The primary week of the brand new 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season is within the books, and boy oh boy was it an eventful one.
There have been record-breaking wins, shock defeats, all-time nice saves throughout the three days of Champions League soccer.
And in spite of everything of that enjoyable, this is 90min’s picks for the UEFA Champions League workforce of Gameweek 1.
Had David Raya not made arguably the best double save within the historical past of mankind, then Thibaut Courtois would’ve been on this workforce due to his nice efficiency vs Stuttgart.
Nevertheless, Raya did make arguably the best double save in historical past of mankind to disclaim Mateo Retegui on two events in fast succession, so he is made this workforce.
Joshua Kimmich has appeared like man re-born since Thomas Tuchel left Bayern Munich, and his resurgence continued within the Champions League this week.
The Germany worldwide was extraordinarily efficient alongside new right-sided accomplice Michael Olise towards Dinamo Zagreb, organising two of Bayern’s 9 objectives on the night time (sure, 9).
Actual Madrid’s Champions League conflict with Stuttgart was maybe a busier recreation than Antonio Rudiger was anticipating, however the defender rose to the problem.
From a defensive perspective, Rudiger was fairly impeccable – profitable 100% of his tackles and duels, and clearing his strains and spectacular six occasions.
From an offensive perspective, he was additionally fairly impeccable too – scoring a header within the 83rd minute, and finishing 91% of his passes.
Jose Gimenez scored probably the most essential objectives of Gameweek 1 of the 2024/25 Champions League.
With the scores locked degree between Atletico Madrid and a proficient RB Leipzig facet, the defender popped up on the again submit to go house a final minute winner.
Good one.
Bayer Leverkusen obtained their first Champions League marketing campaign below Xabi Alonso off to a flying begin this week away at Feyenoord, and a key purpose for that was Alex Grimaldo.
The Spain worldwide was in unbelievable type throughout the 4-0 victory, bagging a objective at one finish and profitable a whopping seven duels and 100% of his tackles on the different.
Contemplating the truth that Bayern Munich beat Dinamo Zagreb 9-2, it’s stunning that Jamal Musiala did not get on the scoresheet.
Regardless of the dearth of objectives nonetheless, Musiala nonetheless managed to make large contributions within the win. Essentially the most notable of which had been his two assists and the seven probabilities he created for his teammates. An actual playmaker’s efficiency from the teenager.
Celtic loved a well-known European night time at Parkhead on Tuesday night, recording their largest ever Champions League win by thumping Slovan Bratislava 5-1.
Key to that historic win was the efficiency of summer season signing Arne Engels. The younger Belgian ran the present in the course of the park, scoring one and creating one other within the victory.
He could also be 33 now, however Antoine Griezmann continues to be probably the most efficient attacking gamers in Europe.
The France star proved that after once more on Thursday, scoring an exquisite volleyed effort within the first half, after which discovering the pinnacle of Gimenez with a curling cross to arrange the winner for Atleti.
Sure, there’s a number of Bayern gamers on this workforce, however they did win 9-2 so…
New signing Michael Olise has taken to life in Bavaria like a duck to water, and continued to impress in midweek within the Champions League.
After scoring one within the weekend win over Holstein Kiel, Olise added to extra to his Bayern tally within the win over Zagreb.
It has been a banner few weeks for Harry Kane.
The ahead earned his one hundredth cap with England throughout the worldwide break, after which returned to membership motion to web two consecutive hat-tricks – the second of which, towards Zagreb, additionally noticed him break the all-time English goalscoring document within the Champions League.
All in, September has been good to Kane.
Contemplating how bloody sensible Florian Wirtz is, it got here as a shock that the conflict with Feyenoord was his first ever recreation within the Champions League.
He performed like somebody making up for misplaced time in his competitors debut too. The German netted two of Leverkusen’s 4 objectives on the day, proving himself to be greater than able to taking part in at this degree.
