Champions League Review: Bayern Shine, Cypriot History And Rooney V Van Dijk

The large winners

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich. They rule ultimate successful Germany and are connected a 16-match winning streak. Beating nan defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain, connected Tuesday was further impervious of Bayern’s credentials. Luís Diaz, whose combativeness is sorely missed by Liverpool, scored two, but he took nan aggression excessively acold erstwhile his situation connected Achraf Hakimi led to a first-half reddish card. That meant nan second-half became a trial of protect credentials that Bayern passed. “I besides want america to bask it erstwhile we person to defend,” said Kompany. He was by nary intends his club’s first-choice arsenic coach successful nan summertime of 2024 – relegation from nan Premier League pinch Burnley had damaged his reputation. But successful Bavaria, nan sound from nan boardroom has been quelled – for now – by nan brilliance of his team’s play.

Pafos make history. A acquainted look – and hairstyle – played 90 minutes arsenic David Luiz marshalled nan defence for Pafos’s conclusion of Villarreal. The 38-year-old, nan protect lion of Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League win, is nan oldest outfield subordinate successful this season’s competition. When nan Cypriot nine were formed connected 10 June 2014, Luiz was successful nan process of negotiating a move from Chelsea to PSG. The scoring leader for Pafos this week, coached by Juan Carlos Carcedo, a longtime adjunct to Unai Emery, was Derrick Luckassen, Luiz’s protect partner. Luckassen is nan older relative of Brian Brobbey, Sunderland’s No 9. The assistance came via Ken Sema, erstwhile of Watford, who is portion of a Pafos squad from crossed nan shot spectrum. “As a first-time manager, it’s my top victory,” said Caredo; it was Pafos’ first-ever group shape win, too.

Qarabag and Brugge denied. Perhaps nan format’s comparative deficiency of jeopardy encourages smaller teams to onslaught supposedly elite guidance – immoderate nan case, it makes for awesome entertainment. Both Qarabag, who gave Chelsea a fright successful Baku, and Club Brugge, who drew 3-3 pinch Barcelona successful nan champion lucifer of nan week, supplied nan extended group shape pinch legitimacy via entertainment. Gurban Gurbanov has been successful complaint of Qarabag since 2008 – a play successful which Chelsea person had 14 “permanent” managers. His squad ravaged Chelsea’s defence, pinch Jorrel Hato suffering a rotten night. Meanwhile, Brugge many times pierced Hansi Flick’s high-line, high-wire act. It took Lamine Yamal’s habitual brilliance, and a video adjunct coming to nan rescue of Wojciech Szczęsny arsenic Brugge’s “winner” was ruled out, to prevention Barça. Brugge coach Nicky Hayen is winning admirers; he was successful complaint of Haverfordwest County successful nan League of Wales 3 years ago.

Player of nan week

There were plentifulness of contenders for this award. Brugge’s Carlos Forbs sewage 2 goals and an assistance against Barcelona, Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen scored a superb hat-trick against Ajax, while Arsenal’s 15-year-old midfielder Max Dowman became nan competition’s youngest ever player. But this week’s grant belongs to a defender – though not Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven, contempt his breathtaking solo extremity against Copenhagen. The grant alternatively goes to Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, who first made his people a twelvemonth agone pinch a crunching tackle connected Kylian Mbappé. On Tuesday it was Vinícius Júnior who was locked down by nan Northern Irishman, who intelligibly reserves his champion for Real Madrid. Bradley’s wound took spot arsenic Trent Alexander-Arnold, booed each evening by nan Anfield crowd, was sat connected nan Madrid chair until nan later stages. Thibaut Courtois, successful Madrid’s goal, was a contender for subordinate of nan week, too.

They said it

“Some players are not happy to beryllium substituted, they don’t respond well, and we benignant these things retired successful nan locker room.” Ivan Jurić, Atalanta’s coach, plays down nan ferocious touchline altercation pinch Ademola Lookman aft nan subordinate was subbed disconnected during nan team’s 1-0 triumph astatine Marseille. While Atalanta’s players celebrated astatine full-time, Jurić and Lookman resumed their heated discussion. “We each cognize these situations, we’ve each had them arsenic players, arsenic coaches, they hap successful nan power of nan moment,” Jurić added.

The pundit’s chair

“As Virgil is skipper I deliberation that is your opportunity to spell and lead nan players and that is what I was saying. That happens successful shot and I deliberation nan consequence has been awesome from Virgil and nan team.” Awkward for Wayne Rooney, arsenic Virgil van Dijk confronts him successful Amazon Prime’s post-game show. That came aft Rooney had been critical of nan defender’s activity and assemblage connection connected his BBC podcast. Point made, Van Dijk signed disconnected pinch a “we move on” and an clasp pinch Rooney.

Looking ahead

There is nary relegation successful nan Champions League but nan 5th information of matches, which starts connected 25 November, opens pinch a six-pointer betwixt 2 fallen giants, Ajax and Benfica. John Heitinga is nan latest Ajax younker merchandise to struggle to revive nan club’s erstwhile glories. Will he beryllium successful complaint for overmuch longer? “Johnny is not nan correct head for this Ajax,” nan charismatic Ajax supporters’ nine said successful a statement. Benfica’s nonaccomplishment to Bayer Leverkusen saw José Mourinho revert to type. He blamed “a referee who, unfortunately, I cognize good and I cognize doesn’t person overmuch affection for me”. Mourinho’s return to Lisbon whitethorn not past long, either.

Enzo Maresca drew disapproval for Chelsea’s capacity successful Baku: his squad costs £1.6bn compared to Qarabag’s £21m. A conclusion of Barcelona astatine nan Bridge would thief his cause. The fixture recalls fond memories of meetings betwixt nan clubs: Ronaldinho’s superb 2005 flick, Lionel Messi coming of property nan pursuing year, Andrés Iniesta’s victor successful 2009, and a titanic semi-final successful 2012.