On Saturday, the Champions League final should’ve been staged in Turkey.

To mark the non-occasion, theScore creates a lineup which features some of the most decorated and gifted footballers in history, except with one condition: they played in the Champions League but never won it.

The lineup

Champions League success can elude the very best.

These players count 48 national league titles, nine World Cup winners’ medals, and 1,204 international caps between them. At their peak, they would saunter into any side competing for Europe’s most prestigious competition in 2019-20.

GK: Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon has collected more league titles and international caps than anybody else in this XI. Now that he’s aged 42 and working as Wojciech Szczesny’s understudy at Juventus, the Italian legend may have to give up on his Champions League dream soon. Juventus were midway through their round of 16 tilt with Lyon before the competition was paused due to COVID-19.

RB: Lilian Thuram

The most-capped player in the history of the France men’s national team came close to Champions League glory when Juventus lost on penalties to AC Milan in the dull Manchester final of 2003. Thuram was an intelligent and strong right-back who played for leading clubs in France, Italy, and Spain. Today, his son Marcus is a regular in Borussia Monchengladbach’s attack.

CB: Fabio Cannavaro

Cannavaro reached the semifinals of the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2003, and that was his best finish despite continuing his association with the competition beyond his 36th birthday. The World Cup winner became just the third defender in history to win the Ballon d’Or after captaining Italy’s World Cup-winning squad in 2006.

CB: Laurent Blanc

Blanc replaced Jaap Stam at Manchester United in 2001 and soon came within sniffing distance of his first Champions League title. He scored twice in the second group stage and was a mainstay in the backline when United met Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001-02 semifinals. He couldn’t keep Oliver Neuville quiet, though, as the striker scored in each leg to send Leverkusen through.

LB: Gianluca Zambrotta

Zambrotta’s versatility was a huge asset; Marcello Lippi used him in a variety of roles during Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph. He was particularly impressive in the quarterfinals with Ukraine after he netted a long-range shot (from right-back), made a goal-line clearance, and logged an assist (from the left wing). He was a beaten Champions League finalist with Juventus in 2003.

DM: Patrick Vieira

Vieira was the brawn and heartbeat of Arsenal’s midfield, but he could also be a nimble-footed mover capable of releasing the likes of Robert Pires and Thierry Henry with snappy passes. In short, he was everything. Arsenal did reach the 2006 Champions League final but, sadly, Vieira had moved to Juventus nine months earlier.

MF: Lothar Matthaus

Matthaus was minutes from gleaning the 1998-99 Champions League crown with Bayern Munich when he was 38, but Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored for Manchester United in injury time. “I never had a worse feeling in football than that night in 1999,” Matthaus wrote years later. The icon was substituted before United grabbed their late goals to make it 2-1.

MF: Pavel Nedved

Nedved was mesmeric during the 2002-03 Champions League campaign, finishing level with Alessandro Del Piero as Juventus’ top scorer on five goals and posing a constant threat with his tenacity and two incredible feet. The Czech star couldn’t play in the final due to yellow-card accumulation and his absence was felt as Juventus lost a woeful contest to AC Milan.

AM: Roberto Baggio

When he was a teenager plying his trade in the third tier, Baggio suffered a knee injury that would’ve ended most careers in the mid-1980s. However, his artistry and vision still propelled him to the top of the game. He played for Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan, but is loved by the fans of each rival club. That helps explain what a special talent the 1993 Ballon d’Or winner was.

FW: George Weah

A growing section of the Liberian population isn’t convinced Weah can alleviate the nation’s economic woes in his role as president. Thankfully, there were fewer doubts about Weah as a footballer: He was sublime. He was an instinctive finisher but paired that with a knack of jinking and surging past opponents. He won the Ballon d’Or when he was on AC Milan’s books in 1995.

FW: Ronaldo

Ronaldo was an expert at rounding goalkeepers, combined power and trickery to devastating effect, and had a cockiness that made him an enthralling watch. But, despite his otherworldly gifts, he has fewer domestic titles than anybody else in this team. He was cup-tied when AC Milan conquered Europe in 2007 because he featured for Real Madrid earlier in the tournament.

The bench

In front of legendary English goalkeeper David Seaman is his former Arsenal teammate Sol Campbell and yet another Juventus stalwart in Giorgio Chiellini. Michael Ballack is the only midfielder on the bench because room had to be made for Gabriel Batistuta, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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We experienced our first losing Matchday since the Bundesliga returned, falling to 1-2 with our midweek article picks. However, after a profitable first two weeks, it’s hardly the end of the world.

Let’s bounce back on Matchday 29.

Eintracht Frankfurt (+260) at Wolfsburg (-105), Draw (+280)

In a 4-1 trouncing at Leverkusen in midweek, Wolfsburg bounced back from the Dortmund defeat in impressive fashion. Both of their victories since the restart have come on the road, but don’t expect the same sort of fireworks with the club back home on Saturday.

In 14 home matches this season, Wolfsburg have scored just 16 goals and conceded 15. Defensively, they have picked up right where they left off, impressing in tough tests against Dortmund and Leverkusen. A visit from Eintracht will feel like a walk in the park given their struggles away from home.

Eintracht have scored just 13 goals in their 13 away matches this season, including just seven in their last nine. They’re not suddenly going to come to life against a Wolfsburg side that’s incredibly stingy on home soil. Eintracht drew 1-1 at Volkswagen Arena last season and lost the reverse fixture 2-0 earlier this campaign. Expect another tense, low-scoring affair on Saturday.

Pick: Under 2.5, 3 (+102)

Werder Bremen (+190) at Schalke (+140), Draw (+240)

No club in the Bundesliga is in worse form at the moment than Schalke, who were ripped to pieces by rivals Dortmund in the first game back from the hiatus. Schalke followed that 4-0 loss up with a 3-0 defeat at home to Augsburg and a 2-1 loss at relegation-threatened Fortuna Dusseldorf, and have now scored just three goals in their last 10 games overall.

That doesn’t bode well for them against a hungry Bremen side that looks to be turning a corner with four points from their last two matches, as well as a pair of clean sheets. Bremen have been much better on their travels this season and the timing of this visit to Gelsenkirchen couldn’t be much better.

Bremen have won their last three visits to Veltins Arena and are a good bet to make it four on Saturday given the contrasting form of the two sides.

Pick: Bremen PK (+111)

Union Berlin (+500) at Borussia Monchengladbach (-200), Draw (+350)

Gladbach came flying out of the pause with a 3-1 win over Eintracht, but have since hit a snag, losing 3-1 to Leverkusen while being held to a goalless draw with Bremen in midweek. This is a get-right spot for Marco Rose’s side, who have been excellent on home soil this season. They’ve won nine of their last 12 at Borussia-Park, as well as eight in a row at home to clubs outside the top eight of the Bundesliga table.

Conversely, Union have struggled away from home this season, scoring just 14 goals in 14 contests. They’ve been especially bad when visiting clubs in the top eight, losing all six of those contests thus far by a combined 16-3. I have no issue laying -1 here to minimize the juice in what will be a straightforward Gladbach win.

Pick: Gladbach -1 (-108)

Full card:

• Eintracht/Wolfsburg under 2.5, 3 (+102)
• Werder Bremen PK (+111)
• Augsburg/Hertha Berlin over 2.5, 3 (+100)
• Hoffenheim/Mainz under 3 (+105)
• Gladbach -1 (-108)
• Dortmund/Paderborn over 3, 3.5 (-105)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

With most of the soccer calendar still on hold, theScore’s editors took the opportunity to take stock of the sport’s landscape. Gordon Brunt, Michael Chandler, Anthony Lopopolo, Gianluca Nesci, and Daniel Rouse participated in a fantasy mock draft with just one stipulation: Players had to be 30 or older to be eligible for selection.

Other mock drafts: Current Players | Legends XI | Under-21 XI

Round 1

Analysis: What, you were expecting something else off the top? Messi and Ronaldo were always going to be the first two players taken. This draft really got going at No. 3 overall, where Rouse tips Bayern Munich scoring machine Lewandowski as the best of the rest.

Round 2

Analysis: One thing became abundantly clear to each of our five managers as they compiled their draft research: Elite full-backs over the age of 30 are in extremely short supply. Nesci, Rouse, and Lopopolo all move quickly to solidify either the right- or left-back position.

Round 3

Analysis: Differing strategies are starting to take shape. After adding another attacker to his Messi-led squad in the second round, Chandler solidifies his backline with Real Madrid captain Ramos. With a right-back, two midfielders, and a forward also coming off the board, this is the most varied round of the early proceedings.

Round 4

Analysis: Brunt continues to load up on big-name, attack-minded stars, adding the versatile – and criminally underappreciated – Di Maria to a team already boasting Bale and Muller. Nesci’s subsequent selection of Silva triggers a brief run on creative midfielders.

Round 5

Analysis: Though both clubs have invested in some impressive young talent in recent years, Round 5 continues to highlight the veteran presence at both Juventus and Real Madrid. The two European heavyweights account for 11 of the 25 players chosen through five rounds.

Round 6

Analysis: It took until the sixth round, but a player from outside Europe’s traditional powers finally comes off the board; Gomez is the creative engine powering Atalanta’s high-octane attack. Chandler springs for Nacho, who has the critical ability to play multiple positions.

Round 7

Analysis: Goalkeeper alert! Chandler is the first to take the plunge by snapping up the 34-year-old Neuer, who recently extended his stay at Bayern Munich. Round 7 also features the first selection of a player who doesn’t ply his trade in Europe, as Brunt grabs well-traveled Brazilian icon Alves.

Round 8

Analysis: Round 8 is (almost) all about the defenders. After Matuidi kicks off the proceedings, three center-backs follow. Even Gueye, the ball-winning machine who has slotted nicely into PSG’s midfield, is a defensive-minded selection by Lopopolo.

Round 9

Analysis: Getting Immobile in the ninth round represents excellent value for Nesci. The Italian striker turned 30 in February and was enjoying a spectacular Serie A season with Lazio before the work stoppage, racking up a league-leading 27 goals in 26 appearances.

Round 10

Analysis: Unsurprisingly, just about everybody has waited until the final two rounds to address goalkeeping. Chandler, who made the early move for Neuer, is the only one already set between the sticks. Free to look elsewhere, he opts for the elder of the Bender twins.

Round 11

Analysis: The final round is usually for plugging a hole and rounding out your lineup, not finding a potential headliner for your squad. Don’t tell that to Lopopolo, who’s only gone and knocked it out of the park by stealing Suarez at the last.

Not Selected

Who was the most egregious snub? Have your say in the comments.

Remember when we said there was a severe shortage of quality full-backs in this draft class? That was decidedly not the case when it came to the forwards. Gonzalo Higuain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Dries Mertens, Edinson Cavani, Jamie Vardy, Diego Costa, Edin Dzeko, Olivier Giroud, and Carlos Vela were all left on the board.

Considering the spectacular season he was putting together at Atalanta, Josip Ilicic would also feel aggrieved not to have been selected – hypothetically, of course. Alexis Sanchez, Fernandinho, David Luiz, and Gianluigi Buffon are also high-profile omissions.

The Teams

Team Chandler

Arsenal star Aubameyang leads the line for a side boasting a variety of creative playmakers. The central defensive duo is rock solid and can play a high line and press up the field thanks to the presence of Neuer. Of course, when all else fails, Chandler has the Messi trump card to get out of trouble.

Team Lopopolo

This team is both balanced and explosive. Ronaldo and Suarez together up front is truly unfair. Seriously, how did everybody else let that happen? The midfield – outside of suave playmaker Ozil – is more combative than creative, but the ultra-attacking presence of Marcelo bombing up the left flank helps compensate for some of that.

Team Rouse

Team Rouse has a strong Balkan presence across the midfield, with Perisic keeping the theme going up front. Throw in some Brazilian flair on the other wing and arguably the most prolific striker alive today, and you’re looking at an impressive front six. The defense is perhaps not as flashy as some others, but it’s solid.

Team Nesci

Immobile and Aguero form a daunting partnership up front, while a crafty midfield spearheaded by the wizardry of Gomez will create plenty of scoring chances for both. The full-backs, too, are excellent attacking outlets. Bonucci and Hummels, though not particularly fleet of foot, will kick-start plenty of moves with their passing ability out of the backline.

Team Brunt

Team Brunt has an excellent complement of pace, creativity, and work rate across the pitch, while Muller is one of the game’s true wild cards thanks to his ability to drift about and find pockets as space appears. Kroos is going to love picking out passes from midfield in this lineup, especially as he seeks out a pair of club teammates.

Have Your Say

Vote for your favorite team below, and sound off in the comments!