UEFA Champions League: Matchday 2 - Top 5 performers

Here are the top five players from Matchday 2 of UEFA Champions League:

5. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo played like, well, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger added two goals to his hat-trick from matchday one in Istanbul, to make him the season’s top scorer in the Champions League after two games. The former Manchester United player had 7 shots on target during the game, he also made 4 key passes in FC Copenhagen’s half of the pitch. He scored 12 goals for club and country in September, and will be looking for more in the month of October. Ronaldo also completed 85% of his passes on Wednesday, bettering his season average of 80.8%.

4. Andre Schürrle

Chelsea’s German winger Andre Schurrle has had his fair share of critics this season. But on Tuesday, Schurrle answered them in style. The former Bayer Leverkusen player was all over the pitch for Chelsea in Bucharest on Tuesday. He was a constant threat on goal, finishing the game with five shots on goal forcing two saves from Steaua’s goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu. Schurrle did not forget his defensive duties either, making five crucial tackles to win possession back for Chelsea. If the German international continues this form, he’ll certainly be up there challenging the likes of Juan Mata, Oscar, Eden Hazard, and Willian for a place in Chelsea’s starting XI.

3. Konstantinos Mitroglou

Hands up, how many of you had heard of Konstantinos Mitroglou before his splendid hat-trick on Tuesday night against Anderlecht? The Greek scored an impressive 20 goals last season for Olympiacos, but he has been something else this season. Nine goals already in just eight games, the striker is really looking a class act. In added to his three goals, Mitroglou also completed 2 key passes and 3 turnovers in a historical victory for Olympiacos at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Don’t be surprised if a big club comes knocking for him soon.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Is there a better central striker in the world at the moment than Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Falcao? Robin van Persie? Sergio Aguero? Diego Costa, maybe? All them are world-class players but for me, Zlatan is the best. A player who single-handedly wins games. The Champions League is one trophy that has eluded Ibrahimovic, despite him winning nine league titles over the last ten years. The Swede celebrates his 32nd birthday today, and at this point in his career he must be desperate to get his hands on the “Big Ears”, and it showed against Benfica. He scored two goals in the first half an hour and was a constant threat to Benfica’s defence in the second half.

1. Angel di Maria

A lot of critics have questioned Real Madrid’s move to spend so much money on Gareth Bale when they already had Angel di Maria at the club. Last night’s performance from the Argentine only increase skepticism over Bale’s world record transfer move to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Rosario-born winger was in magnificent form as Real Madrid brushed aside Danish club FC Copenhagen 4-0. Di Maria had a big role to play in three out of the four goals, creating one for Cristiano Ronaldo with a brilliant piece of skill and scoring two himself. He contributed 5 accurate crosses in the game, as many as the entire Copenhagen team put together. It’ll be interesting to see how Bale fits in this team once he returns from injury.