as solid at the heart of a back four.

RB: Dani Alves

If Djibril Sidibe hadn’t gotten injured, this decision would have been a lot tougher. But with him out, the nod has to go to Dani Alves. Alves has been there, done that and has a ton of experience in the Champions League, previously with Barcelona and now Juventus. Alves is better than his current counterpart on Monaco, Almany Toure, and is a lock at right-back.

LB: Benjamin Mendy

Benjamin Mendy gets the nod ahead of Alex Sandro at left-back because of his play in the Champions league so far. He has been a staple in the defense for Monaco and has also done a good job of creating pressure up the flank. He is coming off of his best performance against Borussia Dortmund, in which he helped secure a 3-1 win.

CM: Miralem Pjanic

Miralem Pjanic has been exquisite for Juventus both in Serie A and the Champions League this season and grabs the role of central midfielder in this starting XI. His distribution has been key for Juventus’ attack, feeding Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain and controlling the midfield alongside Sami Khedira. Joao Moutinho was also considered here, but Pjanic has been much better in the Champions league, tallying one goal and three assists throughout the first 10 matches.

RM, LM: Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar

The right midfield spot is a toss up between Juan Cuadrado and Bernardo Silva. Silva has the edge for two. First, he’s been more important to Monaco than Cuadrado has been to Juventus. Second, Silva’s played more minutes and notched better stats than Cuadrado, with two goals and one assist to his name. Third, Silva’s more naturally suited to a 4-4-2 diamond. He’s more capable on the ball, while Cuadrado’s most effective in a wider role.

Thomas Lemar is the pick on the left thanks to a great Champions League campaign. Lemar has two goals and four assists in 807 minutes in the competition so far and has been a vital playmaker feeding Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappe up top.

CAMs: Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala has drifted back into more of an attacking midfielder role since Juve acquired Gonzalo Higuain this year, and has thrived in his new position. Although he hasn’t been racking up assists, he has made plenty of key passes in the final third to set up scoring chances, and has notched four goals in the Champions League this campaign. He is the obvious pick at the attacking midfield position.

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STs: Gonzalo Higuain, Radamel Falcao

Gonzalo Higuain picked up right where he left off after transferring from Napoli to Juventus this summer and has been electric up top for the Bianconeri. In the Champions league, Higuain has scored three goals and has been influential in Juve’s counter-attack. Higuain gets the slight advantage over Kylian Mbappe because he has played more minutes thus far. Mbappe has been electric for Monaco this season, but Higuain’s more experienced and a more proven goalscorer.

Radamel Falcao joins Higuain up top. After sitting on the bench at Chelsea last season, Falcao has found the form that made him one of the most coveted players in the world. He’s scored five goals in this season’s Champions League and led an otherwise very young Monaco team to the semifinals.

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