UCL matters - Felix vs Ronaldo, Hazard and City’s defensive dilemma

With Salzburg and Ajax picking up the biggest victories on opening night as both Chelsea and reigning champions Liverpool were defeated, there should be plenty more drama as gameweek one of the Champions League concludes this Wednesday.

We’ve picked put three more talking points coming from the two marquee ties of the night and Manchester City’s now customary visit to Ukraine.

Atletico Madrid vs Juventus - Can Felix steal the show from Ronaldo and co?

When these sides met in the knockout stages last year it was Cristiano Ronaldo who, eventually, got the better of his old adversaries in the Spanish capital. After Atletico took a 2-0 lead to Turin from the first leg courtesy of goals from their two centre-backs, the Portuguese took it on his own bulging shoulders to complete a remarkable turnaround courtesy of a hat-trick back in Italy.

This time around the team he will face is a very different one following a summer of upheaval at Atleti, with the man tipped as the heir to Ronaldo’s international throne hoping to win out. As yet Joao Felix has shown in glimpses what he is capable of following a mega money move from Benfica but the teenager would love to really make his mark on the grandest of stages.

With a goal and assist to his name in four LaLiga appearances, Felix will hope to get on the board in the Champions League and set about chasing his compatriot’s seemingly unassailable record in the competition. He’s just 126 behind as things stand…

Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid - Hazard ready to take centre stage

For years Eden Hazard’s time at Chelsea looked set to run it’s course, with Paris and Madrid the two most likely destinations. The Belgian finally made his dream move to the latter with Real over the summer but has endured a frustrating start to life in Spain due to injury. The winger made his first competitive appearance for his new club as a second half substitute at the weekend but is tipped to earn a first start at the Parc des Princes.

With the hosts without both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe through suspension and injury respectively, Hazard will be expected to make his mark against a weakened opponent. Set to come up against compatriot Thomas Meunier, who is certainly an attack-minded full-back, that particular Belgian battle could well be decisive to the glamour tie in Group A.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City - Guardiola’s defensive dilemma

With Manchester City making what seems to be their annual trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk, they do so in worrying shape following a shock 3-2 defeat at Norwich. With Aymeric Laporte set to spend the remainder of the year in the treatment room, much was made of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi’s unconvincing partnership at Carrow Road and whether Guardiola would be rushed into a change.

Well the answer is yes, whether the coach wanted to or not, with Stones now set for over a month on the sidelines. Fernandinho is certain to return to the side as a makeshift centre-back once more, but Guardiola must decide whether that is part of a back three or four, with Kyle Walker likely to move into the trio should he opt for the former. Given the latter’s own dismal display at the weekend, however, summer signing Joao Cancelo looks set to make his first start for the club at the England international’s expense.