.Oct 23, 2024, 09:00 PM ETMatchday 3 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions Game resides in the books and the 36-team dining table is actually beginning to take shape.Aston Villa are Europe's surprise forerunners, but it's the screens of gamers like Christian Pulisic and Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior that have really stood out. Meanwhile, the underperforming big deals of Paris Saint-Germain as well as Bayern Munich might merely be beginning to sweat merely a little.ESPN writers Gab Marcotti, Proof Ogden and also Julien Laurens review a few of the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question after 3 rounds.Is this the real Pulisic or are our experts simply watching a warm streak?Ogden: Pulisic is actually 26 now and getting into the peak years of his career, and also I presume that is starting to present. Chelsea was a challenging move for him as well as it didn't exercise as he would have wanted, however his attend the Premier Game created him a far better gamer, even though it dented his self-confidence at times. A/c Milan are right now reaping the benefits of his experience at Stamford Bridge.Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis goal versus Liverpool on matchday 1 was impressive and he topped it along with his goal against Nightclub Brugge this week. He's come to be the primary guy at Milan and you may see that he is actually a different gamer solely due to the fact that he appears resolved, wished as well as he knows he is actually a key component of the group. Therefore certainly, this is actually the true Pulisic-- one that is understanding his ability after being actually shaped due to the challenging opportunities he has actually had to endure.Marcotti: He's gotten to maturity and also is very important. He's healthy and also matters even more. But I will also include that he has a lot of intangible premiums that sparkle through at Milan create him therefore useful. He's mindful of the truth that, unlike along with the USA national staff, he's not orders of enormity much better than his allies and also he does not require to be the principal guy. They possess a lot of other talented players, but what they do need to have coming from him due to the fact that others (not directing fingers but ... Rafael Leu00e3o) don't always give it is work cost, reliability and also a determination to place the group to begin with. I do not think that's vanishing even though he is on a very hot streak (and also I am actually uncertain he is actually: he's rather darn skilled). Thus, I envision he will definitely remain to be vital for Milan for a long, long period of time. Or even, at least, up until they begin properly clicking on. Also against Club Brugge, sure, they succeeded, however the Rossoneri simply really looked really good in the final fifty percent hour.Laurens: This is actually the actual Pulisic as well as he gets on a hot streak! Each stand and also correct. Now he needs to have to become constant and also improve the scorching streak right into his standard. The tougher thing will be actually to keep in this form as well as always keep installing functionalities like he carried out on Tuesday and like he has been actually for many of this time. He is actually older, remaining match. He accurately really feels loved and valued by his nightclub and his manager, on the back of a terrific season in 2014 also. I trust he can end up being that man-- the man at Milan-- particularly with Leao's inadequate type at the moment.play0:59 Religious Pulisic bends his Italian after Olimpico goalChristian Pulisic offers a post-match interview in Italian after racking up straight coming from an edge pitch in Milan's 3-1 gain vs. Nightclub Brugge in the Champions League.Does Vinu00edcius' hat technique close the Ballon d'Or? Ogden: Also when Rodri was actually in good condition and also playing at Manchester Area, it seemed to be that Vinu00edcius was the clear favorite to gain the Ballon d'Or, yet his hat trick versus Borussia Dortmund closed the deal. Rodri's ACL injury pretty much led the way for Vinu00edcius to operate away along with the ballot given that he was actually the only genuine competitor to the Madrid forward's chances.Jude Bellingham has actually been actually a virtual no-show for Los Blancos because his fabulous beginning in the first fifty percent of last season, while Toni Kroos ruled himself away from the running through retiring in the summer. Would it be severe to propose that 2024 possesses certainly not been a classic year for Ballon d'Or challengers? There is actually no exceptional prospect, therefore in that circumstance, Vinu00edcius ought to currently have it wrapped up.Marcotti: I think it is actually an exclamation aspect, yet absolutely nothing more. A lot of, or even all, the votes reside in anyhow. As well as there are actually lots of whispers he had it guaranteed. The Ballon d'Or voter is an odd animal: she or he rewards major functionalities from large groups in significant activities. And also Vini certainly supplied that versus Bayern Munich. Yet I imagine he presently had it stitched up.Laurens: Vini's hat caper on Tuesday will not affect who gains the Ballon d'Or-- the ballots have actually currently been actually delivered as well as counted. He had actually succeeded it prior to his fantastic second half against Borussia Dortmund. He is actually presently the most effective gamer around the world as well as no right-back may defend him. Personally, I such as Rodri as a Ballon d'Or victor, however Vini is impressive therefore unplayable that he gains games on his own like he performed on Tuesday.play0:49 Ancelotti: Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior will certainly gain the Ballon d'OrCarlo Ancelotti compliments Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior after his hat method in Actual Madrid's 5-2 sway Borussia Dortmund.Which huge crew is in trouble?Ogden: Paris Saint-Germain and also Bayern Munich have each battled to measure up to requirements so far, but PSG can easily at least suggest Luis Enrique's group remaining in transition from the club's aged superstar age to one developed around surfacing young skill. They are going to possess bumps along the roadway as well as perhaps must decrease their sights this time around. Yet Bayern possess no such mitigation and also their defeat versus Barcelona-- after dropping at Aston Villa on matchday 2-- subjected all of the complications that will definitely stop all of them challenging for the Champions League this season.STREAM ESPN FC DAILY ON ESPN+D an Thomas is joined through Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and also others to deliver you the latest highlights as well as discuss the most significant stories. Stream on ESPN+ (UNITED STATE merely).Their centre-backs, Dayot Upamecano as well as Kim Min-Jae, are actually as well slow-moving and unworthy for a club of Bayern's state, while others like Leroy Sanu00e9, Thomas Mu00fcller and also Manuel Neuer are well past their best. Harry Kane will definitely score goals as well as Michael Olise is a genuine ability, but Bayern possess a lot of weak points. Their game against PSG next month will certainly be intriguing for so many reasons.Marcotti: I'm not exactly sure some of the large crews are in real "issue" if through "problem" you suggest not finishing in the top eight and by-passing the playoff round. Certain, Bayern, Milan and also Atletico Madrid are all on three points, however, just as, they're simply four factors coming from 8th area, with 5 video games to go. And if you suggest "issue" as in certainly not qualifying for the playoff around, properly, nobody is actually. Certainly not however anyway. I guess it's the attributes of the brand new format.Laurens: I don't think there is actually any kind of problem for any type of team just yet. We are 3 games in as well as there are actually five more to play thus 15 points still available. Thus there is actually no necessity to stress for PSG, Bayern, Atletico or perhaps RB Leipzig. Possessing stated that, it's very fun to see the tension placing on these significant groups, specifically when you know that Paris, Munich as well as the Colchoneros will deal with one another in the following couple of weeks. There will be actually bunches of drama at that point which's what our company desire and also what this new Champions League layout does for you.play1:40 Nicol: Bayern's protective strategy 'created no sense'Steve Nicol can't fathom why Bayern Munich enjoyed with such a high line in their 4-1 loss to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.With Frenkie De Jong, Dani Olmo and also Gavi all match, how performs Hansi Flick decide his midfield? And that loses for El Clasico on Saturday?Ogden: I assume the only genuine choice to break into the beginning group against Madrid is actually Olmo. Gavi has actually registered merely 12 mins all period, while De Jong has just dealt with 24 moments in every competitors, so it will be actually a gamble-- maybe even a negligent one-- by Flick to put one or both right into the team, particularly after such a convincing succeed against Bayern. I only do not exactly how, or why, Flick could think about losing Marc Casadu00f3 or even Fermu00edn Lu00f3pez. Pedri, Lamine Yamal and also Raphinha all need to play, so those are both likely to lose out. Yet they shouldn't. Marcotti: Wednesday's demolition of Bayern was actually the 1st activity back for Olmo and also De Jong and, undoubtedly, Gavi simply possesses the 2 appeals. So maybe the Clasico is prematurely, though were actually De Jong entirely match-fit I will absolutely have him in there. Moving forward, it is actually challenging to view exactly how the items fit. You will visualize De Jong would certainly recover his place for Casado. Raphinha is in the best kind of his occupation, obviously Yamal is what he is actually and after that you have Gavi as well as Olmo.I assume our team'll wind up observing Gavi with Pedri and also De Jong in the midfield 3 and Olmo discussing time on the wing along with Raphinha and Yamal. They've both participated in a lots of football thus far and also, lest our company fail to remember, Yamal is 17. I think Olmo may likewise be actually the selection when Robert Lewandowski requires a rest (as well as, at 36, he possibly is going to), though Ferran Torres is actually most likely a much better fit in terms of his work off the round. Exactly how Flick plays this going forward is actually visiting be actually definitely interesting. There are actually absolutely no ideal solutions. However I suppose that's why he gets paid the major bucks.Laurens: For the short-term, and also the Clasico this weekend break, I would rely on specifically the very same team that battered Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Flick has no reason to modify everything. I would certainly keep Pedri and Casado in midfield. I would certainly always keep De Jong and Gavi on the bench. I would certainly keep Fermin with a free of cost task in midfield, both dealing with and pushing while likewise falling much deeper out of belongings to help the double pivot. The defensive higher line will be high-risk against Real Madrid, but Baru00e7an also know they will possess the capacity to injure the Merengues with the kind that Raphinha, Lewandowski as well as Lamine reside in at the moment.