At the end of each Champions League matchday, theScore is the source for the competition's best goals, highlighting the exquisite strikes, the influential game-changing efforts, and everything else.
5. Nicolas Gaitan, Galatasaray vs. Benfica
Make that three goals in three Champions League appearances for Nicolas Gaitan.
It took only two minutes for Gaitan to continue his phenomenal run of form in Europe's most prestigious club competition, as he instantly opened the scoring in Benfica's 2-1 defeat at Galatasaray, taking three perfect touches to shake off a pair of defenders and chip 'keeper Fernando Muslera.
4. Saul Niguez, Atletico Madrid vs. Astana
Back-heel flicks were all the rage in the third matchday of the Champions League, and Saul Niguez didn't want to miss out on the fun.
The 22nd minute of Atletico Madrid's 4-0 victory over Kazakh minnow Astana saw Niguez cap off a sequence that was drawn up at the training ground. Atleti played a short pass on a corner kick that allowed Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco to collect the ball and drive the ball directly at Niguez, and the Spanish midfielder produced a wonderful finish.
3. Alexandre Lacazette, Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais found itself on the wrong side of a 3-1 result at Zenit St. Petersburg on Tuesday, but Alexandre Lacazette didn't leave Petrovsky Stadium without manufacturing a moment of brilliance.
After Zenit failed to contain a pile-driver of a cross from Christophe Jallet just after the interval, Lacazette, similarly to Niguez, deployed a back-heel flick and got the most sublime of touches on the ball to briefly pull Lyon level.
2. Miralem Pjanic, Roma vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Miralem Pjanic is, simply put, a genius when it comes to dead balls.
The Bosnian midfielder was up to his usual tricks in AS Roma's entertaining 4-4 draw versus Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, couriering yet another free-kick into the back of the net that allowed the Giallorossi to take the lead after its German opponent had scored twice in the opening 20 minutes.
1. Hulk, Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Lyon
Hulk by name, hulk by nature.
In a reminder that he doesn't score normal goals, Hulk produced what was undoubtedly the most jaw-dropping bit of individual skill from the third matchday of the Champions League, collecting the ball at the half-way line before embarking on an ambitious run and rocketing a 30-yard shot past the outstretched fingertips of 'keeper Anthony Lopes.
