Images via @juventusfcen, @en_sscnapoli, @FCBarcelona on Twitter
It was a bumper week for Polish representatives in the first round of Champions League group games. Here we break down the performances of Arek Milik, Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zieliński.
Arkadiusz Milik - Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Juventus
It was a pretty timid showing for Juventus as they kicked off their Champions League campaign with a loss away in Paris. Biased as I am, I would say that Milik was the player most trying to make things happen in attack. He had an offside header saved at point-blank range by Donnarumma, and he was always dropping deep to get on the ball and tried to link up play in more advanced positions up the pitch. He actually gave more to the Juve team than Vlahovic did on Tuesday night, but Milik was the one who found himself getting substituted after 68 minutes.
A word on the first PSG goal as well. Szczęsny is still out injured, and whilst Mattia Perin has performed capably in his absence, you do get the feeling that Mbappe’s volley, powerful as it was, would’ve been saved by Szczęsny.
Piotr Zieliński - Napoli 4-1 Liverpool
An outstanding performance saw Napoli completely outclass Liverpool last night, and Zieliński was at the heart of it. Winning a penalty in the first five minutes, he calmly dispatched it before getting an assist on Napoli’s second goal. After half time, he notched the home side’s fourth and his second. In the first half especially, Zieliński was causing so many problems for the Liverpool defence just by the runs he was making to create space for his team-mates. His goals and assist came despite him only getting a few touches on the ball. He was replaced in the 74th minute as Luciano Spalletti looked ahead to the weekend.
On a night where the rest of the world woke up to the talents of Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, we were reminded of of Zieliński’s enduring talents. Whilst at Empoli Zieliński famously posed with a Liverpool shirt adorned with his name, and last night he showed Liverpool what they might once have had if they had signed him back as a youth player, or even in 2018 when they were supposedly interested. Prior to the game, Jürgen Klopp was again singing the praises of Zieliński, and whilst it is doubtful that he would leave Italy, it was pleasant to hear as a Liverpool fan and someone who follows Polish football how highly Klopp still rates Zieliński.
Robert Lewandowski - Barcelona 5-1 Viktoria Plzen
Prior to kick-off, most people were expecting a bit of a rout from a Barcelona side playing at home against one of the weaker sides in the Champions League this year. Barcelona, and Lewandowski, duly delivered.
Lewandowski’s first goal came from him collecting the ball, driving forward and curling an effort from the edge of the box. His second arrived during first-half stoppage time, a wonderful cross from Ousmane Dembele saw Lewandowski head into an open goal at the far post. Lewy capped his hat-trick with another curling effort, this time from a further distance than his first. Also worth pointing out that Plzen's goalscorer last night was none other than Jan Sykora, who managed to play so disappointingly for Lech Poznań.
It’s been nice, if a little frustrating, how since Lewandowski has joined Barca journalists and fans alike are now finally realising that he is undoubtedly the world’s best in his position. Ifs and buts here, but if Lewandowski had left Bayern for one of the Spanish giants earlier in his career he’d probably have a Ballon d’Or, but such is footballing politics.
Finally, a word on the refereeing performance of Szymon Marciniak in the game between Atletico Madrid and Porto. The Płock-born ref has been one of Europe’s best for some time now, and he made all the right decisions in a game that saw a disallowed goal, a red card, a 95th minute handball resulting in a penalty and a 100th minute winner.
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