In a list with a majority of teams playing a Back 4 , the ratings obtained by the Bayern players, despite the few minutes, suggest a positive performance from the use of a Back 5. It is also necessary to acknowledge the performance of Adama Traoré, Sheriff’s player who helped his team in their surprise victory against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu.
| Player | Rating | Defense | Minutes Played | Team |
| Joshua Kimmich | 8.89 | Back 5 | 270 | Bayern Munich |
| Leroy Sané | 8.80 | Back 4 | 525 | Bayern Munich |
| Marco Verratti | 8.78 | Back 4 | 430 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Antony | 8.45 | Back 4 | 574 | Ajax |
| Kingsley Coman | 8.45 | Back 4 | 374 | Bayern Munich |
| Lionel Messi | 8.28 | Back 4 | 450 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Jude Bellingham | 8.24 | Back 4 | 500 | Dortmund |
| Adama Traoré | 8.21 | Back 4 | 360 | Sheriff Tiraspol |
| Leroy Sané | 8.06 | Back 5 | 270 | Bayern Munich |
| Mateo Kovačić | 8.06 | Back 5 | 425 | Chelsea |
| Riyad Mahrez | 8.03 | Back 4 | 983 | Manchester City |
| Dušan Tadić | 8.02 | Back 4 | 630 | Ajax |
| Mohamed Salah | 8.00 | Back 4 | 1004 | Liverpool |
| Bruno Fernandes | 7.97 | Back 4 | 432 | Manchester United |
| Marcelo Brozović | 7.86 | Back 5 | 631 | Inter |
| Joshua Kimmich | 7.84 | Back 4 | 431 | Bayern Munich |
| Moumi Ngamaleu | 7.75 | Back 4 | 441 | Young Boys |
| Marco Reus | 7.65 | Back 4 | 497 | Dortmund |
| Rodri | 7.62 | Back 4 | 838 | Manchester City |
| Luka Modrić | 7.61 | Back 4 | 1073 | Real Madrid |
| Jorginho | 7.61 | Back 5 | 557 | Chelsea |
| Ryan Gravenberch | 7.60 | Back 4 | 702 | Ajax |
| Vinicius Júnior | 7.60 | Back 4 | 1193 | Real Madrid |
| N’Golo Kanté | 7.57 | Back 5 | 424 | Chelsea |
| Toni Kroos | 7.56 | Back 4 | 872 | Real Madrid |
| Casemiro | 7.50 | Back 4 | 910 | Real Madrid |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 7.35 | Back 4 | 730 | Manchester City |
| Luis Díaz | 7.35 | Back 4 | 376 | Liverpool |
| Bernardo Silva | 7.33 | Back 4 | 694 | Manchester City |
| Pedro Gonçalves | 7.33 | Back 5 | 327 | Sporting CP |
| Thiago Alcântara | 7.32 | Back 4 | 601 | Liverpool |
| Matheus Nunes | 7.30 | Back 5 | 508 | Sporting CP |
| Jack Grealish | 7.27 | Back 4 | 370 | Manchester City |
| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain | 7.26 | Back 4 | 294 | Liverpool |
| Remo Freuler | 7.25 | Back 5 | 524 | Atalanta |
| Wendel | 7.19 | Back 5 | 431 | Zenit |
| Manuel Locatelli | 7.15 | Back 4 | 382 | Juventus |
| Luis Díaz | 7.13 | Back 4 | 521 | Porto |
| Noa Lang | 7.13 | Back 4 | 360 | Club Brugge |
| Neymar | 7.09 | Back 4 | 379 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Scott McTominay | 7.08 | Back 4 | 311 | Manchester United |
| Rodrygo | 7.07 | Back 4 | 481 | Real Madrid |
| Jamal Musiala | 7.06 | Back 4 | 298 | Bayern Munich |
| Renato Sanches | 7.06 | Back 4 | 404 | Lille |
| Leon Goretzka | 7.05 | Back 4 | 376 | Bayern Munich |
| João Mário | 7.05 | Back 5 | 460 | Benfica |
| Fernando | 7.04 | Back 4 | 540 | Sevilla |
| Claudinho | 7.02 | Back 5 | 279 | Zenit |
Conditions for the presented data:
– Minimum minutes played in the competition: 270 minutes (equivalent to 3 full games) per type of defense played (Back 4 or Back 5);
– CL Qualifying Round data excluded;
Data from FBref.