Champions League Matchday 6 Awards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Raheem Sterling, Arsenal

Cristiano Ronaldo wrote another entry in the record book, Raheem Sterling gave himself a perfect birthday present and Olivier Giroud helped Arsenal complete an improbably great escape.

Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League served up all the excitement and drama we've come to expect from Europe's top club competition. To mark the end of a memorable round of games, we here at Bleacher Report are handing out awards for the best and worst from all the action.

Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments.

Newest Record Holder

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Cristiano Ronaldo scored four times on Tuesday against Malmo as Real Madrid won 8-0. The result kept Madrid atop Group A with 16 points, and the four goals meant Ronaldo broke his own record with 11 goals in the group stage.

Starting in the 39th minute, Ronaldo completed his hat-trick in 11 minutes, making it the third-fastest in Champions League history, per ESPN's James Tyler. Meanwhile, Opta Joe noted that the Portuguese superstar has scored more goals in the group stage than all but four teams (Real Madrid not included) in the tournament this season.

"On a personal level, I am happy for another record," Ronaldo said, per ESPN FC. "I don't seek out records. Records seek me out."

Sexiest Goal

JOHN MACDOUGALL/Getty Images

Wolfsburg defeated Manchester United 3-2 on Tuesday to claim top spot in Group B and dump United into the Europa League. Naldo scored twice, including the winner, but the other goal—the home side's second—was the pick of the bunch.

Julian Draxler was the architect, angling into the middle from the right flank before playing a one-two near the edge of the box with Max Kruse. After receiving the return pass, Draxler drew United goalkeeper David De Gea off his line before squaring to an unmarked Vierinha, who tapped in.

If you missed it, footage of the goal is here (h/t World Soccer Talk). It really is worth your time.

By all standards: That was a WorldClass- goal," tweeted retired footballer Jan Aage Fjortoft.

Latest Whistle

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The Wolfsburg-Man United match also produced a moment of controversy that turned out to be not that controversial at all.

Just before halftime, United appeared to have equalized at 2-2 as Jesse Lingard's cross from the left bounced past Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and into the goal. But after a long, long consultation with his linesman, the referee ruled the goal out for offside on Juan Mata.

Although Mata did not touch the ball, the officials ruled that he interfered with the play by placing himself in Benaglio's line of sight. James Orr argued at the Independent that the call was correct:

"

On first glance the ball looked to hit the offside Mata before going in, but further replays showed that while Mata did not touch it, he was in an offside position standing in front of the goalkeeper, affecting his line of vision. Mata immediately celebrated like he had scored too, which did not help his case.

"

However, Squawka's Colin Millar though the decision was wrong, with the referee's decision swayed by Wolfsburg's protests. "Mata nowhere near getting a touch and not interfering with play, per the rules," Millar tweeted. "Shocking decision. Clearly influenced by home players."

Happiest Birthday

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Tuesday was Raheem Sterling's 21st birthday. Here's guessing he'll remember it for a long time.

Sterling scored twice in as many second-half minutes as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 in Group D. The result sent City through to the knockout stage as group winners, and Sterling's goals proved decisive.

His first, in the 80th minute, was a close-range finish that tied the match at 2-2. One minute later, he gave City the lead with a brilliant curler following a quick counter.

Playing as a false nine, Sterling added an assist in the first half, showing that he is an integral part of City's attack. At just 21 years old, he has a promising future ahead of him.

Greatest Escape

Petros Giannakouris/Associated Press

After their first two Champions League matches this season, Arsenal were in serious trouble. The London side had lost—embarrassingly—at Dinamo Zagreb and at home to Olympiakos, the two supposed lightweights in Group F.

Even after a stirring victory over Bayern Munich at the Emirates, the Gunners lost the return fixture 5-1 and faced a tough task in their final two games. The task was clear: Win both and pray for help.

Two wins later, the Gunners are through to the last 16 for the 16th straight season, a remarkable accomplishment no matter how you slice it up.

"I'm proud of consistency because it demands a lot of effort everyday and I think that's what it's about," manager Arsene Wenger said, per BBC Sport. "We escaped—maybe it's a lucky tear for us in the Champions League."

Lucky might be the right word indeed. To qualify, Arsenal had to hope that Bayern didn't settle for a draw against Olympiakos on Matchday 5. Then, the Gunners had to beat the Greek side by two clear goals in Piraeus.

They did so with room to spare, winning 3-0 thanks to Olivier Giroud's dazzling hat-trick.

Worst Debut

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Former England international Gary Neville took charge of Valencia for the first time on Wednesday night. His new team had a chance to advance but instead crashed out after a 2-0 home loss to Lyon.

Not that it mattered. Gent beat group winners Zenit St. Petersburg to claim a first-ever place in the knockout stage. Finishing with 10 points, Valencia could have caught the Belgian side anyway.

And yet. 

Coming into Wednesday's match, Lyon had taken just a single point from their first five fixtures. What's more, the Ligue 1 side had won just once in their last eight away games.

But Maxwel Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette scored the goals as Lyon took the full three points. For Neville, it was hardly an auspicious debut.

Most Needed by His Former Club

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Goals have been scarce lately for Manchester United. Before Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg, the Old Trafford side had played out five scoreless draws in nine matches in all competitions.

Meanwhile, over in Germany, Javier Hernandez continues to score goals. On Wednesday, Chicharito found the net again as Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with visiting Barcelona. The draw sent Leverkusen out of the Champions League, but their elimination has had little to do with the Mexican striker.

In his last 11 appearances, Hernandez has scored 12 goals, per WhoScored. In contrast, United have scored nine times in their last 11 games. 

Surely that goalscoring form could have helped United at some point this season?

"14 goals for Hernandez this season in 19 Leverkusen appearances," Setanta Sports' Rob Daly tweeted. "£7.3m from United. Surely one of the best value European signings of season."