Two games into the new UEFA Champions League season and we have been duly entertained by some exhilarating performances, especially from an individual front. So, as we approach the third matchweek of the competition, we look at five players you need to add in your fantasy teams in order to ensure a rewarding week.

Player: Joao Felix

Team: Atletico Madrid

Match: Lokomotiv Moscow vs Atletico Madrid

After struggling for fitness in his debut season at Atletico Madrid, 20-year-old Joao Felix has made a grand comeback in the 2020/21 campaign, already scoring half the goals (3) he managed in the entire 2019/20 La Liga season (6). Felix is enjoying a great run of form of late, having bagged four goals in his last two outings and you can expect more of the same from the Portuguese wunderkind.

Lokomotiv Moscow are without a win in their last four games and have conceded two goals in each of those fixtures. So with their defence struggling, punt on Felix to come back home with better points. 

Player: Dusan Tadic

Team: Ajax

Match: Midtjylland vs Ajax

Dusan Tadic has been a real revelation for Ajax since moving from Southampton in 2018. This season, too, the 31-year-old has bagged six goals and two assists in all competitions and is arriving on the back of scoring in three consecutive games. In fact, five of his six goals have come in his last five outings, meaning that the Serbian international will be a potent threat for Midtjylland, who have conceded goals at will. The Danish team has won just one of their last six games in all competitions while conceding a whopping 15 goals during the tenure. 

Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

Team: Juventus

Match: Ferencvaros vs Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last league action before Sunday’s win over Spezia came against Roma in a 2-2 draw back in late September. The Portugal captain had since missed five games after testing positive for the global virus but it didn’t take long for him to assert his claim. Coming on as a substitute in the 56th minute against Spezia, the 35-year-old scored a brace to announce his comeback in style. With no Champions League appearances to his name so far this season, Ronaldo will be riding high on confidence to finally open his account in the competition, and a game against Ferencvaros is the perfect platform, to say the least. They have lost just one of their last five games but lack of experience on the bigger stage rightly gives Ronaldo a perfect opportunity to strike.

Player: Robert Lewandowski

Team: Bayern Munich

Match: RB Salzburg vs Bayern Munich

Like Ronaldo, striker Robert Lewandowski, too is yet to open his account in the Champions League but it is about time. Salzburg are on the top of the Austrian Bundesliga standings but winless in the Champions League this season. Lewandowksi, on his part, is coming on the back of seven goals and two assists in his last five outings, meaning that Bayern are certain to count on their marksman. 10 goals and three assists in a mere five Bundesliga games tell how vicious he has been this season too, and you can rightly expect a goal or two from him on Tuesday night.

Player: Ansu Fati

Team: Barcelona

Match: Barcelona vs Dynamo Kyiv

“I would advise him to keep working and improving. Yesterday I spoke with him to improve the concentration issue. His turnovers are due to lack of concentration, not quality�?Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman recently said of Ansu Fati. When you think about it, it is exactly what it is. At 18, Ansu Fati is a raw talent and can be a real threat for any big team on a given day. So when Barcelona take on Dynamo Kyiv, Fati will be the one to keep an eye. He has already notched five goals and an assist this season and is certain to keep the Ukrainian team on their toes.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Vincenzo Pinto

Ansu Fati hadn't even played for Barcelona's B side when he was handed his senior team debut by Ernesto Valverde at the start of the last season. Many people questioned his decision as the 17-year-old was highly inexperienced, despite having heaps of talent and potential.

However, as the season progressed further, Fati showed that he has in him what it takes to compete at this level. He scored seven goals in a total of 24 games that he played for Barcelona last season. The attributes which impressed everyone was his bludgeoning pace and penetrating ability.

After Neymar's departure from the club, it was pretty hard to find players as talented as the Brazilian to fill the void in the left flank. They had acquired French youngster Ousmane Dembele to fill up that void but recurring injuries didn't allow him to cement his place in the first team.

That's where Fati came in. Yes, he wasn't a finished product but the qualities he had were already good enough to fast-track him to the senior level. And the way he performed for the iconic club in the 2019/20 season after that was exceptional for a 17-year-old. Yes, there were other young players around the world who had dished out better performances than Fati. He was surely a young talent on the rise but he still had some distance to cover in order to take his place among the best young talents in world football. However, as things stand right now, we could see him covering that distance in the ongoing season itself.

Fati made his international debut for Spain this year and scored his maiden goal in the match against Ukraine last month as well. That made him the youngest player ever to score for Spain. Moreover, the departure of Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid has created further room for him in Barcelona's front three this season and he made it count, having scored thrice in their three La Liga matches so far. Even though he was used on a rotation basis last season, he is more of a first-team material this time around.

Ever since Neymar's departure, Barcelona needed a player like Fati in the left flank. His pace, skills and penetrating ability form the perfect combination to go with Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho's creativity.

In fact, Fati doesn't only have the flair and pace, but he also has a cool head and clinical finishing ability that helps him to deliver under pressure. That's why he is a threat for opposition defences and his attributes will always help to lighten up Messi's load.

While his body might not be ready yet to cope with the rigours of such a long and intense season, and that's why keeping a player like him fresh and motivated will be one of the biggest challenges for Ronald Koeman. If he can do that, nothing can stop Fati from having a breakout season.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Miguel Riopa

La Liga's longest season ended on Sunday after 12 months and an 11-game sprint finish, with Real Madrid being crowned champions for only the third time in 12 years.

Here, we take a look at 10 of the best moments from the domestic campaign in Spain:

Aduriz' perfect start 

La Liga's goal of the season was arguably its first as the 38-year-old Aritz Aduriz delivered a dramatic 89th-minute winner against Barcelona with an incredible bicycle kick. Aduriz had announced this would be his final season before retiring and it was the perfect start to a long farewell.

Aritz Aduriz received a standing ovation in the dressing room after his late heroics against Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/Al1XPCwNTI

�?ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 17, 2019

Fati explodes into life 

Ansu Fati was 16 years and 304 days old in August when he became the youngest ever player to score a goal for Barcelona. The forward's header, six minutes after coming on against Osasuna, sent Spanish football into a frenzy and two weeks later he scored again while becoming Barca's youngest ever starting player.

Clasico overshadowed by protests 

For the first time in 17 years, a Clasico ended goalless but the match was overshadowed by what Catalan independence protests outside. Fans saw smoke drift over the stands while outside fires burned, objects were thrown and riot police tried to restore order. This was the Clasico that was postponed in October due to unrest in Catalonia but two months later, tension remained. 

Messi's Eibar quadruple 

There was talk of drought as Messi went without a goal in four games, but he made up for the lost time by scoring four goals against Eibar in March. Messi hit a hat-trick within 40 minutes, which was his 36th La Liga treble, and his 'poker' took the Argentinian to 20 goals against Eibar in just 11 league matches. 

Bale punished for Wales jibe 

Gareth Bale's relationship with Real Madrid has long been complicated but matters came to a head in November, when Bale celebrated behind a banner that read "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that Order", indicating his list of priorities. Bale insisted it was a joke, not initiated by him, but Madrid's fans expressed their disgust with screeching whistles when Bale came on their next game.

Mariano mocking Gareth Bale with a golf swing after the Wales, Golf Madrid In That Order Flag is class... ️‍♂�? pic.twitter.com/NDZo9ypkZy

�?Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 22, 2019

Unionistas breach Madrid 

Their fans stayed long after the final whistle to sing and applaud, even though Unionistas de Salamanca had just lost in the Copa del Rey. The feeling was of success after watching their team, launched in 2013 by its supporters, go toe-to-toe with Real Madrid. Unionistas sat 56 places below their opponents and while an incredible night ended in 3-1 defeat, Alvaro Romero's goal will never be forgotten. 

Silent derby in Seville 

The one match most synonymous with fans in Spain was the first to kick off without any as La Liga returned from its three-month suspension with Sevilla against Real Betis. The usually hot, fiery, frenetic Seville derby became the test case for Spanish football in front of empty stands as the game began to adjust to the new normal after the coronavirus pandemic.  

Benzema's Valencia volley 

Benzema's volley in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Valencia last month was another contender for goal of the season, a brilliant piece of skill followed almost instantly by a stunning finish. He feathered the ball mid-air with one foot while simultaneously lifting it over defender Hugo Guillamon, before smashing it with the other into the top corner. 

Benzema on his strike against Valencia;

"It was a pass from Marco, and I controlled the ball, it worked well and then I hit it with my left foot and it went in... It sounds easy when I explain it but it's about doing it in one quick movement."#GetSporty
pic.twitter.com/wv0OEZRwWn

�?SportyBet Nigeria (@sportybetng) June 19, 2020

Aspas sinks Barcelona 

Barcelona's title challenge included many stumbling blocks but the moment that turned the tide was Iago Aspas' curling free-kick that earned Celta Vigo a last-gasp point in June. Aspas exploited Barca's poorly positioned wall by bending the ball inside the near post and celebrated with his shirt off while yelling at empty stands.

The wonderful Iago Aspas 89th minute free kick to draw the game with Barcelona and hand Madrid the advantage.. pic.twitter.com/bBv6kSixHo

�?An (See Pinned) (@RoyalANfield) June 27, 2020

Ocampos heroics in goal 

Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos scored one goal as a winger and saved another as a goalkeeper while preventing Eibar's goalkeeper from scoring an equaliser. After putting Sevilla in front against Eibar this month, Ocampos took the gloves for the final few minutes due to an injury to Tomas Vaclik. Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic ventured up for a late corner and almost scored, only for Ocampos to make a crucial save during an incredible end to the match.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lluis Gene

Liverpool sharpshooter Sadio Mane broke the deadlock in a 2-0 English Premier League win over Aston Villa at Anfield by scoring his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.

It was the third straight campaign in which the Senegal forward and reigning African Footballer of the Year has bagged at least 20 goals for the Merseysiders.

The other African on target in the Premier League at the weekend was Nigeria's Kelechi Iheanacho, whose goal set Leicester City up for a 3-0 home victory over Crystal Palace.   

ENGLAND

SADIO MANE (Liverpool)

Jurgen Klopp's side found it hard work breaking down struggling Villa, but Mane had the answer when he fired home from close-range after running onto Guinea midfielder Naby Keita's pass. With five games left, Liverpool have 89 points and remain in the hunt to break Manchester City's Premier League record of 100 points established last season.

Read | Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend

KELECHI IHEANACHO (Leicester)

The striker bagged his 10th goal of the season as he broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, side-footing home a low left-wing cross from Youri Tielemans to claim his second goal in as many games. Leicester's first win since the coronavirus hiatus was sealed by the 100th and 101st Premier League goals of Jamie Vardy's career, leaving the Foxes in third place and on course to qualify for the Champions League.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)

The Gabon forward failed to score for the fourth time in five matches since the Premier League restart, but the Gunners still won 2-0 at Wolves. Amid speculation that he will ask to leave Arsenal in the close-season, Aubameyang's only goals since February came in the 4-0 win over Norwich on July 1. But he made a crucial contribution against Wolves with a clever pass to Kieran Tierney, who went on to set up Bukayo Saka's 43rd-minute opener. Suitably inspired, Arsenal clinched their fourth successive win in all competitions to remain in the hunt for European qualification.

SPAIN

ANSU FATI (Barcelona)

Fati came off the bench to score his seventh goal of the season in Barcelona's 4-1 victory over Villarreal. The Guinea-Bissau-born 17-year-old cut in from the left and drove the ball inside the near post to continue a remarkable breakthrough season for him at Camp Nou. Fati's goal helped Barca reduce the gap at the top of La Liga to four points, with Real Madrid still in pole position with four games to play,

ZOUHAIR FEDDAL (Real Betis)

Moroccan defender Feddal rescued a point for Betis by scoring a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo. He was left free at the back post, where he controlled and finished for his first goal of the season in La Liga. It earned a valuable point for Betis, who have been sliding closer to the bottom three. They sit nine points clear of the relegation zone with four rounds left.

ITALY 

MUSA JUWARA/MUSA BARROW (Bologna)

The pair of Gambian forwards combined to deal a potentially fatal blow to Inter Milan's Serie A title hopes as Bologna fought back to beat Antonio Conte's side 2-1 at the San Siro. The 18-year-old Juwara came off the bench to drill in a 74th-minute equaliser before Barrow capped a flowing counter-attack late on with a low finish to score a dramatic winner.

GERMANY

EDMOND TAPSOBA (Bayer Leverkusen)

When Leverkusen's Burkina Faso defender Tapsoba clattered Robert Lewandowski, who went onto score twice, early in the German Cup final, David Alaba swung in the resulting free-kick to give Bayern Munich the lead in a 4-2 victory at Berlin's Olympic Stadium. After Alaba and Serge Gnabry scored in the first half for Bayern, Lewandowski netted twice after the break to leave him with a total of 51 goals this season while Sven Bender and Kai Havertz bagged consolation goals for Leverkusen.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

The 16-year-old has Ansu Fati been making headlines ever since his debut for Spanish giants FC Barcelona. Only recently, the teenager became the youngest player to score for the Catalan club in the Spanish domestic league, showing glimpses of a promising future. With legends of the game present all around him, the ascent to the top will only be a matter of time.

Fati joined Sevilla’s academy at the tender age of eight but two years later, despite interest from many clubs, ended up at La Masia. Hailing from Guinea-Bissau, an African nation where even making ends meet is a luxury, a career in football is a far-fetched dream at best. But the charismatic youngster played his cards right and landed up in Spain.

He became one of the youngest players to enter Barcelona’s youth academy, and his innate talent was on display right from the start. The youth system worked wonders for him as he turned his rather lanky physique to a strong muscular one.

His cheetah-like speed and phenomenal dribbling skills were left little to the imagination of coaches who clearly envisioned the havoc he could create when paired with Lionel Messi upfront. Just like the great Argentinian, Fati also possesses the ability to win one-on-one duels with ease, and coupled with his spectacular vision, he’s helping strikers like Luis Suarez gain control of the game.

Barcelona must be proud to have produced a world-class player from their own academy, but at the same time, the Catalan giants shouldn’t ignore the fact that their beloved future star still needs polishing. Making his debut for the senior team in the 2019-20 season, Fati was often called out for his poor decision-making skills.

He’s blessed with an abundance of time at his disposal to learn but needs to do it quickly before the Camp Nou loyalists turn their heads away. Nevertheless, he has quickly ascended to a most favoured spot among his fans, with some already petitioning to start him over Luis Suarez!

The failure of Neymar’s return to Barcelona this season has boded well for the youngster. He received a raucous reception from the crowd in his first five appearances in the domestic league, courtesy of his spellbinding performances. He already has two goals and an assist to his name and Fati has made his place in the first team.

His most notable performance came in Barcelona’s hard-earned 2-1 victory over Villarreal.  Although the youngster didn’t score any goals, the amount of sheer pace he injected into the game was almost criminal. He created a lot of opportunities for Antoine Griezmann and left the Yellow Submarine defenders gasping for breath. His link-up play with Frenkie de Jong and Arthur Melo in the midfield enhances Barcelona’s style of play and brings the much-needed speed that the fans have been longing for.

Fati took just two games to announce his arrival at the Camp Nou when he scored his debut goal against Osasuna in a 2-2 draw. Barcelona are in possession of a gold mine but the only thing they need to look out for is someone to polish the shine, so it could ease the struggles of their faltering Champions League encounters.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Pau Berrena