Champions League on Thursday? It may take some getting used to, but the revamped version of Europe’s elite competition provided more intrigue on night three.

It was the only matchday without a draw between two European heavyweights, but there was drama nonetheless: Arsenal lost to Atalanta, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen made the move from the Europa League with ease, two hotly-tipped strikers provided memorable moments, a Champions League debutant got off to a winning start and an American sporting icon was on hand to watch a future star.

Yamal x Jordan = star power

Before Monaco hosted Barcelona, ​​the talk turned to the visitors’ 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and whether he now ranks among the greatest of all time when it comes to young football stars.

Yamal of course recently shone with Spain at the European Championship, scoring one of the goals of the tournament and helping his country to the title.

If Yamal needed advice on how to navigate his newfound fame, there was a man at the Stade Louis II who could provide it: NBA legend Michael Jordan. Monaco hardly needs more glamour, with its mega-yachts and gleaming casinos, but Jordan’s presence — seated behind a red velvet rope in the corporate seats — certainly added an extra dimension to the occasion.

 

Michael Jordan was on hand to see Lamine Yamal liven up Monaco (Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Leaving aside the possibility that Jordan was there to see a man wearing his famous number 23, Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, he could see why Yamal is already a football king.

The winger levelled the score with a stunning goal after team-mate Eric Garcia had been sent off after just 10 minutes.

Everyone knows he wants to cut inside onto his left foot — but stopping him is another story. He dribbled inside and curled a clever finish into the near bottom corner, a flash of brilliance that went some way to highlighting the gulf between him and some of his teammates.

 

Yamal scored a stunning goal in a losing cause (Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

It won’t have escaped Nike executives’ attention that when the camera switched to Jordan for his reaction, Yamal — one of the brand’s most recognizable faces since signing his first deal in 1984 and still wearing his iconic Jumpman cap — was wearing Adidas sneakers, having switched brands earlier this year.

Even though Barcelona ultimately lost 2-1, it still felt like a night like any other in which Yamal underlined his claim to be the superstar of this generation.