Champions League Matchday 1 Awards: Ronaldo Hits Hat-Trick, Arsenal Flop
Matchday 1 is complete in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League, with all 32 teams taking part in the action on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Over the course of 16 matches, we've seen loads of goals, saves, cards, fouls and, of course, excitement. Holders Barcelona began with a draw, while rivals Real Madrid eased to a win. Three of England's four representatives lost, and one club claimed a first group-stage victory since the 20th century.
Here, B/R hands out awards to the standout performers from Matchday 1.
Top Scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo
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Cristiano Ronaldo fired in a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid romped to a 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in a Group A match at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Two of the three strikes came from the spot, with the Portuguese superstar converting penalties in the 55th and 63rd minutes.
Ronaldo's third of the night, an 81st-minute header, gave him 80 career goals in the Champions League, the most all-time. Lionel Messi of Barcelona sits three goals behind in second place.
The hat-trick raised Ronaldo's scoring total to eight goals in his last two games. Just days before, the 30-year-old hit Espanyol for five as Real won, 5-0. Ronaldo will hope to extend his record on Matchday 2, when Real travel to Malmo.
"I know Cristiano's level and value," Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez told UEFA.com. "He is the best player in the world and I will repeat this every time you ask me."
An honorable mention goes to Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller, who netted twice in a 3-0 triumph at Olympiakos. The German is in outstanding form, having scored 11 goals in his last seven appearances for club and country.
Biggest Flop: Arsenal
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Arsenal lost for the second straight time on Matchday 1, falling, 2-1, at Dinamo Zagreb in Group F. The Croatian side are currently enjoying a long unbeaten run, but success in the Champions League has eluded them for years. Before beating Arsenal, Dinamo had not won a Champions League group match since September 1999.
Perhaps with an eye on Arsenal's Premier League game against Chelsea this weekend, Arsene Wenger left midfielder Aaron Ramsey and full-back Hector Bellerin back in London. He also rested key starters like goalkeeper Petr Cech, full-back Nacho Monreal and midfielder Francis Coquelin.
The gamble backfired. Olivier Giroud saw red in the 40th minute after receiving his second yellow card. By that time, the Gunners already trailed by a goal. Theo Walcott slotted in a late consolation, but Arsenal were unable to avoid an embarrassing loss.
Worst Start: England
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Arsenal weren't the only Premier League side that struggled on Matchday 1. In Group B, Manchester United lost 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven after going ahead in the first half. And in Group D, Manchester City lost a second-half lead in a 2-1 defeat at home to Juventus.
According to Infostrada Sports, this was the first time three English clubs have lost on the first matchday of the Champions League. As B/R contributor Tim Collins noted, the Premier League might be in danger of slipping in UEFA's coefficients, which would endanger the league's fourth Champions League berth.
"At this rate, the Premier League will soon be losing a UCL spot," Collins tweeted. "'Heavyweights' can't beat PSV or Zagreb."
Best Goal: Alessandro Florenzi
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Selecting the top goal from Matchday 1 was not at all difficult. In the 31st minute of his side's 1-1 draw with Barcelona in Group E, Roma's Alessandro Florenzi scored with a strike that practically hit from the Colosseum.
With the ball at his feet near the right touchline just inside Barcelona's half, Florenzi blasted a shot over the head of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, off the woodwork and into the net. At more than 50 yards, it was one of the most audacious and well-taken goals you're ever likely to see.
More importantly for Roma, the goal secured a draw with last year's winners.
Most Inspirational: Luke Shaw
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On Tuesday, any football fan with a beating heart must have felt for Manchester United's Luke Shaw. The 20-year-old full-back, who had been enjoying a fine start to the season, suffered a broken leg in a challenge with PSV Eindhoven's Hector Moreno.
The team announced that Shaw had surgery, and Moreno—who himself suffered a broken leg at the 2014 World Cup—apologized for the tackle. "I just feel really bad because I was involved in the accident," Moreno said, per BBC Sport. I feel really sorry."
The apology will serve as little solace for United. Moreno later scored the equalizing goal and was named man of the match by UEFA.com.
Shaw wasted no time sulking, though. From his hospital bed, the English defender tweeted out an inspirational message to his many well-wishers.
"Thank you everyone for your messages , words can't describe how gutted I am, my road to recovery starts now, I will come back stronger," he wrote.
Shaw faces a long road to recovery, but he'll have countless supporters along the way.
