Champions League Awards – King Charles, Man City crumble

Our Champions League awards honour the best – and worst – of the week’s European football action.

Moment of the Week

Sure, there were thrilling comebacks, bigger games and better goals this week but Robert Lewandowski’s latest feat deserves its moment in the sun. The Poland forward brought up a century (100!) of goals in the Champions League with a brace for Barcelona against Brest.

It’s an astonishing achievement for the 36-year-old, who has shown few signs of slowing down as he averages better than a goal-per-game in 2024/25. He’s just the third player to have achieved the feat, joining arguably the game’s greatest ever talents in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to reach 100 goals on this stage.

His 0.81 goals per game average in this competition is in fact better than both Ronaldo (0.77) and Messi (0.79). A goal-getter supreme.

An honourable mention for this Conor Bradley tackle. Anfield does not exactly need lifting on European nights but the academy product certainly did his best to get the crowd going against Real Madrid.

A perfectly-timed tackle of controlled aggression on an opposition superstar. Touchpaper lit.

Player of the Week

There were some ready to write off Charles De Ketelaere after an underwhelming spell at AC Milan. The youngster failed to score in 40 appearances for the Rossoneri in 2022/23, but has found a home since signing for Atalanta.

The 23-year-old has 18 goals and 20 assists in 68 games since signing for Atalanta and put on a masterclass in his side’s big win against Young Boys this week. De Ketelaere became the first player in Champions League history to score twice and provide three assists in a single fixture, as the Italians won 6-1 in Switzerland. He’s proving a point with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.

Goal of the Week

If Lazar Samardzic can just find some consistency, Atalanta have a gem on their hands.

This stunning solo goal showed just what the summer signing is capable of.

That stud roll nutmeg is a thing of beauty.

Save of the Week

Fresh from being crowned as the best goalkeeper in the world for the second successive year at the Ballon d’Or awards last month, Emi Martinez provided an example of his brilliance in Aston Villa’s goalless draw with Juventus. Elite reactions from the Argentine.

Stat of the Week

Pep Guardiola must have thought his Manchester City side had broken out of their slump after racing into a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord at the Etihad…

They didn’t.

It’s six without a win for the Citizens, who make the trip to Anfield next.

Donkey of the Week

Cameron Carter-Vickers won’t want to watch this one back. A comical own goal from the Celtic defender.

Read – Van Nistelrooy agrees deal to become new Leicester manager

See more – Slot delighted as Liverpool beat ‘pain in the ass’ Real Madrid

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