.Oct 23, 2024, 09:00 PM ETMatchday 3 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League resides in the books as well as the 36-team dining table is starting to take shape.Aston Vacation home are Europe's surprise leaders, yet it's the display screens of players like Christian Pulisic and also Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior that have actually definitely stood out. At the same time, the underperforming of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich may simply be actually beginning to sweat simply a little.ESPN article writers Gab Marcotti, Mark Ogden as well as Julien Laurens reflect on several of the burning questions after three rounds.Is this the true Pulisic or are we only observing a warm streak?Ogden: Pulisic is 26 right now and also getting into the peak years of his job, and I believe that is actually beginning to present. Chelsea was a tough move for him and it failed to exercise as he will possess wished, yet his attend the Premier Game created him a better gamer, regardless of whether it dented his confidence at times. Hvac Milan are right now profiting of his adventure at Stamford Bridge.Editor's Picks2 RelatedHis goal against Liverpool on matchday 1 was outstanding and he topped it along with his goal versus Nightclub Brugge recently. He is actually become the major man at Milan and also you can easily view that he is a various gamer completely considering that he looks resolved, wished and also he recognizes he is a key component of the group. Thus certainly, this is actually the genuine Pulisic-- one that is realising his potential after being actually molded due to the difficult opportunities he has must endure.Marcotti: He's reached maturation and that is essential. He is actually healthy and also matters even more. But I would certainly also add that he has a lot of unobservable high qualities that shine through at Milan create him therefore beneficial. He is actually mindful of the truth that, unlike along with the USA nationwide staff, he's not purchases of enormity far better than his allies as well as he does not need to have to become the main guy. They possess a lot of other blessed players, yet what they perform require from him given that others (certainly not pointing fingers yet ... Rafael Leu00e3o) don't regularly provide it is actually job cost, dependability and also a desire to put the team initially. I don't think that is actually going away regardless of whether he gets on a scorching touch (as well as I'm uncertain he is: he is actually fairly darn accomplished). So, I imagine he will remain to be essential for Milan for a long, long time. Or even, a minimum of, until they begin adequately clicking. Even versus Nightclub Brugge, sure, they succeeded, however the Rossoneri just actually looked good in the final one-half hour.Laurens: This is actually the true Pulisic and he gets on a hot touch! Both hold and also accurate. Currently he needs to have to be consistent as well as completely transform the hot streak right into his norm. The harder factor is going to be to stay in this kind and maintain setting up functionalities like he did on Tuesday as well as like he has been for many of this period. He is elder, staying fit. He accurately experiences really loved and valued by his nightclub and also his manager, astride a great season in 2013 as well. I'm convinced he can become that fella-- the individual at Milan-- particularly along with Leao's poor kind at the moment.play0:59 Christian Pulisic flexes his Italian after Olimpico goalChristian Pulisic provides a post-match meeting in Italian after racking up directly coming from a section pitch in Milan's 3-1 gain vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League.Does Vinu00edcius' hat secret seal the Ballon d'Or? Ogden: Even when Rodri was in shape as well as dipping into Manchester Urban area, it appeared that Vinu00edcius was the very clear much-loved to win the Ballon d'Or, but his hat method versus Borussia Dortmund closed the bargain. Rodri's ACL trauma basically paved the way for Vinu00edcius to manage away with the voting since he was the only genuine opponent to the Madrid forward is actually chances.Jude Bellingham has been actually a digital no-show for Los Blancos given that his astonishing start in the 1st fifty percent of last season, while Toni Kroos ruled himself out of the managing by retiring in the summer. Would it be severe to advise that 2024 possesses not been actually a classic year for Ballon d'Or opponents? There is actually no superior prospect, thus during that situation, Vinu00edcius needs to currently have it covered up.Marcotti: I think it's an exclamation point, however nothing at all additional. Most, or even all, the ballots remain in anyway. And also there are loads of murmurs he possessed it guaranteed. The Ballon d'Or citizen is actually a peculiar creature: she or he awards large performances coming from significant teams in big games. And Vini definitely provided that against Bayern Munich. However I picture he presently had it sewn up.Laurens: Vini's hat stunt on Tuesday will not impact who wins the Ballon d'Or-- the votes have presently been sent as well as awaited. He had succeeded it before his outstanding second fifty percent against Borussia Dortmund. He is actually presently the greatest gamer worldwide as well as no right-back can defend him. Directly, I like Rodri as a Ballon d'Or winner, yet Vini is actually outstanding consequently unplayable that he succeeds activities on his personal like he performed on Tuesday.play0:49 Ancelotti: Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior will win the Ballon d'OrCarlo Ancelotti commends Vinu00edcius Ju00fanior after his hat technique in Actual Madrid's 5-2 get Borussia Dortmund.Which major team is in trouble?Ogden: Paris Saint-Germain and also Bayern Munich have both struggled to measure up to requirements so far, but PSG can easily a minimum of lead to Luis Enrique's group remaining in change coming from the club's aged superstar time to one constructed around surfacing younger ability. They are going to have bumps along the roadway and perhaps have to reduce their attractions this time around around. But Bayern have no such minimization and their defeat versus Barcelona-- after losing at Aston Villa on matchday 2-- subjected every one of the issues that will cease all of them challenging for the Champions League this season.STREAM ESPN FC DAILY ON ESPN+D an Thomas is actually participated in through Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop as well as others to take you the most recent highlights and dispute the most significant storylines. Flow on ESPN+ (UNITED STATE just).Their centre-backs, Dayot Upamecano as well as Kim Min-Jae, are actually as well sluggish and also inappropriate for a club of Bayern's growth, while others such as Leroy Sanu00e9, Thomas Mu00fcller as well as Manuel Neuer are actually properly past their finest. Harry Kane are going to slash objectives as well as Michael Olise is actually a legitimate ability, however Bayern have too many weak points. Their game against PSG following month are going to be interesting for plenty of reasons.Marcotti: I'm uncertain any one of the major staffs are in real "problem" if through "issue" you indicate not finishing in the best eight and by-passing the playoff round. Certain, Bayern, Milan and also Atletico Madrid are actually all on three aspects, however, similarly, they are actually simply 4 points from eighth spot, with 5 games to go. And if you suggest "problem" as in certainly not qualifying for the playoff around, properly, no person is actually. Certainly not however anyhow. I presume it is actually the attributes of this brand new format.Laurens: I do not presume there is actually any kind of difficulty for any sort of crew right now. We are three games in as well as there are actually five even more to participate in so 15 points still offered. Therefore there is actually no necessity to run scared for PSG, Bayern, Atletico or even RB Leipzig. Possessing claimed that, it's quite enjoyable to find the stress positioning on these major crews, specifically when you recognize that Paris, Munich and the Colchoneros will definitely experience one another in the following handful of weeks. There will be tons of drama after that and that's what our experts desire and what this brand new Champions Organization format creates for you.play1:40 Nicol: Bayern's protective technique 'made no sense'Steve Nicol can't fathom why Bayern Munich played with such a high line in their 4-1 defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.With Frenkie De Jong, Dani Olmo and Gavi all fit, just how does Hansi Flick choose his midfield? And also that loses out for El Clasico on Saturday?Ogden: I believe the only true choice to get into the beginning group versus Madrid is Olmo. Gavi has signed up only 12 minutes all season, while De Jong has actually just managed 24 mins in every competitions, so it will be actually a wager-- perhaps even a reckless one-- through Flick to put one or even each into the staff, specifically after such a convincing succeed versus Bayern. I simply do not just how, or why, Flick could possibly look at losing Marc Casadu00f3 or even Fermu00edn Lu00f3pez. Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha all have to participate in, thus those are actually the two likely to lose out. However they shouldn't. Marcotti: Wednesday's leveling of Bayern was actually the very first game back for Olmo and De Jong and also, undoubtedly, Gavi simply has both appeals. So maybe the Clasico is actually prematurely, though were De Jong fully match-fit I will certainly have him therein. Going ahead, it is actually challenging to find exactly how the pieces fit. You would certainly visualize De Jong would certainly recover his location for Casado. Raphinha resides in the greatest form of his occupation, definitely Yamal is what he is and then you possess Gavi as well as Olmo.I believe our experts'll find yourself observing Gavi along with Pedri and De Jong in the midfield 3 as well as Olmo discussing opportunity on the wing with Raphinha as well as Yamal. They've both played a lots of football thus far as well as, lest our team neglect, Yamal is 17. I believe Olmo may also be the option when Robert Lewandowski needs a breather (and also, at 36, he possibly is going to), though Ferran Torres is perhaps a better match relations to his job off the sphere. Just how Flick plays this going forward is actually going to be definitely exciting. There are actually no ideal solutions. However I presume that's why he earns the significant bucks.Laurens: For the temporary, and the Clasico this weekend break, I would trust precisely the exact same crew that damaged Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Flick has no reason to modify everything. I will keep Pedri as well as Casado in midfield. I would maintain De Jong as well as Gavi on the bench. I would certainly maintain Fermin along with a free of cost role in midfield, both tackling and also pressing while also going down much deeper out of things to aid the dual pivot. The protective higher line will certainly be unsafe against Actual Madrid, however Baru00e7an also know they will definitely have the ability to injure the Merengues with the kind that Raphinha, Lewandowski and also Lamine remain in at the moment.