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A whopping 44 goals flew in during the first Matchweek of the 2021/22 edition of the Champions League, and there were some stunning performances from a cast that included some surprise names as well as the usual suspects.
Let us talk you through Playmaker's 'Fab Four' from the midweek action...
Sébastien Haller
Where else to start than with West Ham misfit Haller - who scored a poker (that's a four-goal haul for those not familiar with the terminology!) on his Champions League debut in Ajax's stunning 5-1 away win at Portuguese champions Sporting.
The rangy forward tapped home from close range to give the Dutchmen the lead on two minutes - and he never looked back: netting another inside the first 10 minutes and then another brace early in the second-half.
With Brazilian forward Antony running Sporting ragged, Haller provided Ajax's cutting edge to put shell-shocked Sporting to the sword: four goals from five shots is a very tidy return and the Ivory Coast international now sits proudly above the likes of Ronaldo, Haaland and Lewandowski at the top of the UCL goal charts.
It would be one of the stories of the season if he could stay there...
Jude Bellingham
Given the way he handles himself on and off the pitch, it's sometimes hard to wrap your head around the fact that Jude Bellingham is still only 18-years-old.
After establishing himself as a starter at Dortmund last season, the stage seems set for the midfield all-rounder to take his game to an even higher level this season, and a man-of-the-match performance for the Bundesliga outfit in a 2-1 win in Besiktas underlined just how exciting a talent he is.
Bellingham got the show on the road for Dortmund with a smart first-half finish before his assist for - who else - Erling Braut Haaland put his side two goals to the good and helped the Germans record a 2-1 win victory that sets them up very nicely in Group C.
Christopher Nkunku
It's fair to say Wednesday night was a mixed one for Leipzig's French midfielder - who scored his first-ever Champions League hat-trick away at the defending Premier League champions...but still lost 6-3!
The exciting 23-year-old's quality has been apparent in this competition over the past few seasons, and his ability to find pockets of space and make opponents pay was well and truly evident at the Emirates.
His three opportunist goals against Man City - including two headers - underlined Nkunku's ability to shine at Champions League level, and the chances are that he'll find his way into a few more Fantasy Football teams come Matchweek Two!
Robert Lewandowski
We mentioned the Usual Suspects earlier in this article and there's no escaping the fact that Robert Lewandowski is the hottest shot in Europe these days.
Two goals at the Nou Camp in Munich's 3-0 humbling of Barcelona underlined the fact that 'Lewa' is in the form of his life and almost guarantees goals no matter the opposition - the way he casually sat down Gerard Pique for his second a wonderful sight to behold.
After missing Bayern's quarter-final defeat to PSG in the Champions League last season, the Polish hitman has unfinished business to attend to...and if he can stay fit, the Bundesliga giants must be one of the favourites to win this edition of Europe's elite cup competition.
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1-5 | ||
Paulinho 33' | Sébastien Haller 2' 9' 51' 63' Steven Berghuis 39' |
