UEFA Champions League: The best performers from match day 2

Tottenham Hotspur v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Group B
Yet another original celebration: Lionel Messi

#5 Manuel Neuer

Image result for manuel neuer vs benfica
Rock Solid: Vintage Neuer

The sweeper keeper of Germany spent the most of last season injured. It was perhaps a bad choice by the German coach, Joachim Loew to start him ahead of the in-form Marc Andre Ter-Stegen in the World Cup. Neuer had a World Cup to forget, as he got beaten all ends up by Mexico, chipped by Sweden and broken apart by South Korea. Neuer’s poor performance was one of the reasons for the early exit of the Germans.

Manuel Neuer has decided to put the past aside and move on. His performance against Ajax was the only reason that the Bavarians escaped with a point. The midfield superiority of Ajax was too much for the Bavarians and their defence collapsed under pressure a lot.

The Munich outfit called their keeper into action a lot which explains him holding 4% of the team possession, which is too much for a keeper. His ball distribution was good and he succeeded in 87% of the pass attempts.

Neuer’s first piece of action was the save off Ziyech’s long-range effort, Neuer succeeded in parrying the ball away for a corner. He was into the pick of things a lot more in the second half. Dusan Tadic was raining in balls which were too troublesome.

On one occasion, Tadic’s close range was saved by the big body of Neuer and his reflexes were quick enough to hold on to the loose ball. Ziyech attempted again at goal in the second half a few minutes later, Neuer had to kick the shot away.

Next time, Van De Beek was straight in on goal and should have finished. Neuer just managed to put him off by closing in and making himself broad. Although a matter of luck as well.

Even after holding on till 90 minutes, Ajax didn’t have enough of the action. Schone had a free kick well out of range, but he curved it with an insane amount of pace in it. Neuer’s best and most important save of the night came at the very end, he just did enough to deflect it on to the post. Even after going down, he jumped up and caught the loose ball, making sure that it doesn’t fall for anyone feeding on scraps.

A goalkeeping perfection on display by Manuel Neuer.

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Edited by Rohit Nath