With 55 goals scored in 16 games, it’s fair to say matchday two of the 2023/24 Champions League season was a fun one.
There were five 3-2 wins, two shock defeats (PSG and Arsenal), and yet another game-winning performance from Jude Bellingham (as per).
And after all of that fun, here’s 90min’s Champions League team of the week:
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
No other goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League worked harder for their clean sheet this past week.
The Barcelona number one made five saves at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday evening to help his side to a narrow 1-0 win.
RB: Jordan Teze (PSV Eindhoven)
“Teze to the rescue!” Was the title of TNT Sport’s highlights package for PSV Eindhoven’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla, so it’s only fair that he makes our Champions League team of the week.
The full-back put in an all-action performance up against the talented Lucas Oscampos on his flank, and then showed off some surprising poacher’s instincts in the 95th minute to snatch a point for PSV in front of a raucous Philips Stadion crowd.
A solid night at the office.
CB: Kevin Danso (Lens)
Yes, the Kevin Danso who was notably terrible at Southampton during the 2019/20 season is now good enough to make a team of the week in Europe’s elite club competition.
It’s a strange world we live in.
The 25-year-old was fantastic against Arsenal on Tuesday, completely nullifying the threat of Gabriel Jesus for the majority of the game by winning five duals, winning back possession seven times and making six clearances.
CB: Jules Kounde (Barcelona)
In gameweek two of the 2023/24 Champions League, we probably saw the best piece of defending we’ll see all season.
Jules Kounde’s recovery run and last ditch challenge to deny Pepe what looked like a certain goal was genuinely that special – the France international might just be the best defender in the world right now.
LB: Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
Did anyone think that Dan Burn would ever make a Champions League team of the week because he scored against Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-1 win for Newcastle United?
Absolutely not.
And yet, here we are, putting Dan Burn in a Champions League team of the week because he scored against Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-1 win for Newcastle United.
RM: Miguel Almiron (Newcastle United)
After a tricky start to the season, Newcastle and Miguel Almiron have found their best form in recent weeks.
The Paraguayan opened the scoring for the Magpies in their famous 4-1 win over PSG on Wednesday evening – his third goal in as many games.
CM: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
The best footballer in the world right now scored a goal that was compared to Diego Maradona’s legendary solo effort during Real Madrid’s win over Napoli.
Jude Bellingham really is on another planet right now.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United)
Bruno Guimaraes didn’t get on the scoresheet against PSG, but bah gawd did he do just about everything else.
In the 4-1 win, Newcastle’s star midfielder bagged an assist, won 100% of his tackles, made 14 ball recoveries and won five duels. A true midfield masterclass from Guimaraes.
LM: Brais Mendez (Real Sociedad)
Brais Mendez’s goal and assist in midweek earned Real Sociedad their first Champions League win in 10 years.
The winger’s goal was one of the best scored in the competition thus far this season, with Mendez picking up the ball in his own half as part of a quick counter attack before drifting past two RB Salzburg defenders and firing into the bottom corner of the net.
ST: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid)
Whisper it: Alvaro Morata is one of the most in-form strikers in Europe right now.
The striker added another two goals to his 2023/24 tally in a 3-2 win over Feyenoord to take him to seven goals in seven appearances thus far this season. Nice one.
ST: Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United)
The two main takeaways from Man Utd’s 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray were:
We’re focusing on that second point here as Hojlund was utterly fantastic on Tuesday evening. His two goals showed both the youngster’s poacher’s instincts and his ability to create chances and goals for himself.
The sky’s the limit for the Dane – even though his team are a mess right now.
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