One other UEFA Champions League Gameweek has flown by, leaving us with some unpredictable outcomes and heroic performances.
On Tuesday (November 5), European champions Actual Madrid fell to a shock 3-1 defeat to AC Milan on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Manchester Metropolis additionally adopted swimsuit, shedding 4-1 to Sporting CP in Ruben Amorim’s remaining dwelling recreation earlier than formally taking cost of Man Utd. On an evening when two Goliaths fell, Liverpool prolonged its 100% run, claiming a thumping 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. PSV Eindhoven additionally booked an enormous victory, securing a 4-0 victory over Spanish outfit Girona.
On Wednesday (November 6), Barcelona stole headlines by claiming a mega 5-2 win over Crimson Star Belgrade. Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid additionally pulled off spectacular victories, beating Arsenal (1-0) and PSG (2-1), respectively.
With the Gameweek-defining outcomes out of the best way, we’ll now take a fast have a look at the highest 5 gamers who wowed us with their performances. Let’s start!
#5 Jules Kounde (Barcelona)
Versatile right-back Jules Kounde arguably performed his greatest recreation in a Barcelona shirt on Wednesday, claiming three assists to assist his crew to a 5-2 victory over Crimson Star Belgrade within the UEFA Champions League.
Following a good first half, the Frenchman actually got here alive within the second 45. Within the 53rd minute, Kounde dashed down the left flank and despatched it into the six-yard field, permitting Robert Lewandowski to faucet it dwelling. Two minutes later, he pulled the ball again for Raphinha on the sting of the field. The Brazilian calmly steered the ball into the bottom-right nook to make it 4-1 for Barca. Kounde accomplished his assists spree within the 76th minute, as soon as once more reducing again into the world, this time permitting Fermin Lopez to transform.
All through the sport, the 25-year-old additionally created 4 possibilities, made 4 recoveries, and performed three passes into the ultimate third.
#4 Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
PSV Eindhoven ran circles round La Liga facet Girona FC on Tuesday, bagging a 4-0 victory. Playmaker Malik Tillman was on the coronary heart of all of it, with him pulling the strings together with his glorious motion and tempo-dictating passes.
Sixteen minutes in, Tillman confirmed excellent consciousness to ship an extended throw-in, permitting Ryan Flamingo to steer it previous the goalkeeper. Within the thirty third minute, the USA Males’s Nationwide Workforce participant added a aim to his title, discovering the again of the web from a good angle. Tillman claimed his second help of the evening within the 83rd minute, enjoying a brief cross to Johan Bakayoko, who dribbled towards the sting of the penalty space earlier than discovering the again of the web with a wonderful left-footed effort.
Tillman additionally created essentially the most possibilities within the recreation (6), gained essentially the most duels (7), accomplished 46 passes with 84% accuracy, and made 5 recoveries.
#3 Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Serie A giants AC Milan piled on the stress on Actual Madrid on Tuesday evening, beating them 3-1 within the Spanish capital. Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata, and Tijjani Reijnders scored for the guests whereas Vinicius Jr. discovered the netting for the All-Whites. Though Actual Madrid have been nowhere close to their greatest, they created loads of goalscoring alternatives all through the evening. And had it not been for Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, the scoreline would have been rather a lot completely different.
The French goalkeeper made 9 saves towards Los Blancos, dealing with an xGOT of 1.87. His greatest save of the evening got here within the third minute of stoppage time, as he exhibited his cat-like reflexes to maintain out Brahim Diaz’s header. Wonderful saves apart, Maignan accomplished 22 passes, delivered six correct lengthy balls, and recorded 14 recoveries.
#2 Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Premier League heavyweights Liverpool claimed a commanding 4-0 victory over German champions Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 4. Luis Diaz, who was working in a extra central place, emerged because the star performer, scoring a panoramic hat-trick and deservedly taking the match ball dwelling.
Diaz broke the goalless stalemate within the 61st minute, latching on to Curtis Jones’ world-class by ball and beating the on-rushing goalkeeper with a chip. Two minutes later, Cody Gakpo scored the insurance coverage aim for the Reds, placing them firmly within the driving seat.
Liverpool and Diaz, nevertheless, weren’t fairly achieved but, with the Colombian scoring the third aim of the evening within the 83rd minute. He obtained Mohamed Salah’s cross on the far publish earlier than calmly slotting it into the again of the web. The 27-year-old sealed his hat-trick within the second minute of harm time, delivering Darwin Nunez’s rebound.
The hat-trick apart, Diaz created an opportunity, delivered three correct lengthy balls, and performed two passes into the ultimate third.
#1 Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP)
Sporting CP’s thumping 4-1 win over Manchester Metropolis was simply essentially the most surprising results of Matchday 4 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season. It was a collective effort for positive, however hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres has earned the appropriate to be singled out for reward.
Gyokeres scored his first aim within the thirty eighth minute, canceling out Phil Foden’s fourth-minute strike. He expertly saved Manuel Akanji at bay earlier than penetrating the world and making use of a cheeky end to beat Ederson. Gyokeres’ subsequent two objectives got here from the penalty spot. Within the forty ninth minute, he despatched Ederson the fallacious method earlier than slotting the ball into the bottom-right nook. Lastly, within the eightieth minute, Gyokeres accomplished his hat-trick, beating Ederson for tempo and sending the ball into the bottom-left nook.
The hat-trick took his aim tally to an astonishing 23 in simply 17 video games throughout competitions.
