Champions League Team of the Week for Matchday 3
The Champions League group stage reached its halfway point this week, and the matches Tuesday and Wednesday had just about everything.
Blowouts and high-scoring contests produced a record-setting day on Tuesday, when 40 goals were scored between the eight games. And while Wednesday delivered more lopsided results, there was also a bit of late drama that focused the attention until the very end.
Both days, however, included some incredible, individual performances that we'll highlight over the next few slides.
Following is the Champions League Team of the Week for Matchday 3, compiled from Tuesday and Wednesday's standout players, with a few honourable mentions thrown in for good measure.
Goalkeeper: Roberto, Olympiakos
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But for the heroics of goalkeeper Roberto, it's unlikely Olympiakos would have picked up any points Wednesday, let alone all three against Serie A leaders Juventus.
The 28-year-old made at least four spectacular saves in the Group A contest, including a late denial of Carlos Tevez as the guests pushed for an equaliser.
Honourable mention: Danijel Subasic, who kept a clean sheet for Monaco against a Benfica side that looked the more likely to score until the 76th minute, when they were reduced to 10 men.
Right-Back: Lukasz Piszczek, Borussia Dortmund
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Borussia Dortmund have a 100 percent record in Group D following Wednesday's 4-0 drubbing of Galatasaray in Istanbul.
Throughout the match, right-back Lukasz Piszczek provided a useful attacking outlet down his flank and in the 18th minute set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the Gabon international's second goal of the night.
Honourable mention: Giulio Donati, who scored Bayer Leverkusen's winner against Zenit St. Petersburg.
Centre-Back: John Terry, Chelsea
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Chelsea romped to a 6-0 win at home to Maribor on Tuesday, and in the 31st minute, John Terry ended the match as a contest when he scored the hosts' third.
The defender, who recently captained the Blues for the 500th time, also assisted Loic Remy's opener and at the final whistle had completed 96.5 percent of his passes.
Honourable mention: Luisao, who helped keep the Benfica backline tidy and organised following the ejection of Lisandro Lopez.
Centre-Back: Georgi Terziev, Ludogorets
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Don’t look now, but Ludogorets Razgrad are presently second to Real Madrid in Group B thanks to a goal difference superior to both Liverpool and Basel.
Ludogorets won late at home to Basel on Wednesday, and defender Georgi Terziev didn't concede an inch either in the air or in front of goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov. He also completed 96.3 percent of his passes on the night.
Honourable mention: Ricardo Carvalho, who helped Monaco keep a clean sheet against Benfica while winning all of his aerial duels.
Left-Back: Sandro, Porto
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Porto edged Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Tuesday and remain top of Group H as a result.
Marauding Athletic right-back Oscar de Marcos had nothing on Porto left-back Sandro over the 90 minutes, as the Brazilian frequently troubled the opposition on the dribble and also threw himself into an eye-popping eight tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
Honourable mention: Yordan Minev, who scored Ludogorets' only goal against Basel.
Midfielder: Koke, Atletico Madrid
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Koke's star just continues to rise.
Atletico Madrid scored all five of their goals against Malmo (they won 5-0) in the second half Wednesday, and it was the 22-year-old who opened the scoring in the 48th minute.
He then played provider on goals for Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin and touched the ball 100 times over the course of the match, completing 87 percent of his passes.
Honourable mention: Luka Milivojevic, who buckled down and helped prevent Juventus from laying siege to his Olympiakos side.
Midfielder: Xabi Alonso, Bayern Munich
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Goalscorers such as Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski were rather more front and centre as Bayern Munich shellacked AS Roma 7-1 on Tuesday, but over the course of the mauling Xabi Alonso kept things ticking in the centre of the park for the guests.
He touched the ball 118 times in the Italian capital, completed 94.2 percent of his passes and rarely looked troubled as he kept his side organised and on the front-foot.
Honourable mention: Mario Gotze, who operated in a slightly deeper role for Bayern at Roma and both passed for high efficiency and scored what proved to be the winning goal.
Midfielder: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona
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Andres Iniesta has blown hot and cold so far this season, but he put in a terrific performance in Barcelona's 3-1 win at home to Ajax on Tuesday.
In the 24th minute the Spain international found Lionel Messi with an exquisite ball as the hosts took a 2-0 lead, and until his exit in the 76th minute he was efficient in his distribution and a menace on the dribble.
Honourable mention: Toni Kroos, who bossed the midfield for Real Madrid at Anfield.
Forward: Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich
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Arjen Robben got things rolling for Bayern Munich with a pair of early goals away to AS Roma on Tuesday.
Both victimised left-back Ashley Cole, who was replaced at the break, and midway through the second half the Dutchman delivered a delightful through-ball to teammate Franck Ribery, who scored Bayern’s sixth goal of a memorable night.
Honourable mention: Eden Hazard, who wore his magic shoes for Chelsea against Maribor.
Forward: Luiz Adriano, Shakhtar Donetsk
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The other team to record seven goals on Tuesday was Shakhtar Donetsk, and five of them came from Luiz Adriano.
The 27-year-old scored twice from the spot away to BATE Borisov, but the other three were the results of well-worked buildup play generally involving left-back Viacheslav Shevchuk.
Honourable mention: Karim Benzema, who struck twice in the first half against Liverpool for Real Madrid.
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
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Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Real Madrid at Liverpool on Wednesday, and the goal represented his 70th in Champions League competition. Only Raul, with 71, has more.
The Portugal captain instigated the buildup on his own in the 23rd minute, bringing the ball upfield before playing a neat one-two with James Rodriguez that resulted in a superb, first-time finish past Simon Mignolet. Madrid went on to win 3-0.
Honourable mention: Seydou Doumbia, who scored once for CSKA Moscow against Manchester City and also drew a penalty.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored unless otherwise noted.
