After a three-week break, the UEFA Champions League returned with a bang on Matchdays 3, featuring 18 thrilling encounters on October 22 and 23. The standout fixtures included the clash between last season’s finalists Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, as well as the renewed rivalry between Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Both Spanish clubs emerged victorious, with Real Madrid staging an impressive comeback to defeat Dortmund 5-2, while Barcelona ended their nine-year losing streak against Bayern with a convincing 4-1 win.
Aside from the Spanish giants, other noteworthy performances came from Premier League sides Aston Villa and Liverpool, who maintained their perfect record in the competition with wins over Bologna (2-0) and RB Leipzig (1-0) respectively. Manchester City also put on a dominant display, thrashing Sparta Prague 5-0, while AS Monaco impressed with a 5-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade. Celtic managed a solid draw against Atalanta away from home.
In this article, we highlight the top performers from Champions League Matchday 3:
#5 Mattia Perin – Juventus
Despite being on the losing side, Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin stood out with a stellar performance against VfB Stuttgart. He made a series of crucial saves and even stopped a penalty, keeping his team in the game until the very end.
#4 Matheus Nunes – Manchester City
Matheus Nunes shone for Manchester City in their 5-0 win over Sparta Prague, contributing a goal and two assists. The midfielder’s exceptional performance was key to City’s success on the night.
#3 Takumi Minamino – AS Monaco
Former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino was in inspired form for AS Monaco, scoring twice and providing an assist in their 5-1 win over Red Star Belgrade. His creativity and clinical finishing were instrumental in the victory.
#2 Raphinha – Barcelona
Raphinha was the star of the show as Barcelona defeated Bayern Munich 4-1, with the winger bagging a sensational hat-trick. His skillful goals and overall impact on the game earned him the Man of the Match award.
#1 Vinicius Jr. – Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr. put on a show for Real Madrid in their 5-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund, scoring a remarkable hat-trick in the second half. His electrifying performance, including a stunning solo goal, was a highlight of Matchday 3.
