The UEFA Champions League round six brought the firepower as top players turn up for their respective clubs, although such privilege was not extended to English Premier League winners, Manchester City.

We take a look at the most standout performers of the round, from Bukayo Saka and his impressive run in the Emirates to Antoine Griezmann, Achraf Hakimi and Fabian Rieders.

Ademola Lookman – Atalanta 2-3 Real Madrid

Ademola Lookman was again the star under the floodlights in Bergamo despite Atalanta suffering a first defeat of the UEFA Champions League season in the hands of defending champions, Real Madrid.

A few days after the CAF Player of the Year front-runner scored a late winner and claimed the player of the match award against Milan, he was again at his best against the greatest football club of all-time.

Lookman was lively throughout the encounter. His tidiness in possession was trouble for the Real Madrid defenders and with his playmaking, he created two chances, including one big chance to Mateo Retegui to level the game with the final action of the contest, which was unfortunately missed by the Italian.

Lookman did score to make it 3-2 after second-half goals from Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham had given the visitors a two-goal cushion. His goal ensured an interesting finale to proceedings.

• 1 goal
• 2 chances created
• 1 big chance created
• 10 touches in opposition box
• 5 duels won
• 2 recoveries

The Nigerian was awarded the player of the match award by UEFA observers, his second in the competition this season after winning in Matchday two in the victory away to Shakhtar Donesk earlier in October.

Nordi Mukiele – Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Inter

Inter had not concede a goal in the ongoing UEFA Champions League group phase before their trip to the BayArena to face reigning German Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen.

The visitors were also on a run of 13 games unbeaten since losing 2-1 to Milan in the derby back in September, which was the only time they’ve tasted defeat ahead of kick and were looking to leave it that way take a huge step towards earning an automatic ticket into the round 16.

However, it was the host, who has had just a win in the previous three UEFA Champion League matchdays that showed more intent, and the Xabi Alonso’s charge dominated the contest right from kickoff.

After 90 minutes of which they have been second best by some distance, it looked as though it was yet their lucky day to make away with a point until French defender Nordi Mukiele fired the host in font with a deserved lead, though against the run of play.

• 11 final third passes
• 4 clearances
• 3 recoveries
• 2 interception
• 4 duels won
• 100% tackles won

Mukiele, who also put in a solid defensive performance was named the official player of the match by observers having secured all three points which moves Leverkusen to 13 point, literally ensuring that the German at least make it to the playoff rounds.

Michael Olise – Shakhtar Donesk 1-5 Bayern Munich

Michael Olise was at the heart of things as the Bavarians ensured their traveling fans were treated to a spectacle in Gelsenkirchen, even in the absence of their talisman, Harry Kane.

The Frenchman teed up Konrad Laimer to restore parity, six minutes after falling behind in the fifth-minute. He then scored from the spot to help extend Bayern’s lead to two goals 20 minutes from time

He then finished off the opposition with a sensational solo run in the third minute of added time to make 5-1 and help Bayern to their third straight win of the UEFA Champions League group phase, moving them to 12 points.

• 2 goals
• 1 assist
• 2 chances created
• 1 big chance created
• 6 dribbles completed
• 11 duels won
• 3 fouls won

Olise, a strong contender for the player of the week has now garnered a total of five goal contribution in his debut campaign in the competition, while his overall goal involvement for Bayern Munich has reached an impressive 15 after 21 games.

Bukayo Saka – Arsenal 3-0 AS Monaco

Arsenal were in dire need of a win not only to boost their chances of earning an automatic slot to the round of 16 but also to restore belief following the disappointing draw at Fulham during the weekend.

It wasn’t getting any easier to Mikel Arteta’s charge as key players like Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori continue to miss out due to injuries, but on the night against Monaco, the available players proved more than capable to get the job done.

Few minutes after Gabriel Jesus squandered a couple of opportunities to put the host ahead, he teed up Bukayo Saka to open the scoring four minutes after the half-hour, following a stunning through ball from youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Saka, who had scored inn all but one of his seven UEFA Champions League games in the Emirates continued his impressive form in the Arsenal home ground with his third goal in the competition this season.

Both Martin Odeegaard and Gabriel Martinelli also missed glorious chances as the Gunners faied to add to their one-goal lead at half-time, while the visitors also struggle to get a sniff at David Raya in the Arsenal goal.

The introduction of Kai Havertz paid great dividends as five minutes after coming on, the German charged down goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki, forcing him to clear the ball into the path of Bukayo Saka, who bent one over the goalkeeper for his second of the night, as well as his first-ever UEFA Champions League brace.

The 23-year-old must have thought he scred his firstever Arsenal hattrick two minutes from time but his hot took a touch off Kai Havertz, who get the credited for the goal while Saka gets the assist.

• 2 goals
• 3 key passes
• 1 big chance created
• 1 assist
• 3 interceptions
• 7 recoveries

Bukayo Saka has now registered six goal involvement in the competition this season, two behind his total of eight last season, while his overall goal involvement for Arsenal this season reaches 21 from as many games.

Official player of the match named by UEFA observers, Saka is also a strong contender for the player of the week.

Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid 3-1 Slovan Bratislava

The Frenchman continued his fine form at sees Diego Simeone’s charge get their tenth straight win across all competition, their best run since a run of 14 straight wins between August and October 2012.

Griezmann, who had scored in all of his previous four games scored again to double the host’s advantage three minutes to the end the first-half, heading home a Marcos Llorente cross to continue his impressive run of form.

The 33-year-old was on hand again to help restore Atleti’s to-goal cushion three minutes before the hour mark, firing his shot through Takac to make it 3-1, ensuring Atletico win again, to finally put behind themselves their poor start to the group phase with a third straight win.

Grizzou becomes one of the 20players to reach 40 UEFA Champions League goals, adding one more to make his 41, including 14assists to make 55 goal contributions in the competition.

Fabian Rieder – Stuttgart 5-1 Young Boys

The Swiss winger achieved the peak of his playmaking prowess by assisting three of the Bundesliga side’s goal as they come from behind to humble the visitors, his former club, in the MHP Arena.

The 22-year-old, who got his first ever UEFA Champions League goal involvement for Young Boys in 2021, teed up Enzo Millot to fire the host into the lead eight minutes after the restart, completing a comeback after they had gone 1-0 down in the sixth minute.

He registered his second assist of the night on the hour mark, setting up Chris Fuhrich and 15 minutes to the end of the contest, the Rennes loanee assisted the final goal to make it 5-1, securing Sebastian Hoeness' charge only their second win in the competition this season, their first since a 1-0 win over Juventus in round 3.

• 4 chances created
• 2 successful dribbles
• 7 duels won

It was an incredible performance from Rieder, who becomes the first Swiss to assist three UEFA Champions League in a single game, while he takes his goal contributions to seven for Stuttgart, six of which have come in the form of assists.

Achraf Hakimi – RB Salzburg 0-3 PSG

An outstanding performance from the rightback, who assisted two of the Ligue 1 championsʼ three goals as they blew away their host the Red Bull Arena in Wals-Siezehmein, Austria.

After a run of four without a win in the competition, Les Parisiens were desperate to return to winning ways in a bid to salvage their status as the judgment rounds approach.

Hakimi helped to break the deadlock on the half hour mark, heading a Bradley Barcolaʼs cross across goal and was guided into the back of the net by Goncalo Ramos, who scored his first of the competition this season in the process.

The Moroccan set up Desire Doue for the visitors’ final goal of the night, intelligently sending his cutback pass to the winger in an inviting position to make it 3-0.

• 4 chances created
• 3 key passes
• 7 final third passes
• 9 recoveries

Hakimi now has 15 goal contributions in the UEFA Champions League, while his productivity for the season reaches nine across all competitions.

Player of the Week

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal is our ultimate player of the week of the UEFA Champions League round six. The winger’s contributions sends Arsenal third on the standing, while no player was more productive during the week