Real Madrid have missed Cristiano Ronaldo. The groomed one hasn’t suited up for Real Madrid since August August 23rd as CR7 is serving a 5 game suspension in La Liga for pushing a referee against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. Cristiano is eligible to play in the Champions League and it was only right for him to open the scoring vs APOEL.
Over on FS2, Real Madrid lead 1-0!
Juventus arrived at the 2016-17 Champions League Final having surrendered only three goals in 12 matches. Thanks in large part to Lionel Messi, that total was matched in the 2017-18 edition of the competition after only one match, or 69 minutes to be precise.
Messi scored a fantastic brace and Ivan Rakitic added one of his own as Barcelona throttled an under-strength Juventus 3-0 at the Camp Nou to begin Champions League group play.
For a man that has nearly done everything on the football pitch, the one thing evading Lionel Messi was scoring on Gianluigi Buffon. Lets check that one off the list.
Lionel Messi = still v good. https://t.co/1h1zrEqCxm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 12, 2017
It didn’t take long for Neymar to make his stamp on the Champions League in a PSG jersey.
After a Celtic turnover, PSG quickly countered with the Brazilian receiving a beautiful ball from Edinson Cavani. Neymar has now scored 5 goals in 5 games for PSG.
5th game for PSG, 5th goal.
Okay, Neymar. https://t.co/WzSvUCGwYh— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 12, 2017
Timo Werner is rapid. As demonstrated in RB Leipzig’s 2-0 victory over Hamburg on Friday, the German international is a devastating one-man counter attack. Like Wayne Rooney in his pomp, Werner is unabashedly direct.