Our Champions League Crew of the Week for matchday two, as Aston Villa have a good time a press release win, Liverpool and Juventus keep excellent begins, and Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund rack up big scores.
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
Refused to be crushed as Aston Villa upset Bayern Munich 1-0 in a rematch of the 1982 ultimate. Villa’s first residence recreation in Europe’s high competitors because the eighties led to an enormous end result with Martinez a central a part of their triumph. After sensible saves from Michael Olise and Konrad Laimer within the first half, he denied Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane late on with unbelievable stops.
BEST. IN. THE. WORLD. pic.twitter.com/rtdsX7xaNQ
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 2, 2024
Proper-back: Rico Lewis – Manchester Metropolis
Rico Lewis began at right-back for Manchester Metropolis however showcased his tactical intelligence by spending most of his minutes in midfield. {The teenager} drove ahead in possession and recorded the help for Erling Haaland’s purpose with a wonderful cross in behind. It’s getting more durable to see how Pep Guardiola leaves the academy product out of the aspect.
Centre-back: Filip Panak – Sparta Prague
After a man-of-the-match efficiency in Sparta Prague’s matchday one win, Filip Panak stood robust in Stuttgart to assist the Czech champions to a different spectacular end result. The centre-back made eight clearances and gained 100% of his aerial duels (5/5) towards the Bundesliga aspect, as Sparta held agency to earn a 1-1 draw.
It’s an unimaginable story for Panak, who was sidelined for greater than 800 days resulting from a knee harm between 2018 and 2022. Throughout that point, issues together with his liver and kidneys after surgical procedures left the defender preventing for his life. He’ll be cherishing each second of this marketing campaign.
Centre-back: Pau Torres – Aston Villa
After the frustration of seeing a first-half purpose dominated out, Pau Torres was celebrating at full-time as Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich. The Spaniard shut down the specter of Harry Kane and created the profitable purpose with a splitting cross in behind for Jhon Duran – an distinctive efficiency from one of many few Aston Villa gamers with expertise at this stage.
Pau Torres vs Bayern Munich
86% passing accuracy
1 help
1 likelihood created
55 touches
2 passes into ultimate third
2 correct lengthy balls
100% tackles gained (4/4 most)
3 blocks
4 clearances
2 headed clearances
4 recoveries
100% floor duels gained (4/4)
Monster efficiency.#AVFC pic.twitter.com/gGv3FBnJ4y
— Aston Villa Statto (@AVFCStatto) October 2, 2024
Left-back: Alvaro Carreras – Benfica
Benfica produced one of many outcomes of matchday two after thrashing Atletico Madrid in Lisbon. The Portuguese aspect ran riot to win 4-0 at The Estádio da Luz towards an Atleti aspect who’ve typically been famed for his or her defensive energy beneath Diego Simeone.
Alvaro Carreras was an attention-grabbing performer at left-back. The 21-year-old, who signed from Manchester United in the summertime, gained 100% of his floor duels (8/8), accomplished 100% of his dribbles (4/4), made 4 interceptions and created a goalscoring likelihood on path to a clear sheet.
Midfield: Pedri – Barcelona
Again to his finest in Barcelona’s huge win over Younger Boys. Within the week that it was revealed Andres Iniesta is ready for retirement, the person billed as his successor did his finest impression of the Barcelona nice. So calm beneath strain and stylish with each contact, Pedri broke traces together with his passing to make issues occur for Hansi Flick’s aspect.
He accomplished 6/7 lengthy balls, gained 6/7 floor duels, registered an help and accomplished 92.5% of his passes. Stats solely paint half the image, nonetheless, with Pedri a participant for which numbers don’t do him justice. An amazing watch.
Midfield: Raphinha – Barcelona
Barcelona’s chief creator continued his excellent begin to the season. The Spanish league leaders thrashed Younger Boys 5-0 with Raphinha the architect of a number of attacking strikes from a central function. Carrying the captain’s armband, he created the opener for Robert Lewandowski and scored the second, ending the competition with seven possibilities created.
Raphinha’s recreation by numbers vs. Younger Boys:
Most possibilities created (6)
Most photographs (6)
3/3 tackles gained
2 interceptions
1 purpose
1 help
Taking part in one of the best soccer of his profession beneath Flick. © pic.twitter.com/3FxAz5YZbY
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 1, 2024
Considered one of Europe’s most in-form gamers proper now.
Proper-wing: Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
It’s actually time Liverpool obtained this contract scenario sorted…
One other recreation, one other efficiency oozing with attacking high quality from Mohamed Salah. An exquisite early cross gave Alexis Mac Allister the simplest of duties to open the scoring towards Bologna earlier than Salah sealed the win with a trademark purpose. Chopping inside, he bent a magnificence into the far nook to lift the roof at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah is the primary participant in Liverpool’s historical past to attain in 5 consecutive Champions League/European Cup residence video games.
◉ vs. Ajax
◉ vs. Rangers
◉ vs. Napoli
◉ vs. Actual Madrid
◉ vs. Bologna
One other document for the Egyptian King. #UCL pic.twitter.com/nHs0Hj8Hz4
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 2, 2024
Left-wing: Karim Adeyemi – Borussia Dortmund
Completely electrical. A primary-half hat-trick for Karim Adeyemi as Borussia Dortmund dismantled Celtic on the Westfalenstadion.
Final season’s runners-up have been too good for the Scottish champions, racing right into a 5-1 lead on the interval with Adeyemi serving to himself to 3 objectives. Celtic have been unable to take care of the German’s tempo and can have been relieved to see Adeyemi withdrawn with harm after solely 48 minutes.
An elite first-half hat-trick from Karim Adeyemi #UCL pic.twitter.com/zDAvquXPMv
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 2, 2024
Ahead: Kai Havertz – Arsenal
Continues to reply his critics as Arsenal’s centre-forward. The Kai Havertz experiment continues to bear fruit for Mikel Arteta with the German delivering on the massive stage this week. The conflict with Paris Saint-Germain was dubbed a litmus check for Arsenal’s Champions League credentials and it was one handed with flying colors.
Havertz opened the scoring with a well-timed run and courageous header and brought about issues all night for the guests. His motion and presence open up alternatives for these round him.
Ahead: Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus
Juventus have most factors from two video games after profitable a see-sawing recreation with RB Leipzig. Thiago Motta’s crew went right down to 10 males and trailed 2-1 earlier than turning the sport spherical, with Vlahovic main the cost.
Dušan Vlahović is COOKING for Juventus this season pic.twitter.com/guLw6WY3lP
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) October 2, 2024
He scored Juventus’ first of the evening with traditional centre-forward play, getting throughout his marker to steer residence Andrea Cambiaso’s cross. His second was a factor of magnificence, fired into the highest nook after Juventus gained again possession excessive up the pitch. A nice show from the Serbian.
Learn – The longest unbeaten runs in Champions League historical past
See extra – Brendan Rodgers and Celtic prolong undesirable Champions League document
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