Champions League Awards: Fede’s Brilliance and Kinsky’s Challenges

Our Champions League Awards highlight the best and worst moments from the midweek round of 16 matches, featuring notable players like Fede Valverde and Antonin Kinsky.

Moment of the Week

Tottenham faced a tough match against Atletico Madrid. They found themselves three goals down within the first 15 minutes, marking an unfortunate milestone for any team in a Champions League knockout match. A standout decision by coach Igor Tudor was to substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes.

Spurs goalkeeper Antonín Kinský in his first Champions League start:

➖ Conceded three goals
➖ TWO mistakes leading to goals
➖ Subbed off after 17 minutes

🫠 pic.twitter.com/rZiB6CzVeG

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 10, 2026

Kinsky made errors that contributed to two of the goals before being replaced, showcasing the challenges facing Spurs, who are experiencing a club record six consecutive losses.

Player of the Week

Trent Alexander-Arnold called Federico Valverde the most underrated player in football. This week, Valverde proved his worth with a standout performance, leading Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Manchester City.

Only two players in Champions League history have scored a first-half hat-trick against an English opponent:

Lionel Messi 🆚 Arsenal in 2010
Federico Valverde 🆚 Man City in 2026 pic.twitter.com/caAlRURGbc

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2026

Valverde scored his first career hat-trick. He left Nico O’Reilly behind for the first goal and netted a second with skill, finishing his hat-trick with a precise shot past Marc Guehi. This strong performance marked a statement victory for Real Madrid.

Goal of the Week

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had an impressive game, scoring two goals and assisting another as PSG triumphed 5-2 over Chelsea. His first goal was particularly striking, cutting inside to take a powerful shot that found the net.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia produces a moment of magic to give PSG a 4-2 lead 🔥@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/YAjzgyfY83

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2026

Save of the Week

Thibaut Courtois made a crucial save that helped Real Madrid maintain their lead after Thiago Pitarch lost possession in a dangerous area. The Belgian goalkeeper’s intervention denied Manchester City a chance to get back into the game.

Courtois pulls off a brilliant save to deny O’Reilly 🤯@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/SZdav1skJv

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2026

Stat of the Week

A notable occurrence during this week is the performance of English clubs in the Champions League.

2 – This is the first time that two English clubs have lost by 3+ goals on the same day in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history:

PSG 5-2 Chelsea
Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City

Humbling. pic.twitter.com/DW4iJkw1um

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 11, 2026

A Week to Forget for…

Igor Tudor. The caretaker coach has had a tough time at Tottenham, and the loss to Atletico Madrid was yet another setback. His choice to substitute Kinsky so early in the match was harsh, and his lack of support for the young goalkeeper was notable.