Champions League Team of the Week – Raya, Kane and more | OneFootball

After the opening round of Champions League fixtures, it’s time to honour the action’s finest performers with our Team of the Week.

UEFA Champions League Team of the Week for Matchday One.

Goalkeeper: David Raya – Arsenal

Arsenal’s hero as the Gunners battled to a goalless draw at Atalanta. The Spaniard has opened the season in fine form with a series of stunning saves, but his double drop from Mateo Retegui will take some beating this season. After keeping out the forward’s initial penalty, he reacted rapidly to get up and claw away the rebound. Incredible.

Right-back: Alistair Johnston – Celtic

What an engine. The Celtic right-back was relentless in his raids down the right flank as the Scottish champions celebrated a 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park. After earning inclusion in the Copa America Team of the Tournament in the summer, the Canadian has started the season superbly for Celtic and was at his energetic best in midweek.

He won six defensive duels, created two chances, and won the penalty for Arne Engels to score Celtic’s third of the evening. Everywhere.

Centre-back: Jhon Lucumi – Bologna

An immense performance from the Bologna defender as the Italians debuted in the Champions League with a goalless draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Colombian centre-back made five clearances, won five tackles, and dominated his defensive duels with 5/6 won in the air and 6/7 on the ground. Lucumi was key to Bologna dealing with the counter-attacking threat of the visitors.

Centre-back: Francesco Acerbi – Inter Milan

Did what none in the Premier League have managed so far this season – stop Erling Haaland from scoring. The veteran was wily in his duel with the Manchester City centre-forward, often finding himself in the right place at the right time. A crucial part of a disciplined defensive performance from Inter, who will again be a tough nut to crack under Simeone Inzaghi.

Left-back: Vanderson – AS Monaco

Monaco produced one of the upsets of the opening round after beating Spanish league leaders Barcelona at the Stade Louis II.

Vanderson was superb for the French side in an unfavored left-back role, as he competed well against Lamine Yamal and offered threat at the other end.

The 23-year-old ended the contest with three clearances, two interceptions and two assists, setting up both goals in Monaco’s 2-1 win over their 10-man visitors. His through ball for 18-year-old substitute George Ilenikhena to score the winner was pure quality.

Midfield: Arne Engels – Celtic

Celtic broke their transfer record to sign Arne Engels in the summer and it’s already looking like money well spent. A replacement for Matt O’Riley, Engels has started life well in a Celtic shirt and marked his Champions League debut with a standout performance against Slovan Bratislava.

Engels was elegant in possession and dangerous from set-pieces. as he set up the opener for Liam Scales and then coolly converted a penalty. The Belgian is just the second Celtic player to score and assist on their UCL debut, after Henrik Larsson in 2001. That’s good company to keep.

Midfield: Youri Tielemans – Aston Villa

Aston Villa announced their return to UEFA’s top club competition with an impressive 3-0 win at Young Boys.

Youri Tieleman continued his excellent start to the season with a performance full of control and quality, as the Belgian begins to shine in a post-Douglas Luiz midfield. The 27-year-old scored the opener with an excellent touch and finish, before claiming the assist for Amadou Onana’s third. After a Premier League season high of 126 accurate passes against Everton at the weekend, Tielemans showed again that he has become Villa’s dictator.

Right-wing: Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich

Jamal Musiala really is just a joy to watch.

The German was at his influential best as Bayern Munich ran riot to thrash Dinamo Zagreb and take an early lead at the top of the Champions League’s new league phase. Musiala’s mark was all over their 9-2 win at the Allianz Arena, as the 21-year-old assisted goals for Michael Olise and Raphael Guerreiro and created a mammoth seven chances. No player created more on Matchday One.

Left-wing: Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen

German football is currently blessed with two talents heading to the very top of the game.

Alongside Musiala, Florian Wirtz is putting up ridiculous numbers in a Bayer Leverkusen shirt and marked his Champions League debut with two goals at Feyenoord.

The 21-year-old’s double helped the German champions to a 4-0 win at De Kuip, while he also ended the contest with three chances created and 5/5 duels won.

It’s now 23 goals and 21 assists in his last 43 starts for Leverkusen.

Forward: Harry Kane – Bayern Munich

Harry Kane wrote his name into the record books during Bayern’s big win over Dinamo Zagreb.

The first Englishman to score four goals in a Champions League game, he moved past Wayne Rooney’s record as the highest-scoring English player in the competition’s history.

Kane’s four-goal haul also took him to 53 goals in a Bayern shirt. He’s played just 50 games.

Forward: Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid

Still so good.

The architect of Atletico Madrid’s comeback win against RB Leipzig, Griezmann scored one and created another as the Spaniards started their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win. His equaliser was a fantastic first-time finish on his ‘weaker’ right foot before he lifted a perfect cross into the penalty box for Jose Gimenez to score a last-minute winner.

Read – Champions League awards: Raya’s reflexes, Zeno De-blast!

See more – Every player to score four goals in a Champions League game

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