UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Top 5 Performers From Matchday 1

The fully revamped UEFA Champions League got underway with Juventus taking on PSV Eindhoven and Young Boys locking horns with Aston Villa on Tuesday, September 17. Throughout Wednesday and Thursday, 16 more matches took place across Europe, featuring the best teams on the continent.

We were treated to some excellent matches on Matchday 1. On Tuesday, Bayern Munich recorded a historic 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb whereas defending champions Real Madrid got off to a winning start, beating VfB Stuttgart 3-1. On Wednesday, Celtic recorded an emphatic 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava while Manchester City played out a goalless draw with Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium. Finally, on Thursday, we got two surprising results, as Arsenal played out a goalless draw with Atalanta and Barcelona lost 2-1 to Monaco.

Below, we will take a look at the brilliant men who inspired their teams to noteworthy results on Matchday 1 of the 2024-25 Champions League season. Here are the top five players who stood out on Gameweek 1:

#5 Arne Engels – Celtic

Scottish Premiership side Celtic claimed a club-best 5-1 victory against Slovak Super Liga outfit Slovan Bratislava on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League season. It was undoubtedly a team effort, but we cannot help but single out Arne Engels for the performance he delivered on Wednesday.

Engels, who operates as a central midfielder, set up Liam Scales with a brilliant assist in the 17th minute. From a corner, Engels delivered a peach of a ball into the box, allowing Scales to thump it home. Just before the hour mark, Celtic won a penalty, and Engels stepped up to take it. Full of confidence, the midfielder slotted the ball into the corner to make it 3-0 for the home side. Throughout the game, Engels completed 47 passes (92% accuracy), created two chances, had four shots, won four tackles, and came out on top in nine duels. Talk about an impactful performance!

#4 Jamie Gittens – Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund secured a thumping 3-0 win over Club Brugge on Wednesday. Substitute Jamie Gittens was the star of the show as he bagged a fine brace. Serhou Guirassy scored the third goal from the penalty spot in the Champions League opener.

Gittens opened the scoring for Dortmund in the 76th minute, dispatching a speculative effort after getting the ball from Emre Can. His shot benefitted from two deflections inside the box and hit the back of the net. Ten minutes later, Gittens scored again, this time without any assistance from deflections. The 20-year-old cut in from the left, zipped past two defenders, and found the far corner with a rasping drive. The English forward also created a chance, pulled off two dribbles, won a tackle, and made four recoveries.

#3 Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid got off to a winning start in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season, thanks to their talisman Antoine Griezmann. Against an in-form RB Leipzig, Atletico claimed a 2-1 comeback victory, with the Frenchman contributing to both goals.

Atletico Madrid looked rattled after Benjamin Sesko fired RB Leipzig into the lead in the fourth minute. However, just when the going got tough, Griezmann stepped up to the plate, leading his teammates by example.

In the 28th minute, Griezmann equalized for Los Rojiblancos. Marcos Llorente delivered a low cross into the Leipzig box, inviting Griezmann to send it into the back of the net. The way the 2018 World Cup winner caught the delivery on the volley was a thing of beauty. Then, in the 90th minute, Griezmann turned provider, swinging a beautiful cross inside the area, allowing Jose Gimenez to head it home from close range.

In addition to the goal and assist, Griezmann created three chances, completed two dribbles, played six passes into the final third, and delivered three accurate crosses. He also won two tackles, made eight recoveries, and won six of seven ground duels.

#2 Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen, who made history by winning the 2023-24 Bundesliga title without losing a single match, commenced their 2024-25 Champions League campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over Feyenoord. Florian Wirtz was the star of the show, as he scored twice. Alejandro Grimaldo and Timon Wellenreuther (own goal) were the other two goalscorers for the German champions.

Wirtz needed just five minutes to score on his Champions League debut. Robert Andrich won possession inside the Feyenoord half and played the ball through to Wirtz. The Germany international breached the box before shooting the ball into the bottom-right corner. Wirtz doubled his money in the 36th minute, applying a volleyed finish to send Jeremie Frimpong’s far-post cross into the back of the net.

Before coming off in the 71st minute, Wirtz created three chances, made three recoveries, and all five of his duels.

#1 Harry Kane – Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich talisman Harry Kane opened up a massive lead in the UEFA Champions League Golden Boot race on Matchday 1. The England captain scored four times as the Bavarians claimed an eye-popping 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb. Raphael Guerreiro, Leroy Sane, Leon Goretzka, and Michael Olise (brace) were the other goalscorers.

Bayern Munich had the ball in the back of the net in the 16th minute, but the VAR caught goalscorer Serge Gnabry in an offside position. A couple of minutes later, Bayern had the golden opportunity to surge ahead as Aleksandar Pavlovic won a penalty. Designated penalty taker Kane stepped up and slotted the ball into the goalkeeper’s right-hand corner. Guerreiro and Olise added a goal each in the first half to put Bayern in the driving seat.

Inside the first five minutes into the second half, Zagreb came back into the contest, scoring in quick succession to make it 3-2. However, thanks to Kane, they did not get the chance to mount a comeback. In the 57th minute, the 31-year-old turned in Joshua Kimmich’s rebound from just six yards. Sixteen minutes later, Kane dispatched another thumping penalty, beating the goalkeeper on his right. Kane made it four — three penalties — in the 78th minute when he lifted the ball and once again found the right side from the spot.

In addition to the haul, Kane delivered four accurate long balls, played six passes into the final third, and won two of three duels. A performance for the ages!