Matchday 5 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season brought nail-biting action, some surprises, and a host of jaw-dropping performances. On Tuesday (November 26), Manchester City drew 3-3 with Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium, squandering their 3-0 advantage. Atalanta, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen claimed big wins, beating Young Boys (6-1), Sporting CP (5-1), Sparta Prague (6-0), and RB Salzburg (5-0), respectively.
On Wednesday (November 27), Liverpool claimed a commanding 2-0 victory over Real Madrid to retain their 100% record in the Champions League this season. Borussia Dortmund claimed a 3-0 win away at Dinamo Zagreb and PSV Eindhoven bagged a sensational 3-2 comeback victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
With the brief preview out of the way, let us take a look at some of the performances that stood out. Here are the top five performances from UEFA Champions League Matchday 5:
#5 Caoimhin Kelleher – Liverpool
There were many memorable displays as Liverpool claimed a rewarding 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Matchday 5 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season. However, the most decisive performance came from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Irishman’s most telling contribution came in the 61st minute, as he denied Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot. He not only went the right way but his clearance was also convincing, ensuring Real Madrid attackers did not have scraps to feed on. Had he not made that save, Madrid would have made it 1-1, putting Liverpool’s chances of success under serious jeopardy.
Against Los Blancos, Kelleher made a total of three saves, played 28 accurate passes (93% accuracy), and recorded seven recoveries.
#4 Malik Tillman – PSV Eindhoven
Malik Tillman was PSV Eindhoven’s standout performer as they overturned a two-goal deficit and came away with a sensational 3-2 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Danylo Sikan (8′) and Oleksandr Zubkov (37′) put Shakhtar in the driving seat in the first half, and until the very end, it did not look like PSV would find a way back.
The turnaround began in the 87th minute when Tillman found the back of the net with a rasping, low free-kick. Three minutes later, the midfielder scored a stunner from outside the box, single-handedly making it 2-2 on the night. Finally, in the fifth minute of added time, Ricardo Pepi applied a point-blank finish to make it 3-2 for PSV.
Tillman, the architect behind the memorable turnaround, completed 43 passes (88% accuracy), created a whopping seven chances, and won 10 of 14 duels.
#3 Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen secured a comfortable 5-0 victory over RB Salzburg on Matchday 5. It was a complete performance from the Germans, led by the effervescent Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old Germany international nonchalantly led the attack, scoring two excellent goals and providing an assist.
Wirtz, who is reportedly on Manchester City’s radar, opened his scoring in the ninth minute, finding the bottom-right corner of Salzburg’s goal with a flawless penalty. On the half-hour mark, Wirtz made it a brace, starting the move, exchanging a couple of passes with Alejandro Grimaldo, and finishing it off with a confident strike. Wirtz added an assist to his brace in the 72nd minute, exploiting the space Salzburg afforded him and finding Alex Garcia with an inch-perfect delivery.
Wirtz also created three chances, played 36 accurate passes (80% accuracy), pulled off three dribbles, and won eight ground duels.
#2 Julian Alvarez – Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid secured a thumping 6-0 victory over Sparta Prague on Matchday 5 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, and Julian Alvarez were on the scoresheet, with every player delivering exceptional performances. If we have to take our pick among Atletico’s standout performers, we must go with the former Manchester City ace Alvarez. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner set the tone of the game just 15 minutes in, finding the left corner of Prague’s goal with a sensational free-kick. Alvarez doubled his money in the 59th minute. He received an other-worldly flick from Griezmann, played a quick one-two with Giuliano Simeone, and applied a composed finish to beat the goalkeeper.
The brilliant brace aside, Alvarez created four chances, completed 31 passes with 94% accuracy, pulled off two dribbles, made four recoveries, and won five ground duels. A complete match from the 24-year-old!
#1 Charles De Ketelaere – Atalanta
Serie A high-fliers Atalanta claimed a commanding 6-1 victory away at Young Boys on Champions League Matchday 5 and playmaker Charles De Ketelaere was at the heart of it all. The 23-year-old played some slick passes, created goalscoring opportunities at will, provided three assists, and scored two fine goals.
In the ninth minute, De Ketelaere sent Mateo Retegui through on goal with a perfectly weighted through ball, and the Italian striker took care of the rest. Atalanta’s lead, however, lasted for just a couple of minutes, as Silvere Ganvoula fired the hosts back on level terms.
In the 28th minute, De Ketelaere once again popped up with a decisive action, applying a low finish to send Odilon Kossounou’s flick into the back of the net. Three minutes later, the Belgian added another assist to his name, setting Sead Kolasinac up with a brilliant through ball. The midfielder made it a hat-trick of assists in the 39th minute, helping Retegui double his tally.
De Ketelaere made it 5-1 for Atalanta in the 56th minute, dispatching a thumping drive from outside the area and finding the back of the net with the help of a deflection. Talk about a perfect night!
