UEFA Champions League 2018-19: Best Players from Match Day 1

Lionel Messi

Messi silenced his critics by a mammoth performance on matchday 1

Is there ever any doubt? He is often criticized for his performances in the Champions League despite having the highest goals per game in the competition. Messi silenced his critics by a mammoth performance on matchday 1.

Announced as captain of FC Barcelona at the start of the season, he set his target for the season, the UEFA Champions League.

It is more than safe to say, he is not messing around. The PSV team coached by a former Barcelona man, Mark Van Bommel visited the Camp Nou for the first UEFA Champions League game of the season.

Leo Messi started his usual self, walking around the pitch, getting a feel of things, playing some short passes.

As the game progressed, Messi began to open up. Dropping in deep, he dribbled till halfway line and then he passed with intent.

Either he played a one-two with Coutinho or he hit the left wing where Alba was running. Messi picked out Dembele twice in the first half with a lob and a through pass, and he also picked up Suarez with a great pass. All chances wasted and Messi himself wasting one.

A free kick won by Dembele outside the box, enthralled the Camp Nou. They started their Viking claps sensing a magical moment.

Messi stepped up and curled the ball over the wall, out of the keeper’s reach, dipping just enough to land in the top right corner.

He followed up with a second and third goal. Messi passed the ball to Rakitic and moved in towards the six-yard box and finished Rakitic’s return lob with a single touch.

Suarez came up with finishing touches for the hat-trick as Messi buried the ball past the keeper with his right foot. Free kick, left foot, right foot, any way you like, Leo delivered.

The best performance on matchday one by the magical man, Lionel Messi. His first game in Champions League as Barcelona captain and he ends the first round as the top scorer of UCL 2018-19. A perfect 10 performance. Barcelona will hope for him to continue in the same way.

These are the best performers from matchday 1. Will they continue in the same manner as the competition progresses? Time will tell.