UEFA Champions League 2018-19: Best Players from Match Day 1

The UEFA Champions League 2018-19 has got off to a pulsating start. With the first round of matches concluded, we have witnessed some amazing moments and surprises.

The most dangerous trio in Europe of PSG did little on the pitch to amuse the Liverpool defenders.

Even after their poor football, just when they thought they got away with one, Roberto Firmino came off the bench and put PSG out of their misery.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Spain was short lived as he saw red under controversial circumstances. The Juventus forward seemingly nicked the back leg of the Valencia defender Murillo and pulled his hair. T

he actions might have come out of frustration of the missed goalscoring opportunity but the referee saw enough to pull a card out.

The Juventus No. 7 left the pitch, crying and heartbroken, pleading his case to Valencia coach Marcelino. English Champions Manchester City suffered a shock defeat at home to Olympique Lyon.

When the stakes are the highest, the lights are the brightest and crowds are the loudest, only the best thrive under pressure. We have a closer look at players who did just that in matchday 1.

Honorable mentions: Paul Pogba, Nicolas Tagliafico and Nabil Fekir

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#5 Jason Denayer

Denayer returned to the city of Manchester with a point to prove and he came out in flying colours

Bruno Genesio’s Lyon visited one of the title favorites and English Champions Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

The rampant City attack which tears apart defences for fun had no impact whatsoever on the match. City fell to Lyon to the shock of footballing fraternity.

Jason Denayer might not even be a well-known defender for most of us. He plays in the Ligue 1, which has not got much of an attention.

Denayer, to the surprise of many, is a product of Manchester City’s academy and has featured for them in the UEFA Youth League and U21 League Cup.

However, City decided to loan him out to various teams including Galatasaray and Celtic. This season due to the presence of defenders like John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, City sold Denayer to Lyon without playing even one season for them.

Denayer returned to the city of Manchester with a point to prove and he came out in flying colours.

He never let the center forward get out of his sight. Gabriel Jesus was troubled all night because Denayer was on his tail.

Early in the game, Denayer cleared a ball whipped in by Sterling which if he had missed, would have been gobbled up by Jesus.

A few moments later, Sterling blasted a shot on goal from short range and Denayer stood in front like a rock, making a crucial block.

Jesus tried a shot from distance in the second half, which deflected off Denayer and safely rolled into the palms of the goalkeeper. Denayer’s presence inside the box forced City to take shots from distance.

All in all, Denayer sniffed up all the attacks of Manchester City and City couldn’t break the gates of Lyon’s defense all night, apart from the one instance in which Denayer slept.

Stats don’t reflect Denayer’s performance last night but he was amazing to say the least.

#4 James Milner

Milner was a prime reason for Neymar’s isolation

James Milner is 32 years old, but his age doesn’t reflect in his performance at all. PSG played far from good football in the game against Liverpool.

Their main man Neymar was nowhere close to disturbing the opposition. Milner was a prime reason for Neymar’s isolation.

Milner’s defensive contribution was a vital one, he pinched the ball near his own box, intercepted passes and stopped the blistering runs from Neymar.

Milner never let Neymar hit hard on the counter and overpowered the Brazilian with ease. Simply put, he pocketed Neymar.

That was not all though, apart from his defensive contribution, he always ran through the right flank near the box, delivering a cross or two.

His early cutback was the first real chance at goal for Liverpool, Virgil Van Dijk stopped by Areola. His off the ball play was tremendous, though it might go unnoticed.

Milner positioned himself near the end of the box when others attacked, waiting for any clearance to fall to him.

It also helped him backtrack quickly if Liverpool were to be hit on the counter. He showed enough pace for his age when he worked through the right wing for crossing. He stepped up for the penalty and blasted it towards Areola’s left with ease.

Roberto Firmino might have sealed the deal for Liverpool but James Milner was the pivot who built the ploy. His work rate is simply brilliant for a 32-year-old.

A well-rounded performance from Liverpool’s very own James Milner. Anfield will expect him to deliver at the same level against the like of Griezmann and Ronaldo.

#3 Luka Modric

Modric was the pivot of Real Madrid and Lopetegui will be hoping for more of the same from him

Can you keep this guy out of the game? The heart of Real Madrid’s midfield, take him out and they will nearly fall apart.

Spanish coach Luis Enrique executed his plans to perfection in stopping Luka, Eusebio Di Francesco however, not so lucky.

Luka Modric started the game a little slow but still, he had his moments. Always prowling near the box looking for the long shot, always having his heads up for the pass.

Modric showed his class very early when he hit a through ball for Isco, which did not end up in the net. Modric was not seen for much of the first half then. He just occupied his positions well and waited for chances to arrive.

In the second half, Modric displayed his whole class, he ran around the pitch, forward towards goal-scoring positions, putting the goalkeeper and defenders under pressure when they tried to build.

He had a goal scoring opportunity when he timed a perfect run into the box, but his stretch wasn’t good enough to score.

The highlight for Modric in the game came soon afterward.

Getting the ball behind the halfway line, he saw Bale’s run in a split second and delivered a perfect through ball in behind the defense.

A wonderful game from the Croatian maestro, but someone else had a better game than him. Still, Modric was the pivot of Real Madrid and Lopetegui will be hoping for more of the same from him.

#2 Isco

Isco is one of those benefits, getting more playing time and more chances to express himself

The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo is benefiting Real Madrid a lot. Isco is one of those benefits, getting more playing time and more chances to express himself.

He started the game at an unusual left wing position. But into the game, he was more sort of a free man, with Marcelo running from behind to the wings. Isco had a terrific game, right from the start to the end.

He had his first scoring opportunity off the through ball from Luka, which he missed. However, he created an array of chances. His first cross was in towards Carvajal who was unmarked.

Isco gave a lot of warnings with the ball but the defense did not bother to close him down. He shot from distance in near the halftime mark.

Real Madrid’s first goal was scored by Isco, a belted free kick with a curl and a dip on it. The goalkeeper stood frozen.

Isco was making amazing plays, making himself available for the pass, moving in towards shooting spaces after a pass, making overlapping runs.

He picked Benzema with a perfect through ball but the opportunity was wasted by Bale. He picked up Bale afterward with a perfect lob and he played Modric in behind the defense with a through ball.

Isco had it all. At the end of the day, Roma should be glad it was 3-0 because the chances that Isco created should have made it almost six.

The second best performance of matchday 1. Isco will be the key to Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign.

Lionel Messi

Messi silenced his critics by a mammoth performance on matchday 1

Is there ever any doubt? He is often criticized for his performances in the Champions League despite having the highest goals per game in the competition. Messi silenced his critics by a mammoth performance on matchday 1.

Announced as captain of FC Barcelona at the start of the season, he set his target for the season, the UEFA Champions League.

It is more than safe to say, he is not messing around. The PSV team coached by a former Barcelona man, Mark Van Bommel visited the Camp Nou for the first UEFA Champions League game of the season.

Leo Messi started his usual self, walking around the pitch, getting a feel of things, playing some short passes.

As the game progressed, Messi began to open up. Dropping in deep, he dribbled till halfway line and then he passed with intent.

Either he played a one-two with Coutinho or he hit the left wing where Alba was running. Messi picked out Dembele twice in the first half with a lob and a through pass, and he also picked up Suarez with a great pass. All chances wasted and Messi himself wasting one.

A free kick won by Dembele outside the box, enthralled the Camp Nou. They started their Viking claps sensing a magical moment.

Messi stepped up and curled the ball over the wall, out of the keeper’s reach, dipping just enough to land in the top right corner.

He followed up with a second and third goal. Messi passed the ball to Rakitic and moved in towards the six-yard box and finished Rakitic’s return lob with a single touch.

Suarez came up with finishing touches for the hat-trick as Messi buried the ball past the keeper with his right foot. Free kick, left foot, right foot, any way you like, Leo delivered.

The best performance on matchday one by the magical man, Lionel Messi. His first game in Champions League as Barcelona captain and he ends the first round as the top scorer of UCL 2018-19. A perfect 10 performance. Barcelona will hope for him to continue in the same way.

These are the best performers from matchday 1. Will they continue in the same manner as the competition progresses? Time will tell.