- Griezmann and Kane shine in Champions League
- AC Milan has recorded its most significant win this week
- The matchday team features players from eight different teams
The fourth matchday of 2023/24 UEFA Champions League had a bit of everything.
‘A huge upset? ‘
Check. Barcelona was beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk.
A seven-goal thriller? ‘
Check. Copenhagen beat Man Utd 4-3.
A thumping victory? ‘
Check. Atletico Madrid pummelled Celtic 6-0.
After all the fun and games, we present to you the Champions League 90min team for this week.
Champions League Team of the Week: Matchday Four
GK: Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid)
David Ramos/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Bragaat Santiago Bernabeu sounded as easy as possible, but the outcome could have been very different had Andriy Linin not played in goal.
Madrid’s reserve goalkeeper saved a penalty when the score was still 0-0, giving his team a chance to win.
RB: Giorgi Gocholeishvili (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Very good outing / Fantasista/GettyImages
Gocholeishvili’s heroic performance was exactly what Shakhtar required to stun Barcelona.
Full-back won ten duals, recovered possession seven times, and scored the goal with his right-side cross.
CB Yaroslav Rakiskyi (Shakhtar Donezk)
Yaroslav Rakitskyi impressed / Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
Rakitskyi’s performance was a throwback to the old-fashioned style of defensive play against Barcelona.
In the victory, the veteran centre-back cleared a staggering 13 balls. Of those 10, he did with just his head. There’s a slabhead who has replaced Harry Maguire.
CB Pepe (Porto).
Still going strong. Octavio Pasos/Getty Images
The oldest goal scorer in Champions League History, thanks to his win against Royal Antwerp.
Pepe hasn’t changed much.
Theo Hernandez, AC Milan
Theo impressed again / Marco Canoniero/GettyImages
There is no better left-back than Theo Hernandez.
On Tuesday, the France international showed that once more by winning seven duels and grabbing an assist during Milan’s famous and much needed win against Paris Saint-Germain.
CM: Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig)
Midfield masterclass / PEDJA MILOSAVLJEVIC/GettyImages
The schlager style is an instrumental piece of music that often has simple lyrics with a happy, upbeat, sentimental feel. It’s also the name of a good midfielder.
Austrian RB Leipzig star, Andreas Weigl was a master in Belgrade. He scored two goals and provided an assist.
CM: Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
This is Mikel Merino, who was a Newcastle United player.
Since moving to Real Sociedad the midfielder went from Mapies’ flop to Spain International. Judging by his assist and goal in Benfica’s win, it is easy to understand why he has now 18 caps.
CM: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Getty Images, Quality Sport Images / Back to His Best
Antoine Griezmann is now in our midfield after tearing Celtic apart on Tuesday.
Atleti’s legend, Diego Maradona scored two goals in the 6-0 victory. The second was a face melting goal.
AM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan)
Fit and firing / Francesco Scaccianoce/GettyImages
Ruben Loftus Cheek, a midfielder for AC Milan in 2023, is named to the Champions League Team of the Weeks because of his performance. This is not what we thought when RLC burst onto the scene in Chelsea, and seemed to be poised to become their next greatest midfielder.
Loftus-Cheek, a former free agent who moved to San Siro as a San Siro player in January of this year, has impressed since then. He saved his best performance for the PSG win.
ST: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Scoring for fun / Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
Games played: 15
Goals: 19
Assists: 7
Harry Kane’s incredible performance since joining Bayern Munich is nothing short of amazing. In the victory over Galatasaray, the England captain scored two goals. This ensured his club qualified for the knockout round as the Group A winner. It’s a good one.
ST: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid)
Getty Images – In-form/Quality Sport Images
Alvaro Morata is in his best form yet in the first months of Atletico Madrid’s 2023/24 season.
Atleti’s win against Celtic was a resounding victory for the forward, who scored two goals and had an assist.
