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Champions League team of the night: Two Liverpool stars, Ajax and RB Salzburg dominate
The Champions League returned last night with 16 teams battling for European glory - Express Sport assesses which players make the team of the night.
It was a sorry start for reigning European Cup holders Liverpool and Europa League champions Chelsea in the Champions League.
Liverpool went toe-for-toe with Napoli in the daunting San Paolo Stadium but, just like last year in the group stages, left Naples with nothing.
Two late goals - the first coming from a contentious penalty - sealed the win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
The Italian coach’s former team, Chelsea, also started roughly. A 1-0 home loss to Valencia was compounded by Ross Barkley’s controversial late penalty miss.
Although the designated penalty taker, there was seemingly opposition from a couple of Chelsea players, mainly Willian, before the England midfielder crashed his effort against the bar.
Other standout results in the opening round of fixtures included Red Bull Salzburg’s 6-2 home win over Genk, while last season’s semi-finalists Ajax swept aside Lille 3-0 at Johan Cruyff ArenA.
Barcelona held on to for a stalemate at Borussia Dortmund as fellow Group F incumbents Inter Milan and Slavia Prague drew 1-1 at San Siro. The same scoreline was at Lyon vs Zenit while Benfica lost 2-1 in Lisbon to RB Leipzig.
But which 11 players make it into Express Sport’s team of the night?
GK - Adrian - Liverpool
The Spanish shot-stopper may have conceded two goals by he could not do much about either - a penalty and close range effort after a defensive mistake. He only made four saves against Napoli but three were particularly superb.
RB - Achraf Hakimi - Borussia Dortmund
Had Antoine Griezmann drifting in from his flank but coped admirably and was brave enough to embark on dribbles (five) up the pitch as Dortmund pushed for a win over Barcelona.
CB - Kalidou Koulibaly - Napoli
Liverpool’s electric front three naturally created some chances but were largely thwarted by the imposing centre-back who commanded the air well and proved a blockade not many players fancied their chances against.
CB - Mats Hummels - Borussia Dortmund
Composed on the ball against the energy of Barcelona’s frontline, commanded his defence as they almost comfortably kept a clean sheet against one of the most potent attack in Europe.
LB - Nicolas Tagliafico - Ajax
Faultless performance from the 27-year-old, who assisted Quincy Promes’ opener with a delightful cross, scored a thumping header in the second-half and kept a clean sheet on a fine night’s work in Amsterdam.
CM - Fabinho - Liverpool
He has morphed into one of the finest holding midfielders on the planet over the last six months and completed six tackles, keeping possession well and providing a base from which to build attacks.
CM - Edson Alvarez - Ajax
Cracking finish from a tight angle to put Ajax 2-0 up in the second half and had 91 per cent passing accuracy from his 54 distributions of the ball. Three aerial duels and four tackles won as well.
CM - Daniel Parejo - Valencia
Commanded the midfield at Stamford Bridge, misplaced two passes from 66 and assisted the smart free-kick which yielded the winning goal on a successful smash-and-grab.
RW - Hwang Hee-chan - Red Bull Salzburg
One goal and two assists for the South Korean in a blitzing display at home, shades of compatriot Heung-min Son in his jet heels and composure in the final third.
ST - Erling Braut Haaland - Red Bull Salzburg
Hat-trick on his Champions League debut puts the 19-year-old in fine company - only Wayne Rooney and Raul scored a treble at a younger age.
LW - Hakim Ziyech - Ajax
Almost scored an unbelievable goal in the opening exchanges through some fleet-footed skill, an absolute pain to deal with throughout for Lille with his magic on the wing, and whipped in the corner for Tagliafico to head home.