Shortly after lighting up the European Championship, two of the world’s most exciting young players shone on club football’s biggest stage. With mixed fortunes, however.

Leverkusen’s win and Benfica’s 2-1 victory at Red Star Belgrade were the two early kickoffs on the third evening of the new Champions League format which replaces the traditional group stage. Now, 36 teams each play eight different opponents through January and are ranked in a single league table to decide which teams advance to the knockout phase.

Three days, 18 games, a boatload of high-grade performers: there really hasn't been a shortfall of options for our first Champions League team of the week. We'll be playing 4-4-2 this time, partly because it's the formation that lets you get the broadest sweep of options into your XI but mostly because I watched "Mike Bassett: England Manager" last week.

Feyenoord have been flattened in Match day One of the Champions League, suffering a 4-0 home defeat to German champions Bayer Leverkusen. With hope running high across Rotterdam, there were several

Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz had been eagerly anticipating playing Champions League football and wasted no time seizing his opportunity on Thursday with two goals as his side handed hosts Feyenoord a 4-0 hammering at De Kuip.

Florian Wirtz was one of the men of the moment for Bayer Leverkusen last season and he’s continuing to deliver.Fresh from helping claim a first-ever Bundesliga title with 18 goals, the playmaker

Real Madrid have been tipped to change the position of Florian Wirtz should they sign him from Bayer Leverkusen next summer.