Champions League 2025/26: Team of the Week after 4 rounds
ESPN celebrates the new generation of Champions League 2025/26: David Raya keeps a 100% clean sheet, Victor Osimhen scores 6 goals in 3 matches; Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez bring a fresh, youthful energy.
Not familiar names, the 2025/26 Champions League, after four rounds, has seen a new generation of players take to the big stage. ESPN's Team of the Season includes David Raya, perfect in goal, Victor Osimhen, who has been explosive with 6 goals in 3 matches, and two Barcelona gems, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez.
The ideal team after 4 rounds, as selected by ESPN.
The Champions League 2025/26 Team of the Season after 4 rounds.
| Location | Player | club | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | David Raya | Arsenal | 7/7 saves, 100% clean sheet. |
| Right back | Dominik Szoboszlai | Liverpool | Versatile, persistent pressing, long-range shooting. |
| center back | Josko Gvardiol | Man City | 291 accurate passes, 55 interceptions, assists for Haaland. |
| center back | Odin Bjortuft | Bodo/Glimt | Leading in progressive ball carrying |
| Left back | Nuno Mendes | PSG | Speed, explosiveness; seamless transitions between attack and defense. |
| Defensive midfielder | Joey Veerman | PSV Eindhoven | 57 forward passes, 8 chances, 1 assist |
| Central midfielder | Vitinha | PSG | 414 passes; 44 attacking assists; 45 ball possessions; 27 ball recoveries; 1 goal, 1 assist |
| Assistant | Fermin Lopez | Portuguese | 3 goals, 2 assists; second only to Osimhen in total contribution. |
| Right winger | Lamine Yamal | Portuguese | 18 years old, high technical and mutation rate. |
| Center | Victor Osimhen | Galatasaray | 3 matches, 6 goals (3 penalties); 18 shots, 15 on target; 11 shots with xG > 0.2 |
| Left winger | Luis Diaz | Bayern Munich | 3 goals, 25 attacking moves; intense pressing. |
Goalkeepers and defense: the foundation of explosive performance.
David Raya (Arsenal): absolute certainty
Without needing to show off, Raya faced 7 shots on target and saved all 7, keeping a 100% clean sheet. In an environment where mistakes are punished, his consistency was the cornerstone that helped Arsenal maintain their form and set a clean sheet record.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool): a right-back with a midfield "hybrid".
Under Arne Slot, Szoboszlai moved through various roles – from defensive midfielder to attacking midfielder, then dropping deep at right-back – and he always performed well. His stamina, pressing mentality, and long-range shooting ability kept Liverpool's right flank energized.
Josko Gvardiol & Odin Bjortuft: Two approaches, one effect
Gvardiol, a valuable addition to Man City, led the build-up play with 291 accurate passes and 55 interceptions, even assisting Haaland. Conversely, Bjortuft excelled at carrying the ball forward, acting as the unsung leader of Bodo/Glimt. Two contrasting styles, both striving for excellence.
Nuno Mendes (PSG): left-hand wing, speed
When fit, Mendes is a formidable attacking force on the left. His speed, explosive rhythm, and balanced attacking and defensive capabilities ensure PSG always have a consistent source of goals, despite having had minor knee problems. At 23 years old, that's a rare skill set.
Midline: heart rate and conductor
Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven): a pragmatic passing machine.
Veerman leads the league in passing with 57, creating 8 chances and providing 1 assist, while also contributing to ball recovery. He is the heartbeat of PSV: highly organized yet neat and pragmatic.
Vitinha (PSG): Every pass goes through him.
414 passes in 4 rounds, along with 44 attacking assists, demonstrate Vitinha's significant influence. Add to that 45 ball carries, 27 ball recoveries, one goal, and one assist – PSG operates smoothly thanks to a playmaker who dictates the tempo of the game.
Fermin Lopez (Barcelona): the cut and the inside of the foot.
With 3 goals and 2 assists, Lopez is second only to Osimhen in overall contribution. Lopez made his mark with intelligent movement, penetrating the penalty area, and finishing with one-touch shots. La Masia now has a tangible hope, not just a promise.
Attack: speed, instinct, and pressure
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): Age 18 and Influence
More than just a phenomenon, Yamal is a tool for "unlocking" defenses thanks to his technique, speed, and attacking intuition. At 18, he is both a penetrating force and a game-changer for Barcelona's youthful attacking structure.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray): a monster in the penalty area.
Three matches, six goals, including three penalties. Osimhen took 18 shots, 15 of which were on target, and had 11 shots with an xG (x1) above 0.2. These numbers demonstrate exceptional positioning and finishing ability, making Galatasaray a formidable and unpredictable opponent.
Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich): left-handed knife
Diaz scored 3 goals, made 25 attacking runs, and created constant pressure. If Harry Kane was the tactical centerpiece, Diaz was the whirlwind that swept away the opponent's defense, allowing Bayern to adapt their pressing and transitional strategies.
The new generation is shaping the Champions League.
Looking at the list, the generational shift is no longer a vision but a reality. Gvardiol, Vitinha, Yamal, and Fermin Lopez are not just the future – they are the present: confident, creative, and disciplined. This season's Champions League is no longer the exclusive domain of old icons; a new generation of players is redefining the rhythm of European football with their energy, speed, and versatility.
From Raya's unwavering resolve to Osimhen's fiery spirit, all exemplify the DNA of the new era: unafraid to challenge limits and ready to write history in their own way.
