.Oct 23, 2024, 09:00 PM ETMatchday 3 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League is in guides and the 36-team dining table is beginning to take shape.Aston Suite are Europe's unpleasant surprise leaders, but it is actually the display screens of players like Religious Pulisic and Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior that have actually truly stood out. At the same time, the underperforming big deals of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich might simply be beginning to sweat only a little.ESPN authors Gab Marcotti, Proof Ogden and also Julien Laurens reflect on several of the burning questions after 3 rounds.Is this the true Pulisic or are our experts just experiencing a scorching streak?Ogden: Pulisic is 26 right now and also getting in the peak years of his occupation, and also I believe that is actually starting to show. Chelsea was a tough move for him as well as it really did not exercise as he will possess desired, but his attend the Premier Game made him a much better gamer, even though it nicked his assurance at times. Air conditioner Milan are now profiting of his knowledge at Stamford Bridge.Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis target versus Liverpool on matchday 1 was excellent as well as he topped it with his objective versus Club Brugge today. He is actually become the primary male at Milan and also you can observe that he is actually a different gamer simply given that he appears cleared up, preferred and he knows he is actually a crucial aspect of the staff. So yes, this is the actual Pulisic-- one that is understanding his potential after being actually formed due to the complicated opportunities he has actually needed to endure.Marcotti: He's arrived at maturation and also is very important. He's in shape and that issues much more. However I will also include that he possesses a ton of unobservable premiums that beam through at Milan produce him therefore useful. He is actually cognizant of the fact that, unlike with the United States nationwide staff, he is actually not orders of enormity far better than his colleagues and he doesn't require to become the principal male. They possess a lot of various other skilled players, but what they perform require from him considering that others (certainly not directing hands yet ... Rafael Leu00e3o) don't consistently offer it is job cost, integrity as well as a determination to place the group to begin with. I do not assume that's disappearing even if he gets on a warm touch (as well as I am actually not exactly sure he is: he is actually rather darn proficient). Thus, I imagine he is going to continue to be essential for Milan for a long, number of years. Or even, at least, until they begin effectively clicking on. Also against Nightclub Brugge, sure, they succeeded, however the Rossoneri only definitely looked excellent in the final fifty percent hour.Laurens: This is the real Pulisic and also he performs a scorching touch! Both hold and true. Right now he requires to be consistent as well as enhance the very hot touch into his rule. The more difficult thing will certainly be to stay in this type as well as maintain installing functionalities like he did on Tuesday and also like he has been for most of this time. He is actually older, keeping match. He plainly really feels loved as well as valued through his club as well as his supervisor, on the back of a terrific season last year too. I feel he can become that guy-- the man at Milan-- especially with Leao's unsatisfactory form at the moment.play0:59 Religious Pulisic stretches his Italian after Olimpico goalChristian Pulisic gives a post-match meeting in Italian after racking up straight coming from a section start Milan's 3-1 gain vs. Nightclub Brugge in the Champions League.Does Vinu00edcius' hat method close the Ballon d'Or? Ogden: Even when Rodri was actually in good condition and also playing at Manchester Area, it seemed to be that Vinu00edcius was actually the very clear much-loved to gain the Ballon d'Or, yet his hat technique against Borussia Dortmund closed the package. Rodri's ACL injury basically paved the way for Vinu00edcius to operate away along with the voting since he was actually the only actual opponent to the Madrid forward's chances.Jude Bellingham has actually been actually a virtual no-show for Los Blancos since his extraordinary start in the first half of final season, while Toni Kroos controlled himself away from the running through retiring in the summer season. Would certainly it be harsh to propose that 2024 possesses not been actually a vintage year for Ballon d'Or challengers? There is actually no impressive candidate, thus during that context, Vinu00edcius should now possess it covered up.Marcotti: I think it's an exclamation point, yet nothing at all even more. A lot of, or even all, the votes are in anyhow. As well as there are loads of murmurs he possessed it guaranteed. The Ballon d'Or elector is actually a peculiar pet: she or he awards huge performances from large crews in major games. And also Vini definitely supplied that against Bayern Munich. However I picture he already possessed it stitched up.Laurens: Vini's hat caper on Tuesday will not influence who succeeds the Ballon d'Or-- the ballots have already been actually delivered and also counted. He had won it just before his amazing second half versus Borussia Dortmund. He is actually currently the most ideal player worldwide and also no right-back may defend him. Individually, I like Rodri as a Ballon d'Or victor, but Vini is remarkable therefore unplayable that he succeeds video games on his personal like he did on Tuesday.play0:49 Ancelotti: Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior will definitely win the Ballon d'OrCarlo Ancelotti praises Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior after his hat method in True Madrid's 5-2 sway Borussia Dortmund.Which significant staff remains in trouble?Ogden: Paris Saint-Germain as well as Bayern Munich possess each battled to live up to desires so far, but PSG can at the very least lead to Luis Enrique's team residing in change coming from the nightclub's old super star period to one developed around surfacing young skill. They will definitely possess bumps along the road and also maybe need to lower their sights this time around around. However Bayern have no such mitigation and also their defeat versus Barcelona-- after dropping at Aston Villa on matchday 2-- left open each of the issues that will definitely cease all of them challenging for the Champions Organization this season.STREAM ESPN FC DAILY ON ESPN+D an Thomas is signed up with through Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop as well as others to take you the latest highlights as well as debate the biggest storylines. Flow on ESPN+ (USA simply).Their centre-backs, Dayot Upamecano and also Kim Min-Jae, are also sluggish and unsatisfactory for a nightclub of Bayern's stature, while others including Leroy Sanu00e9, Thomas Mu00fcller as well as Manuel Neuer are effectively past their finest. Harry Kane will score objectives and also Michael Olise is actually a real skill, but Bayern possess excessive weaknesses. Their game against PSG next month will be actually interesting for numerous reasons.Marcotti: I am actually unsure any of the major staffs are in genuine "difficulty" if by "problem" you suggest not ending up in the top 8 as well as by-passing the playoff sphere. Certain, Bayern, Milan and Atletico Madrid are all on three aspects, but, similarly, they are actually just four aspects coming from 8th place, with five video games to go. And if you indicate "issue" as in not obtaining the playoff round, effectively, no person is. Certainly not however anyhow. I suppose it is actually the nature of this particular brand-new format.Laurens: I don't think there is actually any type of problem for any type of group just yet. We are 3 video games in and there are five additional to play thus 15 aspects still offered. So there is actually no demand to stress for PSG, Bayern, Atletico or even RB Leipzig. Having stated that, it's pretty fun to view the stress placing on these major crews, specifically when you recognize that Paris, Munich and also the Colchoneros will face each other in the upcoming few full weeks. There will be actually loads of dramatization then and that's what our experts want as well as what this brand new Champions League layout creates for you.play1:40 Nicol: Bayern's defensive method 'made no sense'Steve Nicol can't fathom why Bayern Munich enjoyed with such a higher pipes in their 4-1 loss to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.With Frenkie De Jong, Dani Olmo and also Gavi all match, exactly how carries out Hansi Flick decide his midfield? As well as that loses out for El Clasico on Saturday?Ogden: I assume the only actual possibility to break into the starting crew against Madrid is actually Olmo. Gavi has enrolled only 12 moments all time, while De Jong has actually just handled 24 moments in every competitions, so it would be actually a wager-- perhaps even a negligent one-- through Flick to put one or each right into the crew, specifically after such a persuading succeed versus Bayern. I merely do not just how, or even why, Flick could consider dropping Marc Casadu00f3 or Fermu00edn Lu00f3pez. Pedri, Lamine Yamal and also Raphinha all must participate in, therefore those are actually the 2 likely to lose out. Yet they shouldn't. Marcotti: Wednesday's demolition of Bayern was the very first video game back for Olmo as well as De Jong as well as, certainly, Gavi only has the 2 appeals. So possibly the Clasico is actually too soon, though were De Jong totally match-fit I will certainly have him therein. Moving forward, it is actually challenging to see just how the parts accommodate. You would certainly picture De Jong would reclaim his location for Casado. Raphinha remains in the most effective kind of his career, obviously Yamal is what he is actually and then you have Gavi and also Olmo.I think our company'll find yourself finding Gavi along with Pedri and also De Jong in the midfield three as well as Olmo discussing opportunity on the wing with Raphinha as well as Yamal. They've both played a ton of regulation football so far and, lest our team fail to remember, Yamal is 17. I assume Olmo could also be the selection when Robert Lewandowski needs to have a breather (and, at 36, he perhaps is going to), though Ferran Torres is actually perhaps a better suit relations to his job off the round. Just how Flick plays this going forward is actually mosting likely to be absolutely exciting. There are actually absolutely no ideal solutions. Yet I reckon that is actually why he makes money the huge bucks.Laurens: For the temporary, and also the Clasico this weekend break, I would certainly trust precisely the same staff that battered Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Flick possesses no reason to alter everything. I will maintain Pedri and Casado in midfield. I will maintain De Jong and Gavi on the bench. I would maintain Fermin along with a cost-free duty in midfield, both attacking and also pressing while likewise dropping much deeper out of possession to help the double pivot. The defensive higher line will be risky against Real Madrid, but Baru00e7a likewise recognize they will possess the capacity to injure the Merengues with the kind that Raphinha, Lewandowski and Lamine are in at this moment.