LW Kvicha Kvaratshkelia (Napoli). An elegantly taken goal decorated a dazzling night against Ajax for the in-form young Georgian winger. He had provided the cross for the second goal of the rout before scoring the fifth - his eighth for club and country in a breakout season for the 21-year-old. Reuters
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK (4-3-3): GK Allan McGregor (Rangers). His team were largely outclassed at Liverpool but, without 40-year-old McGregor’s heroics, a 2-0 scoreline - both goals from well-struck dead balls - might have been five or six. His catalogue of saves included a brilliant denial of a Diogo Jota effort. PA
RB Reece James (Chelsea). Had some taxing moments against Rafael Leao in the emphatic win against AC Milan, but his drive and eye for opportunity soon came into its own. A James cross provided the second goal; a James rocket put the full-back on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win.
CB Antonio Silva (Benfica). The 18-year-old faced up to Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in what was only the eighth match of his senior career. The coveted centre-back passed the test with flying colours, with a mature, confident performance in the 1-1 draw with PSG. AFP
CB Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt). The Japanese veteran used all his positional guile to tame a formidable Tottenham Hotspur front three, was strong in the air, and showed an athleticism that belied his age: Hasebe will be 39 in January and can count the goalless draw with Spurs as proof of his endurance. AFP
LB Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund). A show-stealer of an opening goal put Dortmund on the front foot at Sevilla, and in a game - a 4-1 win for the German club - of energy but not always the highest individual quality, the Portuguese full-back provided some moments of class. AFP
RM Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan). Taking up a deeper than usual position against Barcelona, Calhanoglu showed that, however far from goal, he’s still a threat. Had tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen from huge distance before another long shot, precisely struck, gave Inter a crucial 1-0 win. AFP
CM Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa (Napoli). Another commanding, textbook midfield display from the Cameroon international. His two assists in the 6-1 victory at Ajax took him to three in three games in the Champions League. One of the stars of Napoli’s dazzling 2022-23 so far. AFP
LM Angel Di Maria (Juventus). Where would Juve be in the Champions League without Di Maria? They gained their first European points of a sluggish campaign thanks mostly to the Argentinian’s passes, Di Maria providing the coherent vision for an anxious team in the 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa. Getty
RW Ferran Jutgla (Bruges). The upstart Belgian club are the revelation of the competition. Their sturdy Spanish striker, signed from Barcelona, is making quite a name for himself. His second goal in the Champions League season, and his second assist, made it three wins out of three against Atletico Madrid. AFP
CF Erling Haaland (Man City). Two ways of stopping Erling Haaland scoring hat-tricks in every outing at the Etihad? Score an own goal before the ball reaches him. Or take him off at half-time. In his 45 minutes against Copenhagen, Haaland scored twice and would likely have had a third had David Khocholava not turned the ball past his own keeper. PA
LW Kvicha Kvaratshkelia (Napoli). An elegantly taken goal decorated a dazzling night against Ajax for the in-form young Georgian winger. He had provided the cross for the second goal of the rout before scoring the fifth - his eighth for club and country in a breakout season for the 21-year-old. Reuters
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK (4-3-3): GK Allan McGregor (Rangers). His team were largely outclassed at Liverpool but, without 40-year-old McGregor’s heroics, a 2-0 scoreline - both goals from well-struck dead balls - might have been five or six. His catalogue of saves included a brilliant denial of a Diogo Jota effort. PA
RB Reece James (Chelsea). Had some taxing moments against Rafael Leao in the emphatic win against AC Milan, but his drive and eye for opportunity soon came into its own. A James cross provided the second goal; a James rocket put the full-back on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win.
CB Antonio Silva (Benfica). The 18-year-old faced up to Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in what was only the eighth match of his senior career. The coveted centre-back passed the test with flying colours, with a mature, confident performance in the 1-1 draw with PSG. AFP
CB Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt). The Japanese veteran used all his positional guile to tame a formidable Tottenham Hotspur front three, was strong in the air, and showed an athleticism that belied his age: Hasebe will be 39 in January and can count the goalless draw with Spurs as proof of his endurance. AFP
LB Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund). A show-stealer of an opening goal put Dortmund on the front foot at Sevilla, and in a game - a 4-1 win for the German club - of energy but not always the highest individual quality, the Portuguese full-back provided some moments of class. AFP
RM Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan). Taking up a deeper than usual position against Barcelona, Calhanoglu showed that, however far from goal, he’s still a threat. Had tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen from huge distance before another long shot, precisely struck, gave Inter a crucial 1-0 win. AFP
CM Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa (Napoli). Another commanding, textbook midfield display from the Cameroon international. His two assists in the 6-1 victory at Ajax took him to three in three games in the Champions League. One of the stars of Napoli’s dazzling 2022-23 so far. AFP
LM Angel Di Maria (Juventus). Where would Juve be in the Champions League without Di Maria? They gained their first European points of a sluggish campaign thanks mostly to the Argentinian’s passes, Di Maria providing the coherent vision for an anxious team in the 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa. Getty
RW Ferran Jutgla (Bruges). The upstart Belgian club are the revelation of the competition. Their sturdy Spanish striker, signed from Barcelona, is making quite a name for himself. His second goal in the Champions League season, and his second assist, made it three wins out of three against Atletico Madrid. AFP
CF Erling Haaland (Man City). Two ways of stopping Erling Haaland scoring hat-tricks in every outing at the Etihad? Score an own goal before the ball reaches him. Or take him off at half-time. In his 45 minutes against Copenhagen, Haaland scored twice and would likely have had a third had David Khocholava not turned the ball past his own keeper. PA
LW Kvicha Kvaratshkelia (Napoli). An elegantly taken goal decorated a dazzling night against Ajax for the in-form young Georgian winger. He had provided the cross for the second goal of the rout before scoring the fifth - his eighth for club and country in a breakout season for the 21-year-old. Reuters
