Raphinha and Courtois in the first ideal Champions team

UEFA announced this Friday the first ideal team of the 2026/2027 Champions League , whose opening matchday was played this week, and it includes three Spaniards, Marc Bartra (Betis), Pau Torres (Aston Villa), Ferran Torres (Paris Saint-Germain), one Barcelona player, Raphinha ; and one Real Madrid player, Thibaut Courtois .

'The first "team of the week", selected by the UEFA Technical Observers Group, consists of Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) in goal, Serginho Dest (PSV), Marc Bartra (Betis), Pau Torres (Aston Villa) and Archie Brown (Fenerbahçe) in defense; Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) and Martin Baturina (Como) in the creative area, and Michael Olisé (Bayern) and Ferran (PSG), Raphinha (Barcelona) and Ermedin Demirovic (Stuttgart) in attack.'

Courtois is included in the team for his seven saves from the eight shots he faced in Real Madrid's victory against Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu.

'Of Marc Bartra the report highlights that "Betis' defensive leader showed tactical maturity and dominance in the air, scoring two headers to help his team celebrate their return to the Champions League with a victory in Lille".'

' Pau Torres "had a significant impact at both ends of the pitch, making eight clearances —the most in the match— in his own area, while also creating four chances and providing two assists at the other end, helping Aston Villa prevail over Club Brugge".'

Raphinha, Barcelona's captain, "led the press with impressive intensity and made runs in behind to create danger from the back, as well as playing between the lines, topping off the performance with two magnificent goals" against Feyenoord (5-1).

'Ferran Torres "scored his first hat-trick with his new club, PSG, against Slovan Bratislava, drawing attention not only for his reactions in front of goal, but also for his excellent movement, which allowed him to be in the right place at the right time'"