Champions League round-up: Wednesday's star men assessed
PSG 6-1 FK Crvena Zvezda - Neymar: 10.0 rating
With a superb free-kick scored either side of half time, Neymar became the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 to score two free-kicks in the same Champions League match. The Brazilian was in sensational form as the French powerhouse put a FK Crvena Zvezda side, unbeaten in 34 competitive matches before tonight, to the sword. Neymar was a delight to return a perfect 10 rating with five key passes and seven successful dribbles contributing to a stunning display.
Lokomotiv Moscow 0-1 Schalke 04 - Weston McKennie: 8.51 rating
Schalke 04 left it late to secure just their second win of the season, following up their 1-0 win against Mainz 05 with victory in Moscow. Youngster Weston McKennie was the man of the hour for the Bundesliga side, with the 20-year-old American netting the winner with just two minutes left to play. His goal from his only shot, while returns of two key passes, eight aerial duels won, two key passes and eight interceptions landed McKennie the WhoScored man of the match award with a 8.51 rating to land a vital win for the German outfit.
Napoli 1-0 Liverpool - Mario Rui: 7.62 rating
Napoli downed Liverpool late on courtesy of Lorenzo Insigne’s 90th-minute winner, but it was Mario Rui who won the WhoScored man of the match award in Naples. The left-back was part of a defence that denied Liverpool a shot on target in a Champions League match for the first time since 2006, making one tackle and two interceptions, and he got forward well too, making three key passes to return a 7.62 rating.
FC Porto 1-0 Galatasaray - Alex Telles: 8.22 rating
Another left-back to impress, he picked out the assist for Moussa Marega’s goal early in the second half, that coming from one of five key passes on the night. Alex Telles performed well defensively as he made one tackle, one interception and one clearance to return a WhoScored rating of 8.22, that enough to land the man of the match award.
Tottenham 2-4 Barcelona - Lionel Messi: 10.0 rating
We’re running out of superlatives to describe Lionel Messi. The Argentine was excellent once more as Barcelona ran out 4-2 winners at Wembley. Messi netted twice in the victory, but could’ve had four having twice struck the woodwork before opening his account. Three key passes and two successful dribbles contributed to a perfect 10 rating at Wembley.
PSV 1-2 Inter - Mauro Icardi: 7.98 rating
Another Argentine landing the man of the match award, Mauro Icardi may have taken his time to get going this season, but he now has two goals in two Champions League appearances in his career. He mustered nine shots in total, hitting the target with four and scoring with one, and could’ve had an assist too as he made three key passes to contribute towards a 7.98 rating.
Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Monaco - Marco Reus: 9.88 rating
Borussia Dortmund continued their fine start to the season with Marco Reus key to inflicting further misery upon a downtrodden Monaco side. The German attacker provided the assist for Paco Alcacer’s second half strike, that coming from from one of four key passes, and got on the scoresheet in injury time to gain a WhoScored rating of 9.88
Atletico Madrid 3-1 Club Bruges - Antoine Griezmann: 9.20 rating
Atletico Madrid made it two wins from two in the Champions League this season, with Antoine Griezmann getting in on the act in Madrid. The Frenchman bagged a brace against Club Bruges, hitting the back of the net with two of four shots, while returns of two dribbles, one key pass and one tackle returned a 9.20 rating, that enough to land the man of the match award.
