After a long summer, Europe’s premier club competition is back and did not disappoint. From Lisbon to Amsterdam, some fantastic goals were scored in the opening week of the Champions League, so let's take a look at the top five.
Best Champions League Goals 2022-23 From Matchweek 1
#5. Phil Foden vs. Sevilla
Just before the hour mark in the Citizens match against Sevilla, Foden received a pass from João Cancelo inside a crowded penalty box. Faced with no immediate options, the 22-year-old danced with the ball at his feet, toying with the opposition defence, before earning just enough space to have a shot with his left foot. He placed it squarely in the bottom corner.
PHIL FODEN!
WHAT. A. FINISH. pic.twitter.com/BmuII2i6sh— UCL on Paramount+ ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 6, 2022
While nowhere near the best finish on this list, the ability to conjure up a goal from nothing is truly special, showing why he has earned the nickname "Stockport Iniesta."
#4. Leroy Sané vs. Inter Milan
Route one soccer at its very best. A long ball over the top from Joshua Kimmich fell just between the defense and goalkeeper and into the stride of Sané.
The German winger plucked the ball out of the air to perfection with his first touch and kept it under control with his chest before having the presence of mind to round the keeper and calmly slot it home. Simply surgical from the Bavarians.
The touch. The control. The finish.
LEROY SANE. TAKE A BOW. pic.twitter.com/Jm4ficJV8H— UCL on Paramount+ ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 7, 2022
#3. Noah Okafor vs. AC Milan
A personal favorite, this goal has shades of Messi all over it. RB Salzburg took a surprising lead thanks to Okafor, who completely humiliated Milan defender Pierre Kalulu and then fired the ball between Mike Maignan’s legs in one of the most embarrassing three seconds in sports history.
Noah Okafor drops Pierre Kalulu and nutmegs Mike Maignan.
Very naughty finish. pic.twitter.com/lAiqLxpBMB— UCL on Paramount+ ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 6, 2022
I wonder what was going through Kalulu’s head as Okafor sent him to the shops, clutching at daylight as he tumbled backward in a way no human ever should, reminiscent of an infant learning to walk. This will surely go down as one of the most underrated goals of the season.
#2. Mohammed Kudus vs. Rangers
What a way to score your first goal in European competition. Immediately after Ajax bagged its second goal against Rangers, Kudus surged down the flank and unleashed a thunderbolt off the inside of the post and in.
MOHAMMED KUDUS! OFF THE INSIDE OF THE POST. GOLAZO!
His first goal in European football. pic.twitter.com/Q2YnCu3qbp— UCL on Paramount+ ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 7, 2022
A rare goal that gets better with every angle, it’s difficult to imagine anyone ever striking a ball as cleanly as Kudus did. Simply satisfying.
#1. Álex Grimaldo vs. Maccabi Haifa
It just had to be this one, didn’t it? When Grimaldo picked the ball up, a shot was on no one’s mind, except for his. What followed was the most unnatural, unthinkable goal of the week, but perhaps the month.
GRIMALDOOOOOO BANGER! pic.twitter.com/s4mRUFqyQv
— UCL on Paramount+ ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 6, 2022
As it left his foot, the curve deceived the keeper, along with everyone in the stadium and watching on TV. The ball flew like a rocket and then suddenly dipped in a way that would make a physics professor question their entire life, before clipping the underside of the crossbar as it nestled into the back of the net. A courtesy dive from keeper and California native Josh Cohen completed the spectacle as Benfica cruised to a 2-0 win over Maccabi Haifa.
