CF Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The standard-bearer for Madrid’s historic turnaround from 2-0 down overall, with half an hour left in the tie, to 3-2 winners. He made the first goal with his aggressive pressing, and finished coolly. His second was even cooler. His hat-trick confirmed his status as an all-time Madrid idol. Getty Images
GK Antonio Adan (Sporting).
Keeping a clean sheet at an in-form Manchester City is a feather in any goalkeeper's cap. Admittedly, at 5-0 down from the first leg, the second leg was mainly about Sporting’s pride, but with his smart saves from Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling, Adan preserved it. AFP
RB Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Accomplished in all the positions he took up on what might have been a more nervous night for Liverpool against Internazionale. Alexander-Arnold kept the dangerous Ivan Perisic at bay on his flank and kept possession confidently when Inter brought the aggregate score back to 2-1. EPA
CB Milan Skriniar (Internazionale)
Clean sheets for opposition teams are a rarity at Anfield, and though Inter’s 1-0 win there was not enough to progress, they defended valiantly against a potent Liverpool. None more than the strong, mobile Slovakian, who made a number of key interventions. PA
CB Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich)
Bayern were readier for the ambush of counter-attacking speed that is Salzburg’s key weapon than they had been in the first leg. Hernandez maintained the line of the back three skilfully and dealt with the pace of Salzburg on the break in what turned into a Bayern rout. EPA
LB Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City)
It hardly needs repeating that Zinchenko, a Ukrainian, has suffered off the pitch over the last two weeks. He has been a dignified vocal ambassador for his country. He is also a fine midfielder and full-back. He showed his qualities as creator and container of threat against Sporting. PA
RM Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Two neat goals for the Bayern standard-bearer, and an exquisite cushioned pass to set up Robert Krewandowski’s hat-trick, Muller was the fulcrum that made a very attacking Bayern line-up work and quickly roll over Salzburg. AFP
CM Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
“I will need to do more of the covering,” forecast Luka Modric before Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain. His regular midfield bulwark, Casemiro, was suspended; Toni Kroos was short of fitness. No matter: Modric drove Madrid’s extraordinary comeback from two goals down. Getty Images
CM Fernandinho (Manchester City)
His outings are fewer now that he is in his later 30s, but Fernandinho reminded, in the draw against Sporting, that he can still govern a midfield and make sure that, even in a game that seems academic after a 5-0 first leg lead, those around him stay focused. Reuters
LM Hakan Calhanoglu (Internazionale)
It’s not often Trent Alexander-Arnold is made to look second best in the duel of dead-ball specialists, but Inter’s Turkish master of the set-piece delivery had a fine evening at Anfield. With a little more alertness from colleagues, his passes would have yielded a goal. EPA
CF Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
A hat-trick in a little over 10 minutes. Granted, Lewadowski’s 10th and 11th goals of his 12 so far in this Champions League were penalties, but he was the nimble, slippery player turning his marker to be fouled for both of them. Overwhelmed Salzburg found him unplayable. Reuters
CF Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The standard-bearer for Madrid’s historic turnaround from 2-0 down overall, with half an hour left in the tie, to 3-2 winners. He made the first goal with his aggressive pressing, and finished coolly. His second was even cooler. His hat-trick confirmed his status as an all-time Madrid idol. Getty Images
GK Antonio Adan (Sporting).
Keeping a clean sheet at an in-form Manchester City is a feather in any goalkeeper's cap. Admittedly, at 5-0 down from the first leg, the second leg was mainly about Sporting’s pride, but with his smart saves from Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling, Adan preserved it. AFP
RB Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Accomplished in all the positions he took up on what might have been a more nervous night for Liverpool against Internazionale. Alexander-Arnold kept the dangerous Ivan Perisic at bay on his flank and kept possession confidently when Inter brought the aggregate score back to 2-1. EPA
CB Milan Skriniar (Internazionale)
Clean sheets for opposition teams are a rarity at Anfield, and though Inter’s 1-0 win there was not enough to progress, they defended valiantly against a potent Liverpool. None more than the strong, mobile Slovakian, who made a number of key interventions. PA
CB Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich)
Bayern were readier for the ambush of counter-attacking speed that is Salzburg’s key weapon than they had been in the first leg. Hernandez maintained the line of the back three skilfully and dealt with the pace of Salzburg on the break in what turned into a Bayern rout. EPA
LB Oleksandr Zinchenko (Manchester City)
It hardly needs repeating that Zinchenko, a Ukrainian, has suffered off the pitch over the last two weeks. He has been a dignified vocal ambassador for his country. He is also a fine midfielder and full-back. He showed his qualities as creator and container of threat against Sporting. PA
RM Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Two neat goals for the Bayern standard-bearer, and an exquisite cushioned pass to set up Robert Krewandowski’s hat-trick, Muller was the fulcrum that made a very attacking Bayern line-up work and quickly roll over Salzburg. AFP
CM Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
“I will need to do more of the covering,” forecast Luka Modric before Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain. His regular midfield bulwark, Casemiro, was suspended; Toni Kroos was short of fitness. No matter: Modric drove Madrid’s extraordinary comeback from two goals down. Getty Images
CM Fernandinho (Manchester City)
His outings are fewer now that he is in his later 30s, but Fernandinho reminded, in the draw against Sporting, that he can still govern a midfield and make sure that, even in a game that seems academic after a 5-0 first leg lead, those around him stay focused. Reuters
LM Hakan Calhanoglu (Internazionale)
It’s not often Trent Alexander-Arnold is made to look second best in the duel of dead-ball specialists, but Inter’s Turkish master of the set-piece delivery had a fine evening at Anfield. With a little more alertness from colleagues, his passes would have yielded a goal. EPA
CF Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
A hat-trick in a little over 10 minutes. Granted, Lewadowski’s 10th and 11th goals of his 12 so far in this Champions League were penalties, but he was the nimble, slippery player turning his marker to be fouled for both of them. Overwhelmed Salzburg found him unplayable. Reuters
CF Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The standard-bearer for Madrid’s historic turnaround from 2-0 down overall, with half an hour left in the tie, to 3-2 winners. He made the first goal with his aggressive pressing, and finished coolly. His second was even cooler. His hat-trick confirmed his status as an all-time Madrid idol. Getty Images
