The second half of Champions League Matchday 3 was completed on Wednesday, with a number of key clashes being played out across Europe. The ...
The second half of Champions League Matchday 3 was completed on Wednesday, with a number of key clashes being played out across Europe.
The biggest match of the night saw Juventus travel to Spain to take on Real Madrid, but elsewhere clubs of the stature of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Manchester United were all in action as they endeavored to improve their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the competition.
Here are 5 lessons gathered from the top matches.. Read and share your opinions in the comment box below.
Rooney Is United’s Best Player This Season
Wayne Rooney was left in Robin van Persie's shadow last season as the Dutchman scored goal after goal.
It ended in Rooney being played out of position and the England striker reportedly pushing for a move away.
But despite a summer of uncertainty, he's been United's main attacking threat so far this season.
He was the difference against Real Sociedad, twisting and turning his way into the penalty area in the second minute before hitting the post and watching the rebound end up in the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Goals
It's been written before, it'll be written again and it will continue to be written until Ronaldo relents. Age will presumably catch up with him one day.
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His first goal against Juventus was well-taken.
Angel di Maria's reverse pass was sublime, but the composure shown by Ronaldo was still impressive given the circumstances.
Even if his second was only a penalty, what a well-taken penalty it was.
The Portuguese forward has now scored seven goals in three games in this season's Champions League and 57 in the competition in total—only Raul and Lionel Messi have managed more.
Karim Benzema Doesn't
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Karim Benzema.
The Frenchman's role in Ancelotti's system was already questionable without him missing open goals like he did after 60 minutes against Juve.
Di Maria's super scooped pass found Alvaro Arbeloa, who fed the ball to Benzema to tap home. He put it over the net.
Whistles and boos from the Bernabeu crowd aren't helping, but it's hard to see Madrid's No. 9 rediscovering his scoring touch anytime soon.
The German Bundesliga Is The Best League Right Now
After Borrusia Dortmund’s win at the Emirates on Tuesday, Bayern Munich also continued their march to retaining the European Champions League on Wednesday night with an intimidating 5-0 win over Czech side Viktoria Plzen at the Allainz Arena in Munich.
Pep Guardiola's side were truly at odds with the amount of chances they created throughout the game and in truth should have scored a lot more than just five goals, as Plzen simply held on for dear life.
Bayern Leverkusen also thrashed Shaktar by 4-0 to keep the pressure on Manchester United who are just one point ahead of them. These means that the three representatives from Germany could make it to the knockout stage. The organization and structure that has been put in place for the league is finally playing dividend.
Ibrahimovic Continues To Score Incredible Goals
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored four goals—one of them an early contender for goal of the competition—as Paris St Germain demolished a chastened Anderlecht in Belgium on Wednesday.
A 19-minute hat-trick—the first a tap-in, the second a backheel, the third the long-range stunner you can see below—from Ibrahimovic set PSG on their way in the first half,
Ibrahimovic then finished the scoring with his fourth, a fine volley that found the back of the net off the inside of the far post.
Last weekend, images of Ibrahimovic went round the world after an amazing dexterity-defying backheel stab in a French League game against Bastia. Now, he showed his jaw-dropping skills in Europe's showcase club competition. Recall, he also scored a wonder goal against England earlier this year.
He doesn’t just score normal goals, does he?
The victory left PSG with a maximum nine points from three games. They also top the French Ligue at the moment. Money can buy success sometimes.
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