APOEL Nicosia defender Carlão has been named in UEFA.com’s team of the week.
The 28 year-old – full name Carlos Roberto da Cruz Júnior – played a prominent role in blocking out Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi, countryman Neymar and Munir El Haddadi, as APOEL left Camp Nou with a respectable, if ultimately disappointing, 1-0 defeat.
Carlão ended his eight year association with Sochaux to join APOEL on a free transfer in July. The loss to Barcelona was a first in five appearances for the São Paulo native, who seems to have settled quickly in Cyprus.
APOEL will now look to their second UEFA Champions League match to secure a first win.
Giorgos Donis’ side host Ajax next at GSP Stadium on Tuesday 30 September, before travelling to France to face Paris Saint-Germain in late October.
UEFA.com’s team of the week: Davy Roef (Anderlecht); Jérôme Boateng (Bayern Munich), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Carlão (APOEL Nicosia), Alberto Moreno (Liverpool); Kevin Großkreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Yacine Brahimi (Porto), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid); Gervinho (Roma), Alejandro Domínguez (Olympiacos), Carlos Tévez (Juventus)
UEFA.com’s team of the week is voted for by UEFA.com’s reporters