UEFA Champions League Wednesday Roundup: Matchday 1

Throughout the season, we at 32 Flags will be giving you a complete recap of the action after each day in the UEFA Champions League.  Not only will we run down the biggest winners and losers, but the highlights and most talked about moments of the day.

1) Biggest Winner – Roma

I could’ve said Porto because they literally put up more goals but Roma gets it for another reason. With Bayern Munich and Manchester City in the group, Roma would likely be the odd team out in the group fighting for the top two. Their +4 in goal differential will go a long way to getting themselves into the knockout stage. With Manchester City’s loss today, their home game against Roma at the end of the month is essentially a must win.

2) Standout Performer – Gervinho

Gervinho defintely didn’t do this at Arsenal. The former Gunner scored twice in the first 31 minutes in the 5-1 win against CSKA Moscow. An amazing, and well deserved, performance from someone who has had the potential but hadn’t really fulfilled it.

3) Biggest Loser – Chelsea

Chelsea should still be able to easily take the group but after one game, everyone is in a four-way tie for the top spot. After having the lead for most of the game, Schalke came back to get the draw at Stamford Bridge

4) Best Tweet

5) Biggest Surprise – Schalke drawing Chelsea

With Chelsea likely winning the group, the team who finishes 2nd will be the team who can take points away from Chelsea. The toughest game is when Chelsea plays at home and Schalke got a point there today. That puts them into a definite advantage when it comes to that 2nd spot in the group.

6) Best Moment – Pep Guardiola’s fly

There weren’t really any definitive best moments so I decided to go a little comical with it. Enjoy.

7) Best Goal – Jerome Boateng

8) Extra Time –  

It definitely seemed like Tuesday’s games were much more exciting than today. Today had its moments but Tuesday was much better. Matchday 2 takes place in two weeks starting on September 30.

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp

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