Ranked: The Top 5 center back pairings in Champions league this Season

• List of the Top Five Center Back Pairings in the Champions League this Season.

Center backs are now an important part of modern football in terms of tactics and team structure.

The position that was one considered a habitat for defenders not good to play full-back is now a key component of modern football.

Jose Mourinho crictized Eric Balliy and Chris Smalling in Man.united goalless draw against Valencia, saying “they lacked the technical quality to build from the back”.

With the champions league returning, we take a look at the Top5 center back pairings in Europe’s elite competition.

5. PIQUE AND UMTITI.
(BARCELONA )

Gerard pique is regarded as one of the finest CB in world football, But he is still constantly underperforming.

And few can argue that his best years are far behind him, defensively he looks vulnerable. and never comfortable when defending in one on one situations.

Umtiti is a much improved player since his move to barca from lyon. But he is still yet the finished article.

And it is of no suprised Barcelona has reignite their interest in Ajax rising Star M. De Ligt. In which scouts from Barcelona where in attendance to watch the dutch defender in Netherlands victory over Germany during the international break.

4.CHELLINI AND BONUCCI
(JUVENTUS)

chellini may have turned 34 in August, but he remains one of the standout players in his position on the planet.

Strong in tackle and commanding aerially, Chellini is a wonderful reader of the game and an underrated passer from deep.

His individual highlight of 2018 came in the second leg of juve’s UCL last 16 tie against Tottenham at Wembley. The Italy international delivered a masterclass in the penalty box defending in the 2nd half repeatedly repelling Spur’s attacker’s as juventus came fro behind to win.

Bonnuci meanwhile is rarely caught out of position and equally comfortable playing in a back three. He’s a terrific pass too, And is particularly adept at spraying long diagonals out to the flanks.

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3. GODIN AND GIMINEZ
(ATHLETICO MADRID)

Diego Simione is known for his solid, heroic, gritty, rugged Style of football and he has Godin to thank with the Uruguayan ready to climb mountains for him

“Godin is the leader in the dressing room. He finds it easy to talk to the team- i would like to do that but i can’t. ” -Antoine Griezman

“Nothing thrills me less than playing against Athletico. They ‘re so annoying and Godin is a nuisance”-Luis Suarez.

-Godin leads a defence which has conceded the fewest La Liga goals in three of the last four seasons

-Helped Athleti keep a clean sheet in each of their last 8home UCL knockout games.

-A man for the big occasion, he also scored in the 2014 UCL Final.

2.VAN DIJK AND GOMEZ
(LIVERPOOL)

is there a more complete CB in world football than Virgil van dijk?. The Ex-Southampton man has been a revelation at the heart of Liverpool’s defence since his $75m world record fee.

The collosal center back has brought calmness,authority,strength, and composure to the Liverpool back line, which has yielded to Liverpool keeping six clean sheet already in the early days of the season and are yet to concede at home in the league since February 2018.

And it is of no surprised he scooped Liverpool’s player award for the month of September after
-attempting 256 passes (most for Liverpool)
-winning 28duels(most for Liverpool)
-winning 22aerial battles(most for Liverpool)
-14 recoveries
-11 clearances
-4 tackles
-4 interception
-1block

This season VVD has formed a blossoming patnernship with Joe Gomez.
In Van dijk and Gomez Jurgen klopp has the foundation for his high pressing quick counter attacking football.

AND NO 1 IS, RAMOS AND VARANE.
(REAL MADRID)

forget Bale , Benzema, Modric and Co.
All of Madrid’s success owes a huge debt to Ramos and Varane, these two did so much leg work for Los Blancos especially under zinedine zidane and his narrow 4-3-1-2 formation.

In the 2014 UCL final, Real Madrid were losing and never really looked like cracking Athleti open. Until the 93rd minute, When Ramos rise highest to meet a Luka Modric corner. And take the game to extra time. The eventually victory owed so much to that man.

Due to his dark arts, Ramos is never going to win too many popularity outside of the satinago bernabau, But it’s tough to dispute his position as the “best defender” in world football.

The Real Madrid Captain is the team’s heart beat and a player who always rise to the big occasion.

Varane meanwhile was at the heart of France2018 world cup campaign. Where he turned in superb performance after superb performance as France won the tournament for the second time in their history.

Aggressive but elegant, intense but composed, varane is the complete central defender.

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