Champions League round-up: Manchester United star shines in Switzerland

 

After Tuesday's entertaining start to the Champions League group stages, Wednesday lived up to expectations. Here, we run through the best performers of the second batch of group games.

 

Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Hoffenheim: Leonardo Bittencourt - 7.78 rating 

 

A hugely entertaining encounter in one of the two early kick offs saw Hoffenheim land a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk, an impressive result. Star of the show was midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt, whose WhoScored rating of 7.78 was enough to land the man of the match award. The 24-year-old provided the assist for Florian Grillitsch’s opener, that coming from one of three key passes, and worked hard off the ball as he made four tackles and two interceptions to ensure his side a point. 

 

Ajax 3-0 AEK Athens: Nicolas Tagliafico - 9.56 rating 

 

Ajax romped to a comfortable 3-0 home win to kickstart their Champions League campaign, with Argentine defender Nicolas Tagliafico excelling. The left-back netted twice in the victory, those two of three goals he has scored since moving to Amsterdam, with those two goals coming from three shots. Tagliafico pressed forward well as he made one key pass and completed one dribble and defended solidly, too, as he made three tackles and four interceptions to help gain a WhoScored rating of 9.56. 

 

Benfica 0-2 Bayern Munich: David Alaba - 8.49 rating 

 

Bayern Munich kept their first away clean sheet in the Champions League since December 2015 with a 2-0 win at Portuguese giants Benfica on Wednesday night, with defender David Alaba impressing. The Austrian provided the assist for Robert Lewandowski’s opening goal after 10 minutes, that coming from his sole key pass. In addition, Alaba made one tackle, four interceptions and five clearances, and won six aerial duels, to return a WhoScored rating of 8.49 in Lisbon. 

 

Manchester City 1-2 Lyon: Nabil Fekir - 8.73 rating 

 

Liverpool and Chelsea fans will have been watching Nabil Fekir closely on Wednesday night and they will not have been disappointed. The Frenchman provided the assist for Maxwel Cornet’s opening goal, his assist coming from one of three key passes, before getting on the scoresheet himself on the stroke of half time. On the biggest upset of the night, Fekir returned a WhoScored rating of 8.73 with two dribbles and three tackles helping the World Cup winner to the man of the match award. 

 

Young Boys 0-3 Manchester United: Paul Pogba - 9.31 rating 

 

Whereas one Manchester side stuttered, the other thrived, as Manchester United landed a routine 3-0 win at Young Boys. Another World Cup winner excelled, with Paul Pogba the star man with a 9.31 rating. The midfielder netted twice in the first half as he scored with both of his shots before turning provider for compatriot Anthony Martial midway through the second half, with his assist coming from one of three key passes. Two further tackles and one interception meant Pogba was more than deserving of the WhoScored man of the match award. 

 

 

Real Madrid 3-0 Roma: Isco - 8.94 rating 

 

Defending champions Real Madrid landed a comfortable 3-0 win over Roma at the Bernabeu, but in such a dominant display by the hosts, the winning margin could, and perhaps should, have been wider. Isco set Los Blancos on their way to all three points with a well struck free-kick on the stroke of half time, his goal coming from one of three shots. He could easily have had himself an assist, too, with Isco creating five goalscoring chances in a performance that was enough to land the WhoScored man of the match gong with a 8.94 rating. 

 

Valencia 0-2 Juventus: Wojciech Szczesny - 8.67 rating 

 

In a victory that’ll be best remembered for Cristiano Ronaldo’s first ever Champions League red card, Juventus showed tremendous mental strength to land a 2-0 win in Valencia after being reduced to 10 men early on. Miralem Pjanic netted two second half penalties, but it was the display of newly-instilled number one Wojciech Szczesny that caught the eye. The Poland international made a respectable six saves in the win at the Mestalla, including a late penalty stop to deny Dani Parejo, as he secured a WhoScored rating of 8.67. 

 

Viktoria Plzen 2-2 CSKA Moscow: Michal Krmencik - 8.47 rating 

 

Viktoria Plzen threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with CSKA Moscow in the Czech Republic on Wednesday night, with striker Michal Krmencik netting a first half brace to set the hosts on their way. However, while Viktoria Plzen couldn’t hold out for all the spoils, the 25-year-old was worthy of the man of the match award as he gained a WhoScored rating of 8.47. One successful dribble, one key pass and one tackle contributed to the individual accolade at the Doosan Arena.

Champions League round-up: Manchester United star shines in Switzerland