A thrilling UEFA Champions League round came to an end on Wednesday night, and as many would prefer to have the memories of the nights linger for ages, others will have it far removed from memory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goals, and a few shutouts, but overall, it was definitely far less predictable — giants were slayed, favorites were pegged back and minors defied the odds.

From comeback kings Madrid, inspired by Vinicius Junior, to a vengeful Barcelona, led by Raphinha, we take a look at the players that shone brighter than others in the fixtures of the UEFA Champions League round three.

Tijjani Reijnders of Milan vs. Club Brugge

Having lost in each of their opening two games in the competition this season, the Rossonerri headed into the early kickoff on Tuesday looking for their first points so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were the favorite but it was not a textbook victory as the visitors from Belgium stood their ground until they were reduced to ten men with the score level at 1-1 after substitute Kyriani Sabbe canceled out Christian Pulisic's first half opener six minutes after the restart.

Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders then stepped up for Milan, scoring the two goals to help them to a 3-1 win. Those were his first-ever goals in the competition and they saw him emerge as the best player in San Siro on the night.

Takumi Minamino of Monaco vs. Red Star Belgrade 

The French side were the favorite heading into the game and Japanese attacker Takumi Minamino ensured there's no swaying from the expected outcome as he inspired Adolf Hutter's side to an impressive 5-1 win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 29-year-old opened the scoring in the 20th minute and added Monaco's fourth 20 minutes from time. Deep in injury time, the former Liverpool man set up Maghnes Akliouche for the fifth goal to seal a comfortable 5-1 win.

It was continuity to what has been an amazing season for Minamino, who is one of Monaco's top players that have them level on points with PSG at the top of the Ligue 1 standing, as well as fourth in the UEFA Champions League, while maintaining unbeaten status in both competitions.

Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donesk 

Although the Gunners did get away with an all-important three points, it was an underwhelming performance by the standard. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mikel Arteta's men continued to struggle in the absence of Bukayo Saka but Gabriel Martinelli did came up with the decisive moment, thanks to the help of the visitors' goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, resulting in an own goal, the difference in the Emirates on the night.

Gabriel Martinelli was joy on the night with his playmaking, dribbles and success in duels - the Brazilian stood out as the star of the night.

Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa vs. Bologna

Jhon Duran was crowned the official player of the match but there was no denying Morgan Rogers was Aston Villa's knight in shining armor on the night.

The English midfielder created four chances, including one for the only open play goal scored by Duran. Rogers completed the enter 90 in the Villa Park working tirednessly. He completed seven dribbles, one of the most in matchday three.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miguel Gutierrez of Girona vs. Slovan Bratislava 

The Real Madrid alumnus had an eventful evening in Montilivi as Girona secured their first-ever UEFA Champions League win and as well their first-ever clean sheet in the competition.

After the disastrous ending to to their first two games, Michel's side headed into their third on a run of one win in eight. However, they were the more optimistic of the two as their opponent has had a worse run in the competition.

Nine goals conceded in two games for the Slovakian champions, and despite the meeting with Girona being one of the kindest they'll get, they were not just good enough.

Miguel Gutierrez was Girona's inspiration on the night. The defender scored the opening goal just at the right time, three minutes to the end of the first-half while Juanpe added a second from a direct free-kick in the second-half to seal the result.

Gutierrez was also acknowledged as the official player of the match as it was obvious there was none better than the 23-year-old in the clash.

Mattia Perin of Juventus vs. Stuttgart 

The Bianconerri fell to their first defeat in the competition this season but there can be no faulting the performance of their goalkeeper Mattia Perin between the sticks.

Before he was eventually beaten by substitute El Bilal Toure in the second minute of added time, the Italian faced an expected goal of more than 2.0 yet denied the visitors a breakthrough.

Perin also saved a penalty from Enzo Milot to keep 10-man Juventus in the game following the dismissal of Gleison Bremer and overall let in one goal from an expected goal of 3.06 faced in the hands of Stuttgart.

He was also recognized by UEFA as the official player of the match despite the loss, making him the only winner of the award from a losing team in matchday.

Achraf Hakimi of PSG vs. PSV 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a wasteful performance from the French champions in a fixture they were tagged the overwhelming favorite, which only saw them needing an equalizer from their Moroccan rightback to earn a draw.

Hakimi fired a sensational long-range shot from 25 yards out to draw the host level after they had gone behind to Noa Lang strike four minutes after the half-hour mark.

The presence of the 25-year-old was felt at both ends of the game, contributing both defensively and in attack. He'll however need his teammates to do more in the upcoming games, if they are to see PSG climb up the table.

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund 

Borussia Dortmund arrived in dreamland in the Santiago Bernabeu after taking a 2-0 lead just after the half-hour mark against Real Madrid — although it is a known fact that the host are the comeback kings in the competition, Nuri Sahin's side were not to know as they felt it was the right time to avenge the defeat of the final last season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Los Blancos however, patiently waited for their time, and just on the stroke of the hour mark, they started the party, and the visitors could not at all keep up.

Hat-trick hero Vinicius Junior scored the first of his three goals between an Antonio Rudiger and Lucaz Vazquez goals. Three goals between the 60th and the 83rd minutes, Carlo Ancelotti's men took a 3-2 lead.

Vinicius Junior would go on to add a brace to complete a hat-trick, in one of the best performances of the UEFA Champions League round.

In addition to his three goals, Vinicius Junior was a constant threat all through the game, making him one of the front-runners for the official Player of the week.

Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP vs. Sturm Graz 

Sporting CP maintained their unbeaten run in the competition with a comprehensive 2-0 win away to struggling Sturm Graz.

Viktor Gyokeres was at the heart of the two goals, assisting the opener and scoring the other in either half of the game to take the Portuguese champions a position befitting of their performance, yet in the company of European elites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only Liverpool and Aston Villa have recorded more than their seven points after three games so far.

Kasper Schmeichel of Celtic vs. Atalanta

It was always going to take something special to keep Atalanta from scoring on current run. Gian Piero Gasperini's men had scored in each of their last five games across all competitions before Wednesday.

But on the evening in Bergamo, they threw everything at 37-year-old Schmeichel, and could not get past him with their six shots on goal.

Brazilian midfielder was one of main force behind the questions posed to the former Premier League winner with Leicester City, hence his recognition as the official player of the match, but Schmeichel who prevented them from scoring we felt deserved the crown more.

Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen vs. Brest

Brest continued to ride on the wheel of fortune in the competition, taking their point tally to seven points after three games — however, one man tried to halt their impressive run on Wednesday evening, Florian Wirtz.

The German was on a top level in the match, scoring the opening goal in Guingamp in the 24th-minute and creating more chances to see his side runaway with the game, but to no avail.

 

He completed six dribbles, won eight ground duels and made five recoveries. Wirtz was also recognized as the official player of the match.

Jonathan David of Lille vs. Atletico Madrid

Jonathan David came off the bench for the final 25 minutes in Wanda Metropolitano to kill off Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone's side took an early lead through Julian Alvarez in the eighth minute. Edon Zhegrova leveled matters four minutes before David was brought on.

The Canadian gave the visitors the lead from the spot in the 74th minute after Koke was penalized for a foul on Andre in the box. David made no mistake, firing down the middle with Oblak diving left.

David scored his second of the day and his third in the competition this season one minute from time, killing off any hopes of an Atletico comeback as it finished 3-1 to the visitors.

Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier claimed the player of the match award for his heroics between the sticks but it was David who proved the match winner and the best rated on the night.

Raphinha of Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich 

Barcelona finally had their long-awaited laugh against the Bavarians and Brazilian playmaker Raphinha was instrumental in achieving that, starting the party as early as the first minute, when he scored to open the scoring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Robert Lewandowski scored to reestablish the lead, Raphinha went on to score two more goals after the interval to complete his hat-trick, taking his goal tally in the competition this season to four.

Up there as a strong contender for the player of the week, alongside his countryman Vinicius Junior.

Matheus Nunes of Manchester City vs. Sparta Praha

In another episode of his rare City start, Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes delivered a ten rated performance to help Manchester City to a comprehensive 5-o win against their opponent from Czechia.

He set up two goals and scored the fifth in the Ethiad on the night, while capturing the attention of the just above 5,000 spectators.

Although Phil Foden won the official player of the match, Nunes it was who played the more telling role in the match.

Caoimhin Keller of Liverpool vs. RB Leipzig

Liverpool secured a narrow win in Germany thanks to their goalkeeper, who kept their host at bay, saving all six shots on target on the night. Kostas Tsmikas went home with the player of the match award but it was Kelleher who was Liverpool's most important player on the night.

Antoni Milambo of Feyenoord vs. Benfica

The young midfielder scored two goals to help the Dutch club to their second win in the competition this season. Standout, and best player in the pitch.

The 19-year-old has now scored three goals in as many UEFA Champions League games this season, while also continuing his impressive form with six goals in eleven games this season.

Stefan Rivtoski of Dimano Zagreb vs. RB Salzburg

The 32-year-old Croatian defender assisted the two goals for Dinamo Zagreb, leading to three important points away in Austria.

Denzel Dumfries of Inter vs. Young Boys

 

 

 

 

 

Denzel Dumfries is another rightback who stepped up for their team during the week in Europe. The Dutchman was effective at both ende, winning a penalty that would have given the Italian champions the lead had Marcus Thuram converted early in the second-half.

Dumfries was the highest rated Player in the pitch on the day and even though it was Nicolo Barella who won the official player of the match, Dumfries impact was second to none.