Stars of the Champions League: Matchday 5

By Harry Freemantle

The penultimate fixture of the UEFA Champions League group stages has concluded with many top performances throughout midweek. Here are the players that stood out the most:

Ciro Immobile - Lazio

Lazio’s star striker (Image: Getty Images)

Lazio went into this fixture knowing that a win against Scottish Champions Celtic would secure them a place in the round of 16. The game was still goalless after over an hour when Ciro Immobile came on. It only took him 20 minutes for the former European Golden Shoe winner to open the scoring with a goal in the 82nd minute.

If that was not enough, Immobile then went on to score again a few minutes later to put the game to bed and secure Lazio’s place in the round of 16 with a game to spare.

Phil Foden - Manchester City

Phil Foden celebrates scoring for Manchester City against RB Leipzig (Image: Getty Images)

Manchester City hosted RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night with the objective of securing top spot in Group G. The first half was rocky as RB Leipzig took a 2-0 lead into half-time with Lois Openda scoring both goals for the German side.

Ten minutes into the second half, Phil Foden then played Erling Haaland in which got Manchester City a goal back. In the 70th minute, Foden received the ball just outside the box, beat his man and placed his shot perfectly into the bottom right corner, making it 2-2.

In the 87th minute, Foden then received the ball inside the box and neatly squared it to Julian Alvarez, who then scored the winning goal. Manchester City won the game 3-2, confirming their place as Group G winners with a game to spare.

Joao Cancelo - Barcelona

Joao Cancelo embraces his teammates after getting on the scoresheet (Image: Getty Images)

Barcelona hosted FC Porto in a vital game to ensure qualification for the round of 16. The game started poorly them, however, as Porto took the lead through Pepe as the Brazilian scored from a rebounded save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Joao Cancelo then scored one of the best goals of the week as he receives the ball out of from the left, skips passed the full-back and then places it into the far post, equalising for Barcelona.

Joao Felix then plays the ball back to his fellow Portuguese compatriot, Cancelo who then found Felix in the box to make it 2-1 to Barcelona in the second half to win Barcelona the game and therefore qualify them for the round of 16 for the first time in two seasons.

Hakim Ziyech - Galatasaray

Hakim Ziyech shows his appreciation to the Galatasaray supporters (Image: Getty Images)

Galatasaray came into this tie against Manchester United knowing that getting a result from this game could lead them to the dream of securing Round of 16 football for the Turkish side for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign.

It started off horribly for them though, as Manchester United scored two quick goals through Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes. However, 29 minutes in, Ziyech wins a free-kick and then places it into the bottom left corner catching Man Utd goalkeeper Andre Onana out.

Within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Scott McTominay made it 3-1 to Manchester United, leaving Galatasaray’s dream looking dead and buried. However, Ziyech scores another free-kick and is then involved in the third goal as Galatasaray pull off a shock result. The Turkish side go into the final group match knowing that a victory against Copenhagen secures them a sport in the last 16.

Joao Mario - Benfica

Joao Mario after completing his hat-trick (Image: Getty Images)

Benfica went into this match with not much to play for. Benfica were already knocked out of the Champions League in the previous game after losing their first four games of the group.

Which is why it led to be a bit of shock as Benfica managed to take a 3-0 lead into half-time against Inter Milan thanks to Joao Mario’s excellent performance, bagging a hat-trick within the first 34 minutes against his former club. Unfortunately, Benfica could not hold on with the game ending 3-3, with goals from Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and an Alexis Sanchez penalty rescuing a point for Inter Milan.

Even qualifying for the Europa League looks to be a tough ask for Benfica as they will need at least a three-goal cushion in their final game against RB Salzburg to qualify for the Europa League preliminary round.

SportHarry Freemantle