test2wa

From the Desk

Kelvin Leong continues his love affair with the South Americans who are dominating European football this week!

The biggest match of the week was at the Bernabeu with Real Madrid taking on AC Milan, a game in which South Americans stole the limelight. Across Europe, the storyline remained the same as the boys from that part of the world flexed their muscles and came out to play.

Here are the best eleven players of 2009/10 UEFA Champions League Day Three.

Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus

The Italian stopper was called into action at the start of the game and he produced a phenomenal save to deny Maccabi Haifa from taking a shock lead in Turin. Arguably the best player between the sticks in Europe at the moment.

Michael Ciani - Bordeaux

He started the game with an own-goal but put in a barnstorming performance for the remainder of the game and scored a wonderful back-heel to level the scores for the reigning Ligue 1 champions.

Walter Samuel - Internazionale

While defensive partner Lucio scored an own-goal, Samuel helped restore some pride with a stomping equaliser at the start of the second-half to give Jose Mourinho's side a point against a well-balanced Dynamo Kiev side.

Gabriel Heinze - Marseille

The former Manchester United defender was brought in at Marseille to add some much needed steel and experience to their defence. Not only has he done that, he even found time to venture forward and score the only goal of the match against FC Zurich.

Aly Cissokho - Lyon

The left-back was a mirror image of Liverpool's Glen Johnson, and his forays down the left to support his team in attack were key to Lyon leaving Anfield with three points in the bag. If Cissokho continues his rich vein of form, rest assured that some of Europe's top sides will be throwing blank checks at the Ligue 1 giants in January.

Frank Lampard - Chelsea

While Salomon Kalou scored the decisive goals for the Blues, Lampard was the offensive creator for Chelsea throughout the game. Every move started from the England midfielder's boots and he was key for a well-oiled Chelsea machine.

Antonio Valencia - Manchester United

Valencia has been anonymous since joining the Red Devils in the summer but he has grabbed the headlines this week with two goals in two games. While his assists and crossing ratio have always been high, many doubted if he had it in him to be a consistent scorer for United.

Gokdeniz Karadeniz - Rubin Kazan

Most teams get badly bruised when they take on Barcelona at the Nou Camp but Russian side, Rubin Kazan refused to cave in. A lot of it was down to the magnificent play of Karadeniz who not only scored a goal but made players Xavi and Andre Iniesta look ordinary. What a result!

Adrian Mutu - Fiorentina

The golden-boy of Romanian football has been dogged by events off the pitch but he left everything behind and went on to produce a man-of-the-match performance against Debreceni with two high-quality goals while setting Alberto Gilardino up for another.

Hulk - Porto

Hulk was as gigantic as the green monster he shares his moniker with. Thanks to two goals from the in-form striker,he helped the Portuguese giants secure a 2-1 victory over a stubborn APOEL Nicosia side.

Alexandre Pato - AC Milan

Pato netted the winner for Leonardo's side at the weekend against AS Roma and went on to seal an incredible week with a brace to shock the Bernabeu faithful into silence. He is truly becoming the heir to Kaka's Milan throne and will be crucial if Leonardo's side fancies its chances of going far in this competition.