Lewandowski leaves Plzen poleaxed and Sane shines: Champions League team of the week

Names perhaps not so familiar to a wider audience to star on Matchday 1 include Shakhtar Donetsk's much-coveted winger Mykhaylo Mudryk and Dinamo Zagreb's Stefan Ristovski

GK: Andre Onana (Internazionale). Given his Inter debut, after joining from Ajax in the summer, the Cameroonian was on the losing side but prevented the 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich turning a great deal heavier with some smart saves. EPA

DF: Stefan Ristovski (Dinamo Zagreb). One of several heroes of the shock Dinamo Zagreb victory that cost Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel his job. Ristovski anticipated threats and was bold going forward. AP Photo

DF: Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid). Quickly mastering his new, designated role in a back three, the Belgian kept Porto at bay with authority, and his header set up a dramatic, late winner in Atletico’s 2-1 victory. EPA

DF: Alex Grimaldo (Benfica). An assist and a goal for the energetic Spaniard in Benfica’s 2-0 triumph against Maccabi Haifa, the epitome of a team brimming with confidence and now on a run of 10 successive victories. AFP

RM: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid). His assist for the first goal against a bullish Celtic had shades of his pass to Vinicius Junior that settled the last Champions League final. Valverde, a young player rising impressively, has become vital for the European Cup holders. Reuters

CM: Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa (Napoli). A masterly showing, defensively and creatively, in central midfield, galvanising Napoli’s stunning dismantling of Liverpool. Capped his performance with a rare, but well taken goal. Getty Images

CM: Phil Foden (Manchester City). Full of zest, vision and already looking as if he has found a wavelength with Erling Haaland, who struck another brace of goals against Sevilla, but will acknowledge that Foden, who scored City’s second in the 4-0 win, was equally influential. Getty Images

LM: Mykhaylo Muryk (Shakhtar Donetsk). The much-coveted winger starred in a fabulous night for Shakhtar, 4-1 winners over RB Leipzig, a victory warmly appreciated given the adversity faced by Ukrainian football, preoccupied and restricted by the ongoing conflict at home. AFP

RW: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain). The Brazilian is in sensational form, and took it into the prestigious clash with Juventus, a 2-1 win in which Neymar set up the early opening goal for Kylian Mbappe and, demonstrating his eagerness and fitness, remained incisive throughout. EPA

CF: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona). A year on from his goals helping to push Barcelona out of the Champions League in the group phase, Lewandowski marked his Barca debut in the competition with a handsome hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition of Viktoria Plzen. Getty Images

LW: Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich). The former Manchester City forward was at his smooth, decisive best against Inter. He took his goal nicely to put Bayern in the lead and forced the own goal that completed the scoring in Bayern’s 2-0 win. AFP

Ian Hawkey

Some familiar names lit up the opening games of the 2022/23 Champions League, while others announced themselves on club football's biggest stage.

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Robert Lewandowski was instrumental in knocking Barcelona out of the group phase last season, but the prolific Pole, now decked out in the famous maroon, red and blue colours of the Catalans, banged in a hat-trick in Barca's 5-1 demolition of Viktoria Plzen.

Neymar continued his sensational start to the season with a dazzling display in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-1 win over Juventus on Tuesday, while Leroy Sane was the difference in Bayern Munich's victory against Inter Milan and Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa helped instigate Napoli's humiliation of Liverpool.

Names perhaps not so familiar to a wider audience to star on Matchday 1 include Shakhtar Donetsk's much-coveted winger Mykhaylo Mudryk as the Ukraine club enjoyed a 4-1 win away at RB Leipzig while Stefan Ristovski caught the eye in Dinamo Zagreb's shock victory at home to Chelsea that resulted in the sacking of Blues coach Thomas Tuchel.

Ian Hawkey has picked out his best XI using a 3-4-3 formation. You can see his picks in the picture gallery above.

Updated: September 08, 2022, 6:19 AM