3 players to watch out for in UEFA Champions League this season
Three potential breakout stars in this season’s UCL
Champions League season is upon us as the groups got released last week. Everyone is excited to watch the superstars such as Benzema, Mbappe, Neymar and many more. However, every year there are a few players that announce themselves on the UCL stage.
Last year it was Darwin Nuñez, in 2020 we had Haaland and who could forget Mbappe in the 16/17 season.
There are many young players ready to show off their skills in this Champions League campaign, especially those that might want to earn a roster spot for the World Cup.
Who will be this year’s Mbappe or Haaland?
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Group A has lots of talent with Napoli, Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers in the group. You have the likes of Fabio Carvalho, Malik Tillman and Victor Osimhen but the player to look out for is the Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The 21-year-old winger moved to Napoli this summer to replace Lorenzo Insigne and three games into the season, he is filling the Naples legend’s shoes.
In his first two games, Khvicha has four goal contributions against Hellas Verona and Monza. It’s not just the goals that has everyone gushing; it’s his aggressiveness on the wing and how shifty he is despite being 6-feet tall.
When looking at matchups in this group, the winger has a prime opportunity to really announce himself to the world against Liverpool.
Showing off against last season’s runners-up is a great chance to have everyone know who you are. Standing out under the bright lights of Anfield is not the easiest of tasks. Yet it has been done before – see Nuñez last year and Marcos Llorente a couple of seasons ago.
With a favorable matchup against the defensively weak Alexander-Arnold, Khvicha can put on a clinic and draw interest from a big Premier League club (maybe even Liverpool themselves).
Gonçalo Ramos
Not many clubs in world football develop talent better than Benfica, especially forward talent. Three years ago, it was Joao Felix, last season came Darwin Nuñez. This year it’s Gonçalo Ramos.
The 21-year-old Portuguese forward is off to a tremendous start with 2 goals in four games in Liga Portugal and 4 in four UCL qualification matches.
Benfica got a tough draw in PSG, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa. In PSG and Juventus, you have two of the biggest clubs in Europe, which is a good thing for Ramos as it gives him a big stage to perform on and impress.
Many big clubs are in the market for a young striker – Manchester United, Chelsea and potentially Bayern Munich.
Ramos is in that category of great U-23 strikers and has every skill required of a complete striker.
He’s a great finisher, he overperforms his xG, his off-the-ball movement and awareness is superb for a striker his age and he is a great presser off the ball. The modern game requires the striker to be just as good off the ball as on it.
Ramos ticks the boxes on all that and a great UCL campaign will most certainly guarantee him a big move next summer.
Jota
Celtic are back in the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2017/2018 campaign. That was the last time Scottish Football had a representative in the group stages. This year they have two with Rangers qualifying as well.
Celtic have a very good squad mixed with veterans and young players and one of their key players is Jota.
Not to get confused with Diogo Jota from Liverpool, the 23-year-old Portuguese winger thrived for Celtic last year on loan from Benfica and the move was made permanent this summer.
Jota is off to a flying start with 3 goals and 4 assists in five games in the Scottish league.
Celtic got a tough draw in defending champions Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk. If they want to progress, which is possible, Jota will have to carry his Scottish League form over to the UCL.
The tricky winger loves to have fun on the pitch by doing fancy tricks, get into 1-v-1 situations and deliver that killer pass. Against the high lines of RB Leipzig, and perhaps Real Madrid, Jota will have the opportunity to thrive, especially in the home games with the roaring Celtic Park crowd behind him. Never count out Celtic at home in Europe. Barcelona can attest to that.
Next. Barcelona send Sergino Dest on loan to AC Milan. dark
The football world loves tricky wingers and flashy players and Jota might be the next one up. This is the platform to showcase his talent, particularly in games against Real Madrid. No better way to show the world how good you are than by performing well against the biggest club in the world.