After every Champions League matchday, theScore highlights the marquee developments from Europe’s preeminent club competition.

Next man up for Liverpool

If you’ve got a pair of boots sitting in the closet, you may have a shot at playing in central defense for Liverpool right now.

Tuesday’s win over Midtjylland proved to be something of a Pyrrhic victory for the Reds, who lost Fabinho to a hamstring problem after just 30 minutes of action at Anfield. The versatile Brazilian, filling in at center-back in the wake of Virgil van Dijk’s devastating knee injury, had slotted in seamlessly alongside Joe Gomez, temporarily alleviating what could have been a huge headache for Jurgen Klopp. The German bench boss is surely reaching for the Advil now.

Klopp suggested after the match that Fabinho’s injury isn’t too serious – the severity will be revealed by a scan this week – but with Joel Matip also nursing an undisclosed ailment, the options are dwindling quickly. Amid a season of congested fixtures like no other, the glut of injuries comes at the worst possible time for a club competing on multiple fronts.

Teenage defender Rhys Williams is about to get thrown into the deep end.

What to make of Group B?

Bizarre. Bonkers. Bananas. Group “B” is taking its name to heart thus far.

Real Madrid and Inter Milan entered the competition as heavy favorites to emerge from a quartet that also includes Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk; it was viewed as a tricky group for the famed European duo, if not an explicitly difficult one.

After two matches, though, the script has been flipped on its head. Madrid sit bottom of the group on one point and are lucky to even have that after a furious late comeback – two goals in the waning minutes – to salvage a draw in Germany on Tuesday. Antonio Conte, meanwhile, continues to find ways not to win in Europe, with Inter managing just a pair of draws to begin their continental campaign.

Shakhtar and Gladbach, on four and two points, respectively, aren’t out of the woods just yet. But with Madrid and Inter meeting each other in their next two group games, it’s very likely at least one of them will be out of contention for the knockout stage by the time we hit December.

Atalanta, Ajax set to fight it out

Isn’t it just wonderful when a match lives up to expectations?

Atalanta welcomed Ajax to Bergamo on Tuesday in a match that pitted Italy’s top scorers in the last two seasons against a side coming into the contest on the back of a 13-0 win in the Eredivisie. It promised fireworks, and it delivered.

The Dutch side, in classic Ajax fashion, didn’t back down. Erik ten Hag’s exuberant team stayed true to its style and grabbed a deserved 2-0 lead in the opening half. Yes, the goals came about through defensive howlers from Robin Gosens and goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, but Ajax’s young guns were full value for their advantage and could have extended it after the interval.

That they didn’t will be a source of frustration for Ten Hag, who watched on as Atalanta roared back after the break and ultimately earned a draw thanks to an excellent brace from star striker Duvan Zapata.

Matches billed as potential barnburners often flatter to deceive, so it was nice to see one deliver on the excitement it promised, even if there were only four goals on the day.

Welcome to the Joao Felix show

Don’t look know, but Joao Felix appears to be much more comfortable at Atletico Madrid in his second season since joining the club from Benfica.

The precocious Portuguese forward scored twice in Atleti’s 3-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday, and he could have been celebrating a hat-trick if not for a spectacular bicycle kick crashing against the crossbar. The 20-year-old already has three goals in all competitions after recording just nine tallies in his debut campaign last year. Sometimes, all you need is time.

Players – particularly young ones – struggle for a variety of reasons after a big-money transfer. The weight of the world was placed on Felix’s shoulders after Atletico Madrid paid €126 million to sign him, while injuries, life in a new country, and playing up front for a notoriously defensive team all conspired to hamper his debut campaign.

With Luis Suarez helping take some of the burden off Felix, the former Golden Boy award winner should be free to soar in 2020-21.

Manchester City near rhythmic best

You would be forgiven for thinking Marseille could’ve surprised Manchester City in Tuesday’s fixture. Pep Guardiola’s side was flat for much of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham United, as a congested fixture list, coronavirus setbacks, and various tweaks and pulls were clearly taking a toll on his squad.

“The teams who have seven, eight days to prepare game by game, they have a huge advantage,” Guardiola said before the West Ham trip. “On the other side, the teams who compete to win titles and be on top, it is the way we have to live.

“If we cannot adjust or accept or handle this situation, you cannot be the manager or play in these teams.”

But City cruised to a 3-0 win over Marseille in their finest performance of the season thus far. In Sergio Aguero’s absence, Ferran Torres operated as the central forward, opened the scoring, and looked gassed when his impressive shift ended in the 77th minute. The work of Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, and, of course, Kevin De Bruyne was also critical for establishing a quicker tempo and crisper passing.

It was a spectacle that drew more resemblance to 2017-18 or 2018-19 City than some of this term’s listless performances. And, with a full complement of points from the opening two group games, Guardiola should be afforded the luxury of resting players during the second half of this stage.

Solskjaer gets it right

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still a work in progress as a coach, but sometimes he gets things absolutely right.

Though the majority of their five goals came late, Manchester United showed the world how to stop RB Leipzig’s up-tempo, high-pressing football. Solskjaer set up United in a diamond formation that kept Leipzig at bay while limiting the usefulness of their possession.

The sideline boss has used different formations in each of the last four games, showing an encouraging willingness to adjust to the opposition. He’s also reading the game on the fly.

United beat Paris Saint-Germain only after Solskjaer changed formations, and the Norwegian’s substitutions came at the right time again on Wednesday. The Red Devils were laboring with a one-goal lead until Marcus Rashford was introduced off the bench, and he promptly scored three times to cement the victory.

Lights out for Leipzig in Manchester

The intensity that defined RB Leipzig’s run to the 2019-20 Champions League semifinals was lacking at Old Trafford.

Their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season was a distant memory, with Julian Nagelsmann’s side low on inventiveness, and, surprisingly, its trademark boundless energy during prolonged periods of Wednesday’s 5-0 humbling at Manchester United.

Yussuf Poulsen was the attacking focal point once more, but he couldn’t muster a shot while embroiled in a physical battle with Harry Maguire. Angelino’s powerful – and, at times, hopeful – deliveries from the left flank missed the mark. And Dani Olmo, the most promising creative outlet for Leipzig, only managed a single key pass.

Given the score, the post-mortem will predominantly focus on Leipzig’s defending after Dayot Upamecano & Co. were susceptible in Stretford. But the team’s toothlessness was worrisome.

Juventus continue to stall under Pirlo

It’s been eight games, and Juventus are trending downward under Andrea Pirlo. Yes, offside calls led to three disallowed goals from Alvaro Morata Wednesday against Barcelona, but Pirlo’s team lacked the punch to pose a threat. Chances were few and far between, and if Barcelona was more cunning in front of the goal, the result could’ve been far worse.

Lionel Messi completed more take-ons (six) than anyone else on the pitch, and he certainly outplayed his compatriot, Paulo Dybala. Pirlo clearly set out to attack Barcelona, and yet Juventus finished without a shot on target. It’s easy to say Morata was unlucky, but maybe his positioning is flawed, along with Juventus’ overall approach.

Pirlo has to get Federico Chiesa more involved. He has the pace to beat defenders on the flank, and a defender like Leonardo Bonucci possesses the ball-playing skills to release his new teammate into the channels.

The club’s midfield needs to bear some responsibility, too. Where’s the creativity from Rodrigo Bentancur and Adrien Rabiot? Neither created anything of note. Maybe it’s time to ditch the 3-5-2 formation, which is obviously not getting the best out of Pirlo’s players.

Whatever the solution, Juventus can’t continue to play at the same sluggish pace. If they do, the side can say goodbye to the Champions League for another season.

After every Champions League matchday, theScore highlights the marquee developments from Europe’s preeminent club competition.

Solskjaer again solidifies position in Paris

The faction of Manchester United supporters calling for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s head is undoubtedly a conflicted group in the wake of Tuesday’s result in Paris.

Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly were left at home, and still, Solskjaer risked employing a back-three in a 3-4-1-2 setup that flanked Victor Lindelof with Luke Shaw and Axel Tuanzebe, the latter making his first appearance in 10 months. It was a decision made with PSG’s lethal front-three in mind.

Tuanzebe was excellent, twice critically matching Kylian Mbappe for pace on threatening forays while Aaron Wan-Bissaka lurked nearby in support as the Red Devils’ duo smothered PSG’s left side. Shaw was dutiful, and more importantly, protected from making errors in isolation, and Fred and Scott McTominay were industrious in the midfield. The plan was always to cede possession – PSG had 66% on the night – and stretch the match on the counter, something Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford did in repeatedly exposing the hosts’ fragilities.

The last time United toasted a memorable night in Paris, they recorded a stunning 3-1 victory that all but guaranteed Solskjaer’s permanent appointment. Tuesday’s result might be as fruitful for a manager never far from the hot seat.

Tuchel to blame for PSG’s plodding midfield

If Solskjaer deserves praise, then PSG coach Thomas Tuchel merits the opposite.

Tuchel’s answer to the absences of Marco Verratti and Leandro Paredes was to field three defensive midfielders: Danilo Pereira, Ander Herrera and Idrissa Gueye. Their efforts were plodding and pedestrian, though it’s not entirely their fault. You wouldn’t ask a drywall guy to fix a leaky faucet.

When Moise Kean was brought on for Gueye at the interval, Neymar dropped behind the striker, and PSG sprung to life almost immediately. United remained staunchly organized, and Tuchel’s decision to replace Herrera with Rafinha 10 minutes from time came too late.

The clock is ticking for Tuchel, and perhaps it’s time that Mauricio Pochettino – who has been linked with succeeding Solskjaer at United – enters the picture for a return to the French capital instead.

Chelsea’s backline more assured with Silva

On the evidence of the first goalless draw of Frank Lampard’s managerial tenure at Chelsea, Thiago Silva could be the man to bring much-needed organization and composure to the Blues’ rearguard.

It might be a lot of expectation to place on a 36-year-old’s shoulders, but his authoritative role in a quartet rounded out by Reece James, Kurt Zouma, and Ben Chilwell helped Chelsea flip the script: They were defensively sound while offering less attacking potency than you’d expect from a stacked Timo Werner-led frontline.

Although Antonio Rudiger or Fikayo Tomori would probably be better central defensive partners for Silva, Zouma did look more at ease alongside the veteran Brazilian. Also, the presence of Edouard Mendy between the sticks, rather than the error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga, should’ve allayed any pre-match nerves for Silva, Zouma & Co.

“The concentration and focus to get the result was big from the team,” Lampard said post-match, as quoted by BBC Sport. “We made a lot of good decisions, so it’s a really nice place for us to build from.”

Camavinga cruises into competition

Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw against Krasnodar was a rather inauspicious way for Rennes to begin their first Champions League campaign, especially given the visitors’ inconsistent domestic form and the fact they were without their head coach and two key players due to inconclusive COVID-19 tests.

It was also a shame that there wasn’t a bigger stage for Eduardo Camavinga, Rennes’ 17-year-old sensation, to introduce himself to the competition.

Through his 81 minutes on the pitch, the French midfielder logged the most shots on target across both teams, drew more fouls than any of his teammates, and seldom wasted possession with a passing accuracy of 95.2%. It wasn’t exactly a statement performance from Camavinga, but it was mature.

And to further underline how young Camavinga is to be playing with such poise in the Champions League, he spent part of the following day in a driving lesson.

Perfect situation for Morata to thrive

Fair or not, Alvaro Morata is widely viewed as a timid player; his Chelsea spell, which, let’s not forget, got off to a very promising start before fizzling out, plays an outsize role in forming that conception.

But the Spaniard, back at Juventus, may now find himself in the perfect situation to succeed.

Coming off a solid season with Atletico Madrid – Morata ranked among La Liga’s top performers in a variety of advanced statistical categories despite playing for a notoriously defensive manager – the 27-year-old has carried that form into the new campaign. His second stint with the Italian club has begun with three goals in as many matches, including both tallies in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv. His first, a rebound from inside the 6-yard box, highlighted the predatory instincts that managers love to see from their No. 9, and his second showed off his elite heading ability, which has always been the best part of his game.

More importantly, though, in former teammate Andrea Pirlo, Morata has a manager who appears to truly believe and trust in him. Cristiano Ronaldo’s impending return – along with Paulo Dybala regaining full fitness – will inevitably eat into Morata’s playing time, but backed by Pirlo, the Spanish striker could be in line for a career season.

What’s wrong with Real Madrid?

Conceding three goals in the first half against Shakhtar Donetsk – at home, no less – is one thing. Doing so against this version of Shakhtar, though, is inexcusable. That’s not a shot at the Ukrainian side, either; Luis Castro’s team is quick and inventive, spurred on by an enticing collection of Brazilian talents.

But Shakhtar went into Wednesday’s match against Real Madrid missing 10 first-team players amid a COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in 19 positive tests throughout the club.

“This is a nightmare,” Castro said ahead of the contest. “It is a nightmare for all humanity; and to the extent that teams are a segment of society, it will also affect us. I never thought something like this could happen to us. Running out of so many footballers for a game. Is incredible. But it is the world we have today.”

But having 13 healthy players available, including a goalkeeper, meant Shakhtar, by UEFA rules, had to play the reigning Spanish champions. Not only did they play, they tore them apart, building a stunning 3-0 lead in the first half before hanging on for a 3-2 win. In truth, were it not for some spurned chances, the scoreline would have been even more humbling for Madrid, who have now lost two consecutive matches after dropping a La Liga fixture to Cadiz last weekend.

Up next, El Clasico. Zinedine Zidane needs to sort things out quickly.

Manchester City’s next generation finding its feet

Manchester City weren’t great in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over FC Porto but, amid the misplaced passes and desperate fouls that littered the game before a third goal brought comfort, there was evidence of a younger generation finally making its mark on Pep Guardiola’s team.

At 23, Ruben Dias may have the leadership skills required to partly compensate for the 2019 departure of Vincent Kompany and the overall quality to form a reliable duo with Aymeric Laporte at the back; Rodri is starting his second season with the club and is only 24; defender Eric Garcia, 19, started and the 12-man bench included six academy graduates. And most promising of all was the combination between substitutes Phil Foden and Ferran Torres – both aged 20 – shortly after they were brought on.

Torres helped the ball down the left flank for Foden, who then returned the favor with a neat pass to meet Torres’ run to the corner of the 18-yard box. The Spanish winger was then clinical as he breezed past Pepe before curling the ball into the top corner. Torres’ introduction to English football has been gradual thus far with just three starts, but he’s already up to two goals and one assist across all competitions in 2020-21.

Bayern Munich won’t give up title easily

In their latest exhibition of dominance, Bayern Munich showed the rest of the competition on Wednesday why they’re considered favorites to repeat as champions.

Bayern’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid was their 12th in a row in the Champions League – and as lopsided as the score suggests. Though the Spanish side had a couple of chances early on, the Bundesliga giants ran away with the contest in typical fashion. Even without Robert Lewandowski at his best, Bayern managed to inflict a world of hurt on Diego Simeone’s side.

Instead, it was Bayern’s midfield that went to work. Joshua Kimmich ran the show as usual, using his all-around skill to set up the first goal with a spectacular ball over the top.

The counterattack was equally effective. Bayern roasted Atletico’s backline with their pace of play, getting into scoring position mere seconds after stealing possession. Kingsley Coman was a particularly effective outlet. He controlled long balls like they were nothing, and his dribbling forced Atletico to retreat many a time.

In other words, Bayern still have the pieces to make another deep run in the Champions League. Atletico were only in the way.

Fabinho admirably fills in for Van Dijk

Those blessed to take in the midweek Champions League slate might not have noticed Virgil van Dijk’s absence on Wednesday in Amsterdam.

Liverpool eked out a 1-0 win over Ajax to open Group D play, and Fabinho deserves plenty of praise for deputizing for Van Dijk as Jurgen Klopp’s charges won their first outing sans the injured Dutch defender.

Fabinho dropped back from his usual midfield role to pair with Joe Gomez to stellar results, and if Liverpool looked uneasy at the back early on, blame Adrian. Alisson’s understudy looked uncertain and gifted the hosts an opener before finding his nerve to make some key saves.

An acrobatic goal-line clearance highlighted a Fabinho performance noted for dominant aerial play and composed organization reminiscent of Van Dijk. It’s only been one match, but Liverpool could do worse than lean on Fabinho in Van Dijk’s void.