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The 2021/22 version of the Champions League is ready to get underway, following one of many craziest summer time switch home windows in a very long time.
Chelsea, the holders, have additional strengthened with the arrivals of Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez; Paris Saint-Germain have added Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes to the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe; and Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho have joined Manchester United.
Right here, we now have previewed the 32 golf equipment that can be competing within the 2021/22 Champions League group stage.
MANCHESTER CITY
Pep Guardiola is on the hunt for his third Champions League trophy, 11 years after final securing Europe’s greatest prize. Manchester Metropolis are hungry for revenge after dropping in final season’s ultimate to Chelsea, and in the summertime they added extra playmaking within the type of the 117 million euro arrival of Jack Grealish. The reigning Premier League champions had been unable to signal Harry Kane, although, so Ferran Torres is more likely to get a number of recreation time as a false 9.
PSG
The winners of the summer time switch window are actually the outright favourites to go and elevate their first Champions League, having reached the ultimate and semi-final within the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons respectively. PSG had been in a position to hold maintain of Mbappe in the summertime and can be capable to pair him with Messi and Neymar in assault, however Mauricio Pochettino should discover a system that features all of his star gamers and capabilities properly. If he can try this, it is certainly PSG’s trophy to lose.
RB LEIPZIG
RB Leipzig could have misplaced head coach Julian Nagelsmann and a few essential gamers, resembling Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate and Marcel Sabitzer, in the summertime, however they’ve as soon as once more impressed with their enterprise within the switch window. A few of Europe’s most enjoyable gamers have been added in Mohamed Simakan, Josko Gvardiol, Brian Brobbey and Ilaix Moriba, whereas Dominik Szoboszlai will really feel like a brand new signing after recovering from damage. Leipzig have a dependable No.9 in Andre Silva now, too.
CLUB BRUGGE
The winner of 4 of the final six Jupiler Professional League titles, Membership Brugge generally is a harmful proposition in Europe, as Actual Madrid discovered prior to now. The performances of Hans Vanaken can be key if the Belgians are to trigger an upset in any of their group-stage matches, and the identical applies for proficient kids Noa Lang and Charles De Ketelaere.
ATLETICO MADRID
Atletico Madrid obtained widespread reward for his or her switch enterprise this summer time, notably bringing in Rodrigo de Paul, Matheus Cunha and Antoine Griezmann, and there’s optimism on the membership that they’ll repeat their feats from 2014 and 2016, once they reached the Champions League ultimate. After successful the LaLiga Santander title final season, Atletico and Diego Simeone can have their eyes on Champions League glory this time round.
LIVERPOOL
After a season during which the Liverpool gamers gave the impression to be dropping like flies, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson all struggling long-term accidents, Jurgen Klopp’s aspect appear to be again at full power. The nasty-looking damage to prodigious midfielder Harvey Elliott is a disgrace, significantly after he began the season so properly, however Thiago Alcantara will now be trying to present that he generally is a common in Liverpool’s beginning line-up.
PORTO
Sergio Conceicao has carried out an outstanding job at Porto given the membership’s monetary scenario, and led by the likes of Luis Diaz, Sergio Oliveira and Jesus Corona, they are going to be trying to make life troublesome for the likes of Atletico, Liverpool and AC Milan. Porto can nonetheless depend on the 38-year-old Pepe on the again, too.
AC MILAN
AC Milan are again within the Champions League after seven years away, but they misplaced two essential gamers in the summertime as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu walked out the door when their contracts expired and signed for PSG and Inter respectively. Mike Maignan has are available to exchange Donnarumma, whereas the Rossoneri have Brahim Diaz on mortgage from Actual Madrid for an additional season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic will hope to show the clock again in assault, whereas it is price maintaining a tally of Sandro Tonali, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez.
SPORTING CP
The Liga NOS champions from final season ended their 19-year look forward to the league title, however now Ruben Amorim can be trying to information his Sporting aspect by way of a troublesome group within the Champions League. The signing of Pablo Sarabia on mortgage must be of nice assist, significantly if he can get connection going with goalscoring midfielder Pote.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Holding maintain of Erling Haaland was Borussia Dortmund’s main goal this summer time, following the big-money sale of Jadon Sancho to Manchester United. Donyell Malen has been signed to lighten a number of the load on Haaland’s shoulders, whereas in midfield Jude Bellingham is able to turn out to be the subsequent star of European soccer. Dortmund stay leaky on the again, however they need to create a number of probabilities by way of the likes of Marco Reus, Julian Brandt, Gio Reyna and Thorgan Hazard.
AJAX
Erik ten Hag has seen a few of his star gamers depart Ajax in the previous couple of years, resembling Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech, however he has managed to keep up a powerful group as the subsequent technology of stars emerge. Ajax broke their switch file to signal striker Sebastian Haller from West Ham for 22.5 million euros in January 2021, so they may hope he can convert some probabilities within the Champions League. Dusan Tadic stays key within the group’s attacking play, whereas Antony, Ryan Gravenberch and Jurrien Timber are three kids to regulate.
BESIKTAS
Besiktas had been in a position to turn out to be Turkish Tremendous Lig champions final season, they usually have added to their group with some fascinating additions in the summertime. Rachid Ghezzal’s mortgage has been made everlasting, whereas Alex Teixeira has joined on a free and the membership introduced in Miralem Pjanic and Michy Batshuayi on mortgage.
INTER
Inter ended Juventus’ dominance when it got here to the Scudetto final season, but they noticed two key gamers depart the membership in the summertime within the type of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi, in addition to head coach Antonio Conte. They’re additionally unable to have Christian Eriksen of their ranks at current, following his collapse at Euro 2020. Nonetheless, new boss Simone Inzaghi has a powerful defence in Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni. The Nerazzurri have made some sensible signings relatively than splashy ones, bringing in Joaquin Correa, Hakan Calhanoglu, Denzel Dumfries and Edin Dzeko.
REAL MADRID
Essentially the most profitable membership within the Champions League can be eager to reassert themselves on the pinnacle of European soccer, with Carlo Ancelotti again as head coach. David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga have been signed this summer time, however Ancelotti can be eager to get some gamers again to their greatest, resembling Eden Hazard, Isco and Marco Asensio. Within the early a part of this season, Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior have been Los Blancos’ standout gamers.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Dynamo Kyiv broke Shakhtar Donetsk’s run of 4 straight Ukrainian league titles final season, however new head coach Roberto De Zerbi was in a position to information the group into the Champions League group levels after beating Genk and Monaco. As normal with Shakhtar, their Brazilian gamers can be price maintaining a tally of within the Champions League.
SHERIFF TIRASPOL
Sheriff are set to play within the Champions League for the primary time of their historical past, and they’ll be capable to play with freedom within the information that they don’t have anything to lose. Any hopes Sheriff have of inflicting a shock consequence may reply on Colombian ahead Frank Castaneda, who’s their greatest attacker.
BAYERN MUNICH
Hansi Flick left his position as head coach in the summertime and he was changed by Julian Nagelsmann, as Bayern Munich paid a reported 25 million euros to RB Leipzig to safe his providers. Additionally they went to Leipzig to herald Upamecano and Sabitzer, following the departures of David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez. Bayern stay a really sturdy group, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski all on the prime of their recreation.
BARCELONA
This summer time noticed Barcelona’s worrisome monetary scenario come again to chew them, as they needed to let Messi depart earlier than Griezmann was despatched out on mortgage to Atletico. Memphis Depay got here in on a free and has regarded good within the early weeks of the season, whereas kids Yusuf Demir, Nico Gonzalez and Gavi are able to make an affect for Ronald Koeman’s aspect.
BENFICA
Benfica may solely end third within the Liga NOS after spending 105 million euros and bringing in Jorge Jesus as head coach, but they are going to be hoping that Everton, Darwin Nunez and Nicolas Otamendi can have extra of an affect this season. Pizzi and Rafa Silva might want to play properly if Benfica are to complete within the prime two within the group.
DYNAMO KYIV
Mircea Lucescu, the oldest coach within the Champions League at 76 years outdated, turned to youth at Dynamo Kyiv and it has paid off, with Viktor Tsygankov, Mykola Shaparenko and Vitaliy Buyalski all demonstrating their high quality. They’ve a younger however spectacular defence too, as Vitaliy Mykolenko (22), Illya Zabarnyi (19), Denys Popov (22) and Oleksandr Syrota (21) have all proven that they’re able to play on the prime stage.
VILLARREAL
Final season’s Europa League champions wish to present what they’ll do within the Champions League this time round, and led by Unai Emery they’ve a coach who is aware of what it takes to win in Europe. Gerard Moreno, Pau Torres and Dani Parejo can be key for Villarreal, as will new signings Arnaut Danjuma and Boulaye Dia.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Having introduced in Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho this summer time, Manchester United not solely have hopes of successful the Premier League title however they wish to go additional within the Champions League, following their group-stage exit final season. Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes have begun the season in nice type and they’ll little question play a pivotal position within the Crimson Devils’ probabilities of progressing far within the competitors.
ATALANTA
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Atalanta have turn out to be the impartial’s favorite group in Europe, as their attacking model of soccer below Gian Piero Gasperini has earned plaudits throughout the continent. Their sensible recruitment has led to some high quality arrivals this summer time, as they used the cash earned from the Cristian Romero sale to signal Juan Musso, Merih Demiral, Matteo Lovato and Teun Koopmeiners.
YOUNG BOYS
David Wagner took cost of Swiss champions Younger Boys this summer time after Gerardo Seoane left for Bayer Leverkusen, and he can be hoping to keep up the membership’s thrilling play on the pitch, as objectives – each for and towards – have been an everyday story with Younger Boys within the Champions League in latest seasons.
LILLE
Lille defied the chances to win the Ligue 1 title final season, however, equally to Barcelona, their monetary scenario signifies that they needed to settle for some key departures in the summertime. Head coach Christophe Galtier departed the membership, whereas Mike Maignan and Boubakary Soumare joined AC Milan and Leicester Metropolis respectively. Lille did handle to a minimum of hold maintain of Sven Botman, whereas in assault they nonetheless have the duo of Burak Yilmaz and Jonathan David. When wholesome, Renato Sanches generally is a difference-making participant, too.
SEVILLA
Sevilla are decided to get previous the last-16 stage within the Champions League, and Julen Lopetegui can be hoping to advance additional in Europe’s premier membership competitors after holding maintain of his key gamers this summer time. Jules Kounde, who was strongly linked with a transfer away, can be trying so as to add to his status with some sturdy showings in Europe this season.
RED BULL SALZBURG
Crimson Bull Salzburg repeatedly lose their greatest gamers, with Erling Haaland, Dominik Szoboszlai and Patson Daka all departing within the final couple of years, however they nonetheless have aspirations of getting previous the group stage within the Champions League, one thing they’ve didn’t do of their first two makes an attempt in 2019/20 and 2020/21. This season, the Salzburg gamers to regulate are Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Luka Sucic and Oumar Solet.
WOLFSBURG
Mark van Bommel grew to become Wolfsburg in the summertime and has to date guided them to the highest of the Bundesliga desk within the early weeks of the season, so the hope will now be that they’ll carry this way into the Champions League. Maxence Lacroix is admittedly spectacular at centre-back, then they’ve central midfield pairing of Maximilian Arnold and Xaver Schlager, and Wout Weghorst causes a number of complications for opposition defences in assault.
CHELSEA
The reigning Champions League champions are one of many favourites to retain the trophy, following the arrival of Lukaku, who value 115 million euros. Saul has joined on mortgage to additional bolster Thomas Tuchel’s choices, too. Their push for the Premier League title may have an effect on their Champions League marketing campaign down the highway, however the Blues look very sturdy this season.
JUVENTUS
Massimiliano Allegri returned to Juventus as head coach in the summertime after two years away, but it surely has not been an excellent begin, because the Bianconeri have picked up one level from a attainable 9 to start out the 2021/22 marketing campaign. Juventus misplaced Cristiano Ronaldo within the ultimate days of the switch window and solely introduced in Moise Kean and Manuel Locatelli, however there’s hope that the likes of Federico Chiesa, Paulo Dybala and Locatelli can step up and impress.
ZENIT
Zenit are a wierd group as they dominate in Russia however fail to do the identical within the Champions League, exiting on the group stage in every of the final two seasons. They’ve some spectacular gamers, like Wilmar Barrios, Malcom and Yaroslav Rakitskyi, and head coach Sergei Semak can be decided to make life troublesome for Chelsea and Juventus.
MALMO
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