Harry Diamond
Our Champions League awards honour the best – and worst – of the European action from the midweek fixtures, as the competition returned on matchday one.
Moment of the Week
Where else to start but Lazio?
Ivan Provedel was responsible for the most dramatic moment from the Champions League’s opening week, as the Italian became just the fourth goalkeeper to score in the competition to rescue his side a result in Rome.
Diego Simeone looked to have masterminded a hard-fought win against his former club, as Atletico Madrid led in the game’s final seconds. With, quite literally, the last action of the game, Provedel made himself a hero to send the Stadio Olimpico into chaos.
The shot-stopper – up for a set-piece – ghosted across his marker to head home from Luis Alberto’s cross, sparking pandemonium from the home crowd.
LAZIO KEEPER IVAN PROVEDEL SCORES IN THE 95TH MINUTE!!! 🤯
THE LAST TOUCH OF THE GAME!
WHAT THE #UCL IS ALL ABOUT 👏 pic.twitter.com/dmEBffFIEi
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2023
Player of the Week
Arsenal are back in the big time after a six season absence and announced their Champions League return with a comfortable win over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates.
The north Londoners raced into a three-goal lead before half-time on route to a 4-0 victory, with Martin Odegaard the star performer for Mikel Arteta’s side. Odegaard’s evolution has been one of the driving forces behind Arsenal’s improvement across the past two seasons, as the Norwegian has began to fulfil the potential which first emerged at Strømsgodset in his early teens.
The 24-year-old is a sublime watch when in the mood, drifting dangerously into pockets of space and showcasing his repertoire of technical touches and cute passes.
Take a bow Martin Odegaard! 🤩
The captain fires in a wonderful finish from outside the box as Arsenal run away with this game! 🙌#UCL pic.twitter.com/kP79276nBw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 20, 2023
Odegaard needs to find consistency over a long period to be considered one of the world’s very best, but there’s no doubt the midfielder has been operating at an elite level across the last 12 months. He will be crucial to Arsenal’s hopes of going deep in this tournament.
Goal of the Week
Who said tiki-taka was dead?
Barcelona rolled back the years to open the scoring against Royal Antwerp this week, with summer signing Joao Felix finishing off an intricate team move in style.
Barcelona kick off their #UCL campaign in style! 🤩
Brilliant build-up play and a class finish from Joao Felix! 💥 pic.twitter.com/fmB3b7jhkx
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2023
Pop, pop, bang.
Stat of the Week
Red Bull Salzburg are one of Europe’s best production lines of young talent, with the Austrian side unwavering in their faith in youth.
Salzburg named the youngest ever starting XI for a Champions League fixture this week and were rewarded with a 2-0 win at Benfica.
Roko Simic – who has attracted interest from top European clubs – scored one and made another with the 20-year-old backed to be the next name to earn Salzburg a windfall.
21y 183d – Aged 21 years and 183 days on average, FC Salzburg are fielding the youngest ever starting XI in a match by any team in UEFA Champions League history tonight. Youth. #SLBSAL pic.twitter.com/qBoeMo2IwI
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) September 20, 2023
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Tweet of the Week
Spare a thought for these Newcastle fans, who after two decades away from the Champions League celebrated with a trip to AC Milan.
The setting was perhaps not what this lot were expecting…
Not the fanciest digs for these Newcastle fans in Milan for their Champions League trip… 🫣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Y8yhx3Ho8H
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) September 19, 2023
Someone who did cherish every moment however, was Magpies winger Jacob Murphy. There’s something special about that Champions League anthem.
Jacob Murphy was loving it 😍
There’s nothing like the Champions League anthem…#UCL https://t.co/V3WKVw9s7P pic.twitter.com/wbcx5WJr1x
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2023
Donkey of the Week
Andre Onana was a wall-like presence during Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final last season, but the goalkeeper has made an inauspicious start to his Manchester United career.
Onana was at fault as Manchester United fell behind early on against Bayern Munich, with the Cameroon international enduring a nightmare moment to allow Leroy Sane’s shot to squirm under his grasp.
André Onana has had a howler here 🫣
Leroy Sané’s effort slips under the Man Utd stopper’s gloves to give Bayern the lead…#UCL pic.twitter.com/GMErAGOBwE
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 20, 2023
It continued an unconvincing run of form for the 27-year-old and no Premier League goalkeeper to have played six games this season has conceded more goals than Onana (14).
Improvement is required from Onana who, to his credit, fronted up to the media and shouldered blame post-match.
“I’m the one who let the team down.”
“It’s because of me we didn’t win this game.”
“I have to learn from it.”
André Onana fronts up to his error as he chats to @julesbreach after Man Utd’s #UCL defeat to Bayern… pic.twitter.com/o2If08XaFR
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 20, 2023
Read – Champions League Team of the Week – Matchday One
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