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Performance of the week
Arsenal
If there is a shrewder man in football than Arsene Wenger then he has certainly slipped under the radar of the skysports.com office. The departure of Thierry Henry was supposed to herald a period of transition for his band of precociously talented but still raw starlets. Instead, they have grasped collective responsibility in the absence of their talisman and as Sevilla will testify, Arsenal are now a genuine contender for Europe's top prize. The Spaniards, feted as dark horses by many, were made to look distinctly ordinary in falling to a 3-0 defeat.
Return of the Week
Cristiano Ronaldo
The showman has been accused of imitating Lord Lucan in Manchester United's biggest games but on Wednesday he rose to the occasion in heading a winner past former club Sporting Lisbon. Sir Alex's side are in danger of becoming the new old school Arsenal with a succession of 1-0 wins, but we suspect the canny Scot will take victories over glory for the minute.
Miss of the Week
Oscar Cardozo
Benfica were second best for much of their away day in Milan but midway through the first half they should have levelled out Andrea Pirlo's sublime free-kick opener. Cardozo somehow hit the post with the goal gaping, after being picked out by a pinpoint cross from Angel Di Maria.
OAP of the Week
Marco Ballotta
Only joking Marco, far be it for us, slouched behind our computer screens, still feeling the effects of a Monday night kick around, to mock the aged. On the contrary, we salute the Lazio goalkeeper, who in starting against Olympiakos at the age of 43 years and 168 days became the oldest player ever to appear in the Champions League.
Goal of the Week
Deivid
Fenerbahce may well feel aggrieved their 1-0 victory over Italian champions Internazionale failed to pick up our Performance of the Week, but that's jingoism for you. Instead, the Turkish giants can console themselves in the knowledge Deivid's fine volley, from Alex's equally sumptuous cross, wins Goal of the Week.
Player of the Week
Ruud van Nistelrooy
When Sir Alex decided to resign the predatory Dutchman to the stable of former greats cast aside by the ruthless Scot, it was predicted his best days could be behind him. Instead, United's loss was Real's gain and again on Tuesday, Ruud was the architect of Madrid's victory. The poacher supreme turned provider in setting up Raul in the 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen, before netting the winner with his 50th Champions League goal.
Save of the Week
Edwin van der Sar
It was quite a week for veteran goalkeepers and United's own did not let down the exclusive over 35s club with a vintage display against Sporting. The Dutchman pulled off a number of excellent stops; the best denying Liedson with a finger tip save of real quality.
Farewell of the Week
Jose Mourinho
The Special One will go down as one of the Premier League's great characters, which is why it is somewhat of a shame he bowed out with a miserable 1-1 stalemate against Rosenborg, in front of just 24,973 Chelsea supporters. In hindsight, the game was a microcosm of the disintegration of his relationship with Roman Abramovich. Andrei Shevchenko, a reported moot between the pair, scored the game's equaliser, while Rosenborg's opener was greeted with a barely discreet, disbelieving chuckle, from a Machiavellian Abramovich in the stands.
Performance of the week
Arsenal
If there is a shrewder man in football than Arsene Wenger then he has certainly slipped under the radar of the skysports.com office. The departure of Thierry Henry was supposed to herald a period of transition for his band of precociously talented but still raw starlets. Instead, they have grasped collective responsibility in the absence of their talisman and as Sevilla will testify, Arsenal are now a genuine contender for Europe's top prize. The Spaniards, feted as dark horses by many, were made to look distinctly ordinary in falling to a 3-0 defeat.
Return of the Week
Cristiano Ronaldo
The showman has been accused of imitating Lord Lucan in Manchester United's biggest games but on Wednesday he rose to the occasion in heading a winner past former club Sporting Lisbon. Sir Alex's side are in danger of becoming the new old school Arsenal with a succession of 1-0 wins, but we suspect the canny Scot will take victories over glory for the minute.
Miss of the Week
Oscar Cardozo
Benfica were second best for much of their away day in Milan but midway through the first half they should have levelled out Andrea Pirlo's sublime free-kick opener. Cardozo somehow hit the post with the goal gaping, after being picked out by a pinpoint cross from Angel Di Maria.
OAP of the Week
Marco Ballotta
Only joking Marco, far be it for us, slouched behind our computer screens, still feeling the effects of a Monday night kick around, to mock the aged. On the contrary, we salute the Lazio goalkeeper, who in starting against Olympiakos at the age of 43 years and 168 days became the oldest player ever to appear in the Champions League.
Goal of the Week
Deivid
Fenerbahce may well feel aggrieved their 1-0 victory over Italian champions Internazionale failed to pick up our Performance of the Week, but that's jingoism for you. Instead, the Turkish giants can console themselves in the knowledge Deivid's fine volley, from Alex's equally sumptuous cross, wins Goal of the Week.
Player of the Week
Ruud van Nistelrooy
When Sir Alex decided to resign the predatory Dutchman to the stable of former greats cast aside by the ruthless Scot, it was predicted his best days could be behind him. Instead, United's loss was Real's gain and again on Tuesday, Ruud was the architect of Madrid's victory. The poacher supreme turned provider in setting up Raul in the 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen, before netting the winner with his 50th Champions League goal.
Save of the Week
Edwin van der Sar
It was quite a week for veteran goalkeepers and United's own did not let down the exclusive over 35s club with a vintage display against Sporting. The Dutchman pulled off a number of excellent stops; the best denying Liedson with a finger tip save of real quality.
Farewell of the Week
Jose Mourinho
The Special One will go down as one of the Premier League's great characters, which is why it is somewhat of a shame he bowed out with a miserable 1-1 stalemate against Rosenborg, in front of just 24,973 Chelsea supporters. In hindsight, the game was a microcosm of the disintegration of his relationship with Roman Abramovich. Andrei Shevchenko, a reported moot between the pair, scored the game's equaliser, while Rosenborg's opener was greeted with a barely discreet, disbelieving chuckle, from a Machiavellian Abramovich in the stands.
