Alvarez the star in Champions League best XI dominated by Barcelona
Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez maintained his flying form to lead the Champions League team of the round following a superb display against FK Crvena Zvezda. City's Premier League rivals Newcastle and Arsenal are also represented in an XI dominated by La Liga powerhouse Barcelona, BSC Young Boys, RB Leipzig, PSG, Bayern Munich and FC Porto round off the team of the round.
Nick Pope (Newcastle United) - 8.41
Newcastle’s number one made a total of eight saves as the Magpies played out a goalless draw at San Siro on their return to the Champions League; only once has the England international made more in a match that WhoScored have full coverage for. The 31-year-old’s rating of 8.41 saw him awarded the player of the match award and a spot in the team of the round.
Jules Kounde (Barcelona) - 7.90
France international Jules Kounde continued his imperious form at centre-back for Barcelona in their 5-0 win over Royal Antwerp. The 24-year-old won five aerial duels, made two tackles, one interception, two key passes and maintained a pass success rate of 94.2% to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.90.
Mohamed Ali Camara (Young Boys) - 7.74
Despite eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat at home to RB Leipzig, defender Mohamed Ali Camara’s performance at the back for the hosts has landed the Guinea international a spot in the team of the round. The 26-year-old made six tackles and interceptions, four clearances, four blocks and won three aerial duels to return a WhoScored rating of 7.74.
Mohamed Simakan (RB Leipzig) - 7.70
At the other end of the pitch in Switzerland, Mohamed Simakan’s two tackles, one interception, four clearances and third-minute headed finish earned the Frenchman a WhoScored rating of 7.70.
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) - 8.84
Achraf Hakimi’s WhoScored rating of 8.84 makes him the fifth highest rated player in the Champions League after the first round of group stages fixtures. The Moroccan made a total of six tackles and interceptions, three key passes and three successful dribbles, and finished off a neat move for the home side in the second half confirm all three points.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) - 8.59
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side returned to the Champions League in style against PSV, and captain Martin Odegaard was the standout performer at the Emirates Stadium. Odegaard completed three successful dribbles, maintained a pass success rate of 91.4% and added Arsenal’s fourth in the second half to seal a 4-0 victory.
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) - 8.34
20-year-old Germany international Jamal Musiala ran riot against Manchester United at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, completing all five dribbles he attempted, while also making three key passes and providing the assist for Serge Gnabry’s first half finish. Musiala’s impressive performance earns him a WhoScored rating of 8.34.
FC Porto winger Galeno had a direct hand in all three of his team’s goals against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old opened the scoring in the eighth minute, before netting again seven minutes later and then setting up Mehdi Taremi for the Portuguese side’s third. Galeno also completed three successful dribbles and made three interceptions on his way to a WhoScored rating of 9.56.
Former Leeds United winger Raphinha continued to flourish under Xavi in Barcelona’s 5-0 thrashing of Royal Antwerp. The Brazilian was on hand to provide the assist for Joao Felix in the 66th minute, and also made two key passes and completed three successful dribbles to land a WhoScored rating of 8.85.
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) - 10.0
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez takes home the Champions League player of the round award after the first set of fixtures, having registered a perfect WhoScored rating of 10.0 against FK Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday evening. The Argentina international scored twice in the space of 13 minutes to hand the home side the lead and made a total of seven key passes, while completing all three of the dribbles he attempted.
Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix’s perfect start to life at Barcelona continued on Tuesday at the Estadi Olympic Lluis Companys. The Portugal international was directly involved in three of his side’s five goals, finding the net twice and providing a stunning assist for Robert Lewandowski. Felix also made one key pass and completed one successful dribble to return a WhoScored rating of 9.48.
