UEFA Champions League round two delivered some interesting displays as individuals, some of whom are well-known and some others making their names heard on the big stage for the first time, turned up for their respective clubs under the floodlights in Europe's biggest club competitions.

From attackers banging in the goals and goalkeeper making their presence felt between the sticks, leaving a lasting impact on their respective matches, we take a look at the most standout performers.

Top Performers of the UEFA Champions League round two 

Abdallah Sima of Stade de Brestois

The Senegalese wingers scored a brace in Brest's 4-0 away win over RB Salzburg on Tuesday, taking his goal tally in the competition this season to three following his second-half winner last time out against Sturm Graz.

Sima, 23, who played 75 minutes before his withdrawal 15 minutes from the end of normal time, also won the most duels in the game, 11. He was a constant threat for the opposition all through in the Red Bull Arena in Austria.

Marco Bizot of Stade de Brestois

Another man who stared in the match is Dutchman goalkeeper, Marco Bizot, who was not to be beaten despite conceding an xG of 2.93.

The 39-year-old made seven saves to deny the host, six of which were from shots taken inside the penalty area. An overall impressive display between the sticks to leave the stadium with a clean sheet.

Peter Vindahl Jensen of Sparta Prague

Sparta Prague went into the Lion's den in Germany when they took on a Stuttgart side, fresh from scoring five against Dortmund in their last game at the MHP Arena.

Sebastian Hoeness' side have scored 12 times in three home games this season before playing host to their Czech opponent in the UEFA Champions League. It finished 1-1 but they never failed to threaten an unslaught.

The visitors' goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen was put to a lot of test but stood up to every task aside an Enzo Millot's header seven minutes into the game. Sparta Prague found their equalizer through a sensational free-kick from Kaan Kairinen two minutes after the half-hour mark.

Jensen would go on to deny Stuttgart for the reminder of the game, making nine saves and conceding just once from an cG of 2.09. Impressive performance from the 26-year-old Dane.

Raphinha of Barcelona 

The Brazilian continues to impress for Barcelona this season as he was against at the heart of things to help Hansi Flick side return to winning ways and pick up their first UEFA Champions League win of the season against Young Boys.

With one goal and an assist in the 5-0 win, the 27-year-old was named the official player of the match, beating teammate Robert Lewandowski, who scored a brace before being withdrawn in the 74th minute.

Raphinha played full match and added other impressive statistics, which includes dribbles, while he also created six chances, the most of any other player in the match.

Another honorable mention from the match is Inigo Martinez. The Spanish center back scored one and assisted one, while also playing a pivotal part in keeping a clean sheet.

Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund

The only player to score a hat-trick in round two, Karim Adeyemi became the first German to reach ten UEFA Champions League goals before turning 23.

He completed his hat-trick in 31 minutes, between the 11th and 42nd minute in a 7-1 win for Borussia Dortmund against Glasgow giants, Celtic, on Tuesday night.

Aside the goals, the 22-year-old also won won a penalty for the opening goal, won 100 percent of his attempted tackles, completed two of three dribbles and won six of eight duels, making him a top contender for the UEFA Champions League player of the round.

Adeyemi has now been directly involved in eight Dortmund goals after eight games season, already more than seven in 34 games last season.

 

Mehdi Taremi of Inter Milan

Another player involved in three goals in round two, Mehdi Taremi finally got his first start for the club since August, and he marked it with a player of the match display to help Simone Inzaghi side make easy work of their opponent, Red Star Belgrade.

After Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring from a free-kick, Taremi assisted the two next goals, one for Marko Arnatovic after stealing the ball off a defender, and the other to Lautaro Martinez, after again dispossessing another defender.

He was rewarded with a prize for his hard work in the 81st minute, when given the chance to take a penalty won by Lautaro Martinez, which he converted to make it 4-0 Inter.

Iranian, named player of the match, has now scored in each of his five seasons played in the UEFA Champions League, taking his goal tally in the competition to eleven.

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal 

Even though it was Kai Havertz that won the player of the match award, scoring Arsenal's first UEFA Champions League free-kick goal in 22 years is some feat, even so for a player who is not known for scoring or taking direct free-kicks.

Bukayo Saka scored the second goal, which sealed the 2-0 over PSG Paris Saint-German in the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. He also completed the most dribbles in the match, and won ten duels.

He has now been directly involved in nine UEFA Champions League goals since his debut on the competition, only three players, Phil Foden, Vinicius Júnior and Harry Kane has more in that period. He has also scored in all but one game in the Emirates in the competition.

Phil Foden of Manchester City

Phil Foden has had a tough start to the season but on Tuesday, reminded everyone just how good he is with a player of the match display in Slovakia as The Cityzen took their host apart in a 4-0 win.

The 24-year-old made it 2-0 to the visitors in the 15th minute, seven after Ilkay Gundogan had fired them into an eighth minute lead, with Doku playing a substantial role in both goals.

Four minutes before his withdrawal in the 78th minute, Phil Foden assisted City's fourth, setting up James McAtee with a dinking pass. He has now been directly involved in ten goals in the competition since the start of last season, only Harry Kane has more.

Top star on the night against Slovan Bratislava in what was his first start of the season. Manchester City fans can now look forward to seeing more of their own in future games.

Ademola Lookman of Atalanta

Ademola Lookman is making his coronation as CAF Men's Player of the Year 2024 inevitable. The Nigerian was by miles the best player in Donesk on Wednesday night as Atalanta thrashed their host 3-0.

The 27-year-old set up Berat Djimsiti for the opener and got on the score sheet himself just before the interval. He in the process scored his first-ever goal in the competition and became only the second player to score and assist in a single Champions League game for Atalanta, after Duvan Zapata.

Raoul Bellanova scored three minutes after the restart to make it 3-0 as Lookman was withdrawn on the hour mark, to keep him fresh for league game this weekend.

Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa 

Jhon Duran might have been awarded the official player of the match award for scoring that sensational winner but it takes something spectacular to keep Bayern Munich from scoring, and Martinez had that on the night.

The Argentine was unbeatable between the sticks, as Vincent Kompany's side, who had scored in every game this season fired blank, despite attempting seven shots on target on the night.

Emiliano Martinez stood up to the test and finished the match with a clean sheet. His performance saw him keep his second clean sheet of the UEFA Champions League season, and help Villa secure a very important win against a top opposition.

Alexander Bah of Benfica 

Benfica secured a shocking yet impressive 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. And even though it was midfielder Orkun Kokcu who picked up the player of the match award, Danish right-back Alexander Bah was impeccable all through.

The defender rises highest to plant his header from a corner into the back of the net for 3-0 in the 75th minute after Akturkoglu and Di Maria had scored, and before another penalty from Kokcu completed the route.

Bah also completed two dribbles, won four tackles and four aerial duels, all with a 100 percent competition rate. The 26-year-old also won six ground duels and created one chance for Benfica during his 86 minutes in the pitch.

Martin Baturina of Dinamo Zagreb

After a humiliating defeat in the hands of a domineering Bayern Munich in round one, Dinamo Zagreb needed a response and 21-year-old Martin Baturina was on hand to aid their cause.

The young midfielder assisted Petar Sucic for the opener in the added minute of first-half and scored a sensational curling strike to double their advantage six minutes after the hour mark.

Unfortunately, the team could not see out the win as AS Monaco scored two goals before the end of the game as it finished all square in the Maksimir Stadium, but Baturina did worked margic in his 75 minutes in the pitch.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool 

Whoelse if not the energetic Egytian, who was at the heart of everything good that made the reds not walk alone against their visitors from Italy.

Liverpool went ahead on the night as a pinpointed cross from the former Roma man was met by Alexis Mac Allister, who scored his first-ever Champions League goal in the process, and Salah grabbed a first assist in the competition this season.

The 32-year-old doubled the reds lead 15 minute from time with a trademark finish, and in the process overtakes Didier Drogba and becomes the highest scoring African in UEFA Champions League history with his 45th strike.

Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus

It looked as though Benjamin Sesko was running away with the crown in the battle of the strikers but Vlahovic did not back down, even after Juventus went a man down following the red card to goalkeeper, Michele Di Gregorio.

The Serbian fired Juventus level five minutes after the restart, canceling out Sesko's opener on the half-hour mark. Sesko converted from the spot to restore Leipzig's lead but Vlahovic again draw the Bianconerri level almost immediately.

Chico Conceicao eventually had the final say for 10-man Juventus, scoring a sensational winner but it was Dusan Vlahovic who eeally made that possible, hence the best player in the pitch as well as the official player of the match.

The 24-year-old was also nominated, alongside Karim Adeyemi, Mehdi Taremi and Abdallah Sima for the player of the week award.

Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge

The winger produced the lone goal of the match to earn Club Brugge a vital win over Sturm Graz. The 22-year-old Greece international continues to prove a bargain for the Belgian side having completed a €6.5 million move from Fortuna Duesseldorf in the summer.

Lucas Chevalier of Lille

The French club secured a massive win over defending champions Real Madrid on Wednesday night and it was the display of their 22-year-old goalkeeper that made Jonathan David's penalty enough for the three points. 

The Frenchman made five saves to deny Los Blancos, from five big chances created by the 15-time winners. He was unbeatable, and so was Lille on the night.

Quinten Timber of Feyenoord 

The Dutchman was lively all through the game to ensure his side came out on top in their trip to Girona. His deflected header led to the Yangel Herrera own goal to open the scoring on the night.

Timber also won a penalty, which was unfortunately missed by Ayase Ueda. He won ten duels on the night, the most in the Montilivi stadium as the visitors won 3-2.

UCL Player of the Week

Karim Adeyemi, who was the only hat-trick scorer in the week is the outright favourite to claim the award ahead of other nominees Dusan Vlahovic, Mehdi Taremi and Abdallah Sima.