Champions League Player Rankings After Matchday 3
Welcome to the third edition of our UEFA Champions League player rankings, in which we order the competition's top 20 players by way of performances.
The criteria is simple: We pick the 20 best players on the basis of form in European games only. Now, with three weeks under our belts, form is beginning to take shape and we've got some "regulars" who've been superb throughout the opening stages.
Who replaces Ciro Immobile at the top? Take a look and see if you agree with our selections. If you feel we've missed anyone, let us know in the comments below.
Dropping out
1 of 21
Miralem Pjanic, Roma
Joe Hart, Manchester City
Danny Welbeck, Arsenal
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
Manuel Iturbe, Roma
David Alaba, Bayern Munich
20. Alejandro "Chori" Dominguez, Olympiakos
2 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Alejandro Dominguez was a driving force for Olympiakos as they conquered Juventus 1-0 at home. He set up the only goal of the game by piercing the heart of the Old Lady's midfield, then put in an all-action display to guard the three-point haul.
In the opening round, "Chori" was essential to the Piraeus' hard-fought victory over Atletico Madrid, and this latest showing lifts him into our top 20.
19. Luiz Adriano, Shakhtar Donetsk
3 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Luiz Adriano, take a bow!
Five goals against BATE Borisov, in addition to the strike in Matchday 2 against FC Porto, lift the Brazilian to the top of the Champions League goalscoring charts with six in three games.
He was in an unstoppable mood on Tuesday night, falling just shy of a double hat-trick.
18. Lukasz Piszczek, Borussia Dortmund
4 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Lukasz Piszczek is getting back to his best in a Borussia Dortmund shirt, and his presence on the right is once again a key feature of how Jurgen Klopp's men play their football.
He grabbed an assist to go with his clean sheet on Wednesday in an all-action display, bombing forward on the right and giving Alex Telles the fight of his life.
These performances have been a long time coming following a difficult return from a major hip injury.
17. Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich
5 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Arjen Robben is fully up and running again—a statement that will scare the life out of defenders worldwide. His injury-induced slow start to the season has disappeared, and Ashley Cole felt the full force of his impact in Roma's 7-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Dancing down the right and cutting inside, his lightning-quick movements led to two goals and an assist despite essentially using the same moves he always does.
Just because you know it's coming doesn't mean you can stop it!
16. Koke, Atletico Madrid
6 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Koke played Malmo off the park on Wednesday evening, picking up three assists and a goal as Atletico Madrid cruised to a 5-0 victory.
It was just what the doctor ordered after a rockier start to the 2014-15 season than perhaps expected for the club, and Koke continues to excel on a weekly basis despite the sea change in the starting XI.
15. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
7 of 21
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a goal in each of his three Champions League games so far this season, and on the back of an impressive performance against Liverpool, he finally enters our top 20.
His role off the front, dipping in and out of the line and causing Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel nightmares, proved too much to handle for Liverpool's suspect defensive line.
His strike to open the scoring was beyond sublime.
14. Ciro Immobile, Borussia Dortmund
8 of 21
Last Week: 1
Differential: -13
Ciro Immobile was rewarded for his stellar play in UEFA Champions League Matchdays 1 and 2...by dropping to the bench for Matchday 3.
Borussia Dortmund didn't need him as they blitzed Galatasaray 4-0 with ease, and Adrian Ramos—who scored a goal—was chosen over him to come and make an impact late.
Tough night for Ciro.
13. Yacine Brahimi, FC Porto
9 of 21
Last Week: 12
Differential: -1
Memories of a wicked hat-trick in the opening fixture for Yacine Brahimi were wiped after the Algerian put in a dour second performance.
On Tuesday he was back on form, though, grabbing an assist as FC Porto eked out an important win over Athletic Club to move into a commanding position in the group.
12. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea
10 of 21
Last Week: 9
Differential: -3
Nemanja Matic didn't enjoy a typically dominant evening against Maribor, and although he provided a strong base in midfield for Chelsea, he gave away a penalty that Mitja Viler slammed against the post.
The Serbian managed six tackles, per WhoScored, in the heart of the action, quelling the Slovenian outfit's bigger threats, but he didn't impact the game offensively as we've come to expect.
11. Lucas Moura, Paris Saint-Germain
11 of 21
Last Week: 11
Differential: -
Lucas Moura continued his good form on the right of Paris Saint-Germain's 4-3-3 as they beat APOEL Nicosia 1-0 on Tuesday evening.
He sparkled in the first half but sloped off in the second, showing the inconsistencies that have haunted his promising career so far.
The moment it all falls into gear over consecutive 90-minute spells is the moment he turns the corner to world-class.
10. Thomas Muller, Bayern Munich
12 of 21
Last Week: 16
Differential: +6
Thomas Muller's night in Rome will be marked by the penalty he scored to continue his goalscoring run, but the true eye-popping moment was his clever assist for Mario Gotze on the edge of the box.
He continues to play well and make an impact despite Robert Lewandowski's central role up front, and no matter which position he takes up he usually manages to find a way onto the scoresheet.
9. Gervinho, Roma
13 of 21
Last Week: 14
Differential: +5
If there's one Roma player who can hold his head high after the 7-1 rollicking received by Bayern Munich on Tuesday, it's Gervinho.
He scored one, hit the post and came within a whisker a third time, and it's no exaggeration to say that he could have easily had a hat-trick on another night.
8. Eden Hazard, Chelsea
14 of 21
Last Week: 17
Differential: +9
Eden Hazard was at his mesmeric, dribbling best on Tuesday evening, putting in a Man of the Match-showing from the left wing as Chelsea beat Maribor.
Petar Stojanovic, the Slovenian side's poor, unsuspecting right-back, was tied into knots as the Belgian dribbled past him an astonishing eight times, per WhoScored, on the way to two goals.
7. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
15 of 21
Last Week: 10
Differential: +3
Karim Benzema had a quietly excellent game on Wednesday evening, notching two goals at Anfield to ensure Real Madrid ran over Liverpool at full speed.
His first goal was the most impressive, looping an exceptional header into the net to give Los Blancos a two-goal lead, and his link-up play with Cristiano Ronaldo was great throughout.
That's four goals in two starts for the Frenchman, per WhoScored, but his most notable contribution was still the rescue mission in Gameweek 2.
6. Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Borussia Dortmund
16 of 21
Last Week: 7
Differential: +1
Sokratis Papastathopoulos played out of position at left-back as Borussia Dortmund beat Galatasaray 4-0 this week, adding another string to an already impressive bow.
Gala aren't the most fierce opposition any longer—Cesare Prandelli seems to be taking them firmly in the wrong direction, in truth—but for a centre-back in his mould to move out and perform is a huge positive.
5. Lionel Messi, Barcelona
17 of 21
Last Week: 6
Differential: +1
Lionel Messi combined with Neymar to destroy Ricardo van Rhijn, torture Ajax's defence and leave with the job done after an hour.
For Barcelona, that's the perfect prelude to the Clasico this weekend; the Argentine played well, stayed sharp and earned a rest after sealing the result with a deft finish for 2-0.
4. Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea
18 of 21
Last Week: 5
Differential: +1
Cesc Fabregas collected his token assist in a very easy win over Maribor on Tuesday evening, serving up John Terry's strike to ice the result at 3-0.
The Blues are moving into a position in the group where they may be able to rest Cesc and keep him fresh for Premier League matches; given he's their key player now, it's imperative they keep him fit.
3. Jackson Martinez, FC Porto
19 of 21
Last Week: 2
Differential: -1
Jackson Martinez didn't score against Athletic Club on Tuesday, but his presence in the forward line led to yet another victory for FC Porto.
His form up top for Julen Lopetegui has been phenomenal, bouncing back from a rough season and impressing with his all-round, game-changing ability.
2. Philipp Lahm, Bayern Munich
20 of 21
Last Week: 3
Differential: +1
Philipp Lahm followed up a wonderful performance at the weekend in the Bundesliga by playing a solid 90 minutes in the heart of midfield against Roma.
The game became a stroll after Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski put Bayern Munich out of sight early on, and Lahm's job of stopping the passing into Francesco Totti and Co. was an easy one as the Giallorossi fight died out.
1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Borussia Dortmund
21 of 21
Last Week: 4
Differential: +3
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moves to the summit of our player rankings after yet another very strong showing in the UEFA Champions League. He scored twice as Borussia Dortmund downed Galatasaray 4-0 and hit the woodwork, denying himself a deserved hat-trick.
His first goal, in particular, was superbly taken and kicked off the rout in the sixth minute. If only he, or any other BVB player for that matter, could transfer this form over to the Bundesliga.
Thanks to those who read my work and voted for me, I made the finalists list of the 2014 Footballing Blogging Awards. If you have a spare moment and the inclination to vote, I ask you to do so again in the final round.
You can vote by simply clicking here: http://bit.ly/1yyx7Om
