Mislav Orsic Dinamo Zagreb Atalanta Champions LeagueGetty

Haaland, Ter Stegen, Di Maria, Orsic: The UEFA Champions League Player of the Week Nominees

The UEFA Champions League returned in some style this week, providing the grandest stage for Europe's best footballers as they seek club football's ultimate prize.

There were plenty of players who rose to the occasion for their respective sides, including RB Salzburg's Erling Braut Haaland, who became the third-youngest player to score a UCL hat-trick when he notched a magnificent treble against Belgian outfit Genk.

Haaland, who turned 19 just a couple of months ago, was not the only hat-trick hero from MD1; Mislav Orsic became the first Dinamo Zagreb player to score three goals in the UCL era when he put Atalanta to the sword, earning a deserved Player of the Week nomination in the process.

At the other end, Barcelona 'keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was at his unbeatable best for the Liga champions, making four saves including a stunning penalty stop as he kept high-flying Borussia Dortmund at bay - the German has now saved four of his last seven penalties.

In Paris, Angel Di Maria came back to haunt his old club, scoring twice against Real Madrid as Thomas Tuchel's side ran out deserved 3-0 winners.

Voting for Player of the Week is now open.

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