Kante and Haaland among positional award winners for 2020-21 Champions League

By Sports Desk August 26, 2021

Edouard Mendy, Ruben Dias, N'Golo Kante and Erling Haaland won the positional awards for the 2020-21 Champions League.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy kept nine clean sheets in last season's competition as the Blues won the trophy for the second time, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final.

City defender Dias was named the best defender, while Chelsea's Kante – UEFA's man of the match in each leg of the semi-final and the final – won the prize for midfielders.

Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland was chosen as the best forward in 2020-21.

The players were chosen from a shortlist of 12, who had each received the most points in each positional category following a jury vote. The jury comprised coaches from the 32 clubs that entered into the group stage last season, as well as 55 journalists representing UEFA's 55 member associations. Coaches could not vote for players from their own teams.

Five of the 12 nominees were from Chelsea: Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Kante and Jorginho.

City had three representatives – Ederson, Dias and Kevin De Bruyne – while beaten semi-finalists Real Madrid and PSG provided one each: Thibaut Courtois, and Kylian Mbappe.

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Haaland, who finished as top scorer last season with 10, were the other nominees.

Related items

  • Atalanta and Juventus share stalemate as Atletico Madrid pull off crazy comeback Atalanta and Juventus share stalemate as Atletico Madrid pull off crazy comeback

    Juventus were held to a frustrating goalless Serie A draw by Atalanta with only one point still separating both sides in the table.

    Nicolo Fagioli and Moise Kean tested Juan Musso in the first half, but Atalanta had plenty of opportunities after the break to earn a winner as Wojciech Szczesny got his fingertips to Luis Muriel’s free-kick before Teun Koopmeiners had two good shots in the closing stages.

    Bologna sit three points below Atalanta in the table after they beat Empoli 3-0, with Riccardo Orsolini starring after earning his first Serie A hat-trick, helping his side to their second win this season.

    Roma also earned their second win of the season as goals from Romelu Lukaku and Lorenzo Pellegrini secured a 2-0 win against Frosinone, while Alan Matturro’s own goal salvaged a point for Udinese, who drew 2-2 with Genoa.

    Albert Gudmundsson’s brace gave Genoa the advantage before Matturro turned the ball into his own net in stoppage time and Sandi Lovric was dismissed just minutes later.

    Angel Correa’s brace helped Atletico Madrid come from behind to earn a 3-2 win against LaLiga rivals Cadiz.

    Atletico faced an uphill task after Lucas Pires and Roger Marti put the visitors in front.

    However, Correa helped Diego Simeone’s side to three points either side of Nahuel Molina’s goal and they move into fourth.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by LALIGA (@laliga)

     

    They sit four points clear of Real Betis, who beat Valencia 3-0 thanks to goals from Assane Diao, Marc Roca and Abde Ezzalzouli, while Jose Arnaiz Diaz and Ante Budimir’s goals were enough for Osasuna to beat Alaves 2-0.

    At the bottom of the table, Granada came from behind to draw 3-3 with fellow strugglers Almeria.

    Colombian forward Luis Suarez wreaked havoc, scoring a hat-trick within the final six minutes of the first half before Granada came back into the game with Myrto Uzuni scoring in the 86th minute to rescue a point.

    Lyon’s winless run continued in Ligue 1 after they were beaten 2-0 by high-flying Reims.

    Goals from Marshall Munetsi and Yunis Abdelhamid handed Lyon their fifth league loss of the season and they sit rock bottom of the table.

    Reims’ win sees them close in on Brest, who missed the chance to go top of the table after drawing 0-0 with Nice.

    Lille beat Havre 2-0 to go sixth in the table, while Toulouse returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win against Metz and Akor Adams’ brace helped Montpellier beat Lorient 3-0.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Stade de Reims (@stadedereims)

     

    Rennes ended their run of five consecutive league draws after beating Nantes 3-1 to move into sixth.

    In the Bundesliga, Darmstadt earned their first win of the season after beating Werder Bremen 4-2.

    Die Lilien scored twice in each half and held off a potential late comeback from Bremen with two quick goals in the second half.

    Vincenzo Grifo and Philipp Lienhart’s goals were enough for Freiburg to beat Augsburg 2-0 in the other game on Sunday.

  • Juventus and Atalanta share points from Serie A stalemate in Bergamo Juventus and Atalanta share points from Serie A stalemate in Bergamo

    Juventus and Atalanta were forced to share the points after grinding out a goalless draw in Serie A on Sunday.

    After an even start to the match in Bergamo both teams came close later in the first half, with Davide Zappacosta trying his luck before Nicolo Fagioli and Moise Kean tested Juan Musso in the Atalanta goal.

    However, the hosts had the pick of the chances in the second half when Wojciech Szczesny got his fingertips to Luis Muriel’s free-kick before Teun Koopmeiners had two good shots in the closing stages.

    The stalemate sees Massimiliano Allegri’s men sit four points behind league leaders Inter Milan in the table, while Atalanta remain a point behind Juve.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Atalanta B.C. (@atalantabc)

     

    Both sides opened the game well but Atalanta had the first clear-cut chance in the 14th minute when a great ball from Oscar Ruggeri on the left found Zappacosta in the box and the full-back’s effort whistled wide of a post.

    A slow first half saw both sides have equal possession of the ball and Federico Chiesa was trying to create chances for Juve.

    The visitors then had a chance on the half-hour mark as a corner ball fell to Fagioli on the edge of the box, but Musso managed to push it away.

    Kean then tested Musso from distance, with the goalkeeper making a comfortable save to his right.

    Atalanta put pressure on the visitors early in the second-half as Ederson hit a teasing cross into the box but Zappacosta was unable to meet the ball and Juve were straight up the other end of the pitch as Chiesa had a powerful effort palmed away by Musso.

    The hosts were making good runs around the box but Juventus were able to counter the danger and they threatened again in the 69th minute from a corner.

    Sead Kolasinac’s flicked header was turned away by Manuel Locatelli at the back post before Ederson’s resulting overhead kick flew wide.

    Atalanta had an excellent opportunity in the 73rd minute when Muriel’s free-kick was curling towards the top corner, but Szczesny made a fantastic save, just getting his fingertips to the ball, and it deflected off the bar before being cleared away.

    They threatened again from a corner as Berat Djimsiti headed over the bar before Ederson’s low strike was blocked by the Juve defence.

    Atalanta nearly found the winner in the 88th minute when Muriel’s thumping shot was spilled by Szczesny into the path of Koopmeiners, but the Dutchman was unable to finish from the rebound.

    Koopmeiners had another opportunity to snatch three points for the hosts after finding space in the box but his shot blazed over the bar and Juventus defended well to hold on for a point.

  • That win goes down to the manager – Craig Dawson hails Gary O’Neil That win goes down to the manager – Craig Dawson hails Gary O’Neil

    Craig Dawson praised Wolves boss Gary O’Neil after their shock win over Manchester City.

    The defender kept Erling Haaland quiet as Wolves earned a battling 2-1 win at Molineux on Saturday.

    Hwang Hee-chan struck a second-half winner after Julian Alvarez had cancelled out Ruben Dias’ early own goal.

    O’Neil had come in for early criticism from supporters, especially after Tuesday’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat at Ipswich, but Dawson insisted the manager deserved all the plaudits from Saturday.

    He said: “A lot of credit has to go to the manager for getting us so organised, with the game plan, and getting us fully prepared for the match, which he has done for every single game. That win goes down to the manager.

    “It was a massive win and it was great to see this place bouncing.

    “It’s clear at times we were man to man and the players stuck to that task brilliantly and stuck to the game plan for the full duration of the game, which is great for the lads.

    “It was all about concentration and keeping focused and credit to the manager for preparing us, getting us organised, and today we stuck to the plan and managed to get the victory.”

    Defeat ended City’s flawless start to the Premier League season but they remain top, a point ahead of Tottenham and Arsenal – with a trip to the Emirates Stadium to come on Sunday.

    “We’re all a bit disappointed now of course. We should have done more I guess,” midfielder Oscar Bobb told the club’s official site.

    “We pushed for it and unfortunately didn’t get it. Leipzig (in the Champions League on Wednesday) is next, a big game ahead and then Arsenal. We’re only thinking forward.

    “It’s not the greatest feeling, losing. I just want to keep pushing for more.

    “It gives us the chance to prove that we’re still the best team, so we’re looking forward to it.”

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.