UEFA Champions League 2020/2021 – First Look

The 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League starts this week with Group Play. While the world is still far from over the pandemic, it appears that enough has been learned on dealing with it on a day-to-day basis that hopefully this season can proceed with minimal disruptions. Certainly there may be games along the way that need to be rescheduled but not wholesale shutdowns. And more than ever deep rosters will be a key again this season since players are at a higher risk of missing action.

But the league is back and that’s cause for celebration. And there are more reasons that ever to watch. Not that fans need more reasons as its already the best soccer on earth! But this season has some special reasons for soccer fans in the US to pay attention. Ten of them to be exact! The most ever USMNT players to play in a given UCL season and everyone of them is under 25 years old! We’ll expand a bit on each of these guys in the review of their respective groups.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

As normal (I almost hate to use that word in 2020), there will be 32 teams split among 8 groups. Each team will have a home and home with the other 3 teams in their groups with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Round of 16. The Group Stage matches will be held on October 20 and 21, October 27 and 28, November 3 and 4, November 24 and 25, December 1 and 2, and December 8 and 9. The draw for the Round of 16 will be held in Nyon, Switzerland on December 14.

The Round of 16 matches will again be home and home with matches held on February 15 and 16 and March 16 and 17. The draws for the Quarterfinal and Semifinals will be held in Nyon on March 19. Quarterfinal matches will be held on April 6 and 7 and April 13 and 14. Semifinal matches will be on April 27 and 28 and May 4 and 5. All heading to the final to be played on Saturday May 29 at Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.

As for rule changes? Not any real changes. UEFA decided on September 24 to continue with the 5 substitution rule instituted this past season and keeping roster size set to 23. So lets dive into the groups and see what we can look for.

Group A

FC Bayern Munich – Winners from last season and one of the clear favorites again this year. The have Robert Lewandowski the current UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. One of the best shot stoppers in Manuel Neuer. And a young defender in Alphonso Davies who is one of the fastest players around. Sitting currently in 2nd in the Bundesliga they are once again scoring at in insane pace finding the back of the net 17 times in their first four matches.

Club Atletico de Madrid – Currently sitting at 6th in the La Liga it seems that perhaps they have struggled just a bit in the early season. Don’t be fooled. The standings are misleading. In their first 4 matches they have allowed one goal. No that’s not a typo. And every team above them has played at least one more match. Luis Suarez is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing in his new kit. Coming over from Barcelona may have been hard for him but he’s taken to his new team quite well scoring 3 times in their first 4 matches. With Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak anchoring a stout defense they will be a tough out.

FC Salzburg – Currently sitting atop the Austrian Bundesliga with 4 wins in their first 4 matches they are a fun team to watch if for no other reason than their head coach. Jesse Marsch led Salzburg to the league trophy in his first season making him the most successful American coach in Europe. Their attack is led by Mali striker Sekou Koita. With 4 tallies in the clubs first 4 matches. But at 5’9″ and only 148lbs you wonder if he can hold up to the much more physical play he’ll face in UCL?

FC Lokomotiv Moskva – Sitting at 4th in the Russian Premier League but in the thick of things. The good news for Moskva is that they don’t allow a lot of goals. It helps to have a giant minding the net. Their keeper is no small guy at 6’5″. The team will go as far as the Brazilian keeper will take them.

Projection – Just hard to imagine that Bayern and Atletico don’t advance. In other groups Salzburg would be fun to watch. Just not in this one.

US Players to Watch: First is CB Chris Richards. Will be tough for him to see much time this season but he has already made the field for Bayern and it is a long season with lots of matches. And he has already gotten a start (although it was at RB). Not bad for a 20 year old. And now its news flash time! Not even shown in the lead in photo is Brendan Aaronson. The young star for the Philadelphia Union will transfer to Salzburg and be eligible for play starting in January.

Group B

Real Madrid – First in La Liga. Leading in goal differential. Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior. Their roster reads like an international all start team. Certainly in the top handful of sided in the competition.

Borussia Monchengladbach – While its early in the seasons the German side is a ways down in the table at 11. Not scoring much, especially given the way goals have been flying around this season but not allowing much either. Thus far they have scored 5 times. By 5 different players. So they spread things around which is a good thing. But they also don’t have the star power of the top teams in the competition.

FC International Milano – Sitting at 6th in the Serie A they are hard to judge. They score more than the average Italian side but they also allow more goals. Milan will rely on the combination of midfielder Ivan Perisic and forward Romalu Lukaku. That duo can pose some problems for opposing defenses especially on set pieces.

FC Shakhtar Donetsk – One of the top clubs in Ukraine, they are a team to be careful of. They sit in third in the Ukraine Premier League thus far but in 6 matches they have not lost yet. And they are leading the league in goals scored. The team revolves around midfielder Viktor Kovalenko. But what an interesting roster they have built. Nine of their 24 players are Brazilian!

Projection – Expect Real Madrid to advance. Picking the other side is tough. Any of the other three could take it. Milano would be the favorites but a small slip and one of the other two could slip in.

US Players to Watch: None

Group C

Manchester City – Sometimes the draw gods favor you. This time they smiled on Man City. Not that they needed any help. The English club sits all the way down in 9th in the EPL. Eh, don’t sweat it. They are still one of the most loaded clubs in the world. Look at this center of the field. Ederson, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, and Raheem Sterling. Another international all star side. So no they didn’t need any help in the draw but they got it anyway with one of the weaker groups in the tournament.

Olympique de Marseille – Fifth in the French Ligue 1 and a decent side. Midfielder Thauvin Florian is key here. He can score and he can pass. They will need him to do lots of both for them to succeed.

FC Porto – Second in the Portugal Premier League, they are another decent albeit less known club. But don’t sleep on Porto. They can score and they have a solid defense. They rely on controlling the ball in the midfield between Brazilian Otavio, Portuguese Sergio Oliveira, and Mexican Jesus Corona. They keep the ball away from their opponents. And when the frustration level rises they sneak a quick attack. If teams let their guard down they will pay.

Olympiacos FC – Perennial top Greek side is once again in the UCL. The player to watch here is Moroccan forward Youssef El Arabi. Even at the age of 33 this guy can still score having tallied 5 goals already in the early season. The question is going to be do they have enough supporting cast to play at the UCL level?

Projection – Manchester City takes first in the group and it would be a major stunner for anything less. Look for Marseille or Porto to take second. I’ll go with Porto on their midfield depth.

US Players to Watch – The #1 keeper for the USMNT, Zack Steffan is the #2 guy at Man City. Expect him to get some UCL minutes.

Group D

Liverpool FC – One of the top clubs in the world the last several seasons. Another team loaded with money and that translates to loaded with players. And they still have one of the most dynamic scoring trios in Roberto Firminio, Sadio Mane, and Mohammed Salah. Salah and Mane already have 10 goals between this fall. But all is not rosy in Liverpool. All world CB Virgil van Dijk suffered a knee injury Saturday and will undergo surgery for repairs. You simply do not replace a talent at that level.

Atalanta BC – Sitting 3rd in the early Serie A and leading the league in goals scored. They had been siting atop the table until they got thumped 4-0 by Napoli. Napoli scored 4 times in a 20 minute span. Atalanta fans better hope that was an aberration. Their attack is centered around Argentinian playmaker Alejandro Gomez. He’s quick afoot and shifty with the dribble. The question is will he wear down over a long season. 5’5″ and 150lbs is small. Marco Sportiello will shoulder most of the goalkeeping duties. He needs a better save to goals allowed ratio than the 14/9 so far this season. But again, its a bit skewed by that 4 goal burst from Napoli.

AFC Ajax – A top Dutch club and they have one very strong factor on their side. They are young. And like it or not soccer is becoming more and more a young man’s game. The question will be do they have enough talent? Currently 2nd in the Dutch Eredivisie they score and defend equally well. Balanced teams like this are always tough outs. In the early season thus far they have found goals from their forwards, midfield, and defenders. If they gel together as a unit they could make a bit of a run.

FC Midtyjlland – Never heard of them? Don’t worry most fans haven’t, me included. The Danish side is currently 5th. The good news is they aren’t allowing a lot of goals. The bad news is they aren’t scoring many either. If a gambler wanted to throw some money on a real flyer this would be an option. Problem is they’d just be throwing their money away.

Projection – Liverpool and Atalanta advance. Ajax has a chance to take second with some luck.

US Players to Watch: Ajax midfielder Alex Mendez is one to look for. While he hasn’t made the top club yet he is featured on their reserve side and its only a matter of time till he makes his way to the main side. And if you get a chance to see him watch for his free kicks. He’s got a leg!

Group E

Chelsea – Sitting 7th in the early EPL but be watching this team. They made a ton of changes this summer and it will take a bit for them to come together. But they have talent and depth. Their biggest issue remains in the back. Their last game was no exception as they once again conceded a goal in extra time costing them two points. But look at the core lineup – NGolo Kante, Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and Timo Werner. All mainstays of their respective national teams. But goalkeepers Kepa (8 saves, 6 goals allowed) and Wilfredo Caballero (0 saves, 3 goals allowed) have got to do better.

Sevilla FC – Sitting 10th in La Liga but playing well having allowed only 3 goals in their first 4 matches. Moroccan keeper Bono has been playing very well garnering 11 saves and only surrendering the 3 goals. Brazilian defender Diego Carlos anchors the back line and so far they look solid. Midfielders Ivan Rakitic (Croaia) and Jesus Navas (Spain) provide the link up to the attack to forwards Luuk de Jong (Netherlands) and Munir Haddadi (Spain).

FC Krasnodar – Sitting well down the table in the Russian Premier League they are an interesting team. What is different about the RPL compared to most European leagues is that they have already played 11 matches. Far more than most leagues. Inconsistent fits this team. They are second in the RPL in goals with 21. But 7 of those came in one match against the worst defensive team in the league. Interesting to note that their top two scorers in Marcus Berg (Sweden) and Remy Cabella (France) are foreigners. Like many smaller leagues they struggle to find the balance between providing quality soccer balanced that with a roster with enough nationals to satisfy their fans. Several years ago I was fishing in South America and had a pair of Russian fishing guides one day. In the lounge at the camp that evening we were talking soccer and they both said they had been huge fans but didn’t watch much anymore. So I asked them why not. They were both from St. Petersburg and followed that club growing up. And in fact had friends who had played for them. But they had lost interest because “too many foreigners are playing and I don’t care to watch them….I want to watch my Russian friends.” I hear similar comments from fans of smaller leagues all over saying similar things even in the MLS.

Stade Rennais FC – Sitting second in Ligue 1 keep an eye on this team. They are playing much better than projected. Certainly they have a tough road ahead to advance but if you are a gambler this would be a team to take a flyer on. Attacking midfielder Sehrou Guirassy is a force. He’s a big kid at 6’2″ and can motor. Arsenal has previously been linked to this guy. When the EPL is looking at a player for transfer pay attention. They don’t get it wrong very often.

Projection – Chelsea and Sevilla should advance. But any faltering could open the door for Rennais.

US Players to Watch: This is where you’ll find the guy who is probably the most important player to the US team in Christian Pulisic. Transferred from Dortmund to Chelsea last year he had a superb first season in the EPL. But two injuries caused him to miss significant time including the start of this season. But he is back and wearing the classic #10. That Chelsea has entrusted him with that number shows how much he means to that team. For those who’d like some history on just what that jersey number means here’s an interesting read.

Group F

Borussia Dortmund – Lets just get right to the key and his name is Erling Haaland, The 20 year old Norwegian striker is a goal scoring machine. Already has his club tied for 2nd in the Bundesliga and is second in scoring with 4 goals in as many matches. But they have more. So much more. A solid pair of goalkeepers in Roman Burki and Marwin Hitz. Interesting in that for a country known for producing world class keepers they have two Swiss guys minding the nets. Then a pair of monsters manning the back line in Mats Hummels (Germany, 6’4″) and Thomas Meunier (Belgium, 6’3″). Tough to beat those guys in the air and they just squash opponents corner kicks. And the list goes on and on. More on one other guy in a minute.

Club Brugge – A Belgian side that is no stranger to UCL. They have enough talent to be at or near the top of the Belgian First Division. Enough to qualify for UCL but not deep enough to make much noise. Perhaps this year will be different. They are sitting in first in their domestic league. And having scored 22 times while only allowing 6 in their first 9 matches is solid play. The good news for Belgian fans is that they have their national team keeper Simon Mignolet and they seem to be sticking with him to the max. He has played all 9 matches thus far this season. So far half their goals have come from a midfield duo of Kreppin Diatta (Senegal) and Hans Vanaken (Belgium). For US fans the further they progress in UCL the better…more on that in a minute.

SS Lazio – To be blunt this team is not playing very well right now sitting clear down in 14th in the early part of the Serie A. They have only scored 4 times in their first 4 matches good for next to last in the league. And they have allowed twice as many goals as they have scored. That is not a recipe for success. Now temper that just a bit in that 2 of those early matches were against top 5 teams. But still they have work to do. Lazio desperately needs someone or someones to take a step forward and take control.

FC Zenit – The top club in the RPL right now and playing extremely well in their domestic league. The sit in first, they are first in scoring, and first in goals allowed. Can’t get much better than that. But we are talking the RPL here. Not near the quality of the top Euro leagues. Clearly they have some talent including strikers Artem Dzyuba (Russia) and Sardar Azmoun (Iran) whom each have found the net 6 times already. And they have a real star in the midfield in Aleksandr Erokhin (Russian). Beware of these guys.

Projection – This is a really interesting group with Dortmund having a fairly easy road to advancement as long as they take care of business. But second? Pretty up for grabs as all three of the others are playing well and have enough talent to make a run.

US Players to Watch: Perhaps no player is more exciting to see developing that Gio Reyna. While Pulisic is currently the top US start Gio is making noise and lots of it. The Dortmund midfielder doesn’t even turn 18 until next month. And he became the youngest American player to ever appear in an UCL match and register an assist. That occurring last season. It always dangerous to hype a player. But sorry there is no holding back here. He could progress to being at an insane level. Like top 10 in the world type level. Then there is Ethan Horvath. Likely the #2 keeper on the US depth chart the guy is good. Or at least we thing he is. The problem is that his club, Brugge, seems intent on playing their #1 keeper every single match. So Horvath rides the bench. Sooner or later you have to think he’ll get some time.

Group G

Barcelona FC – One look at the La Liga table and you’d say WTH? Yes its early. Yes they haven’t played terrible. But still sitting at 9th? Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, who was thought to be leaving but didn’t, has only scored once in the first 4 matches. But they ARE Barcelona. They don’t rebuild, they reload, And they still are loaded for bear. Besides Messi, they have a star studded lineup including Spanish defenders Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique, midfielders Phillipe Coutinho (Brazil) and Antoine Griezmann (France) and Spanish forward Ansu Fati. And they have two American kids!

Juventus – The Italian club that has merely won 9 straight Serie A titles. Cristiano Ronaldo the famed striker from Portugal may be 35 but he’s still scoring goals and seems to be in great form. But at some point age catches up to everyone. Maybe he still has plenty in the tank. And Juve has plenty of players around him to cause worry to other teams. Federico Chiesa will provide plenty of attacking prowess and if team overload on Ronaldo then he will get his goals. But where Juve has a ton of talent and depth is in the midfield. They have talent and depth here than there is space to talk about it all. So we’ll just highlight the newcomer, Weston McKennie. The US star brought in from Schalke to be a destroying force in the midfield. He’s going to get plenty of minutes to show his stuff.

FC Dynamo Kiev – Historically one of the better sides in the RPL they sit mid table so far. They are scoring and defending equally which is to say they are ok in both. Not good. Just ok. The problem for them to advance is two fold. Barcelona and Juventus. They just don’t have the talent to hand with these two giants.

Ferencvaros TC – Never heard of them? Don’t worry hardly anybody has. They may be the top team in the Hungarian First Division ( and yes they are) but check out their rankings in the world. Not dissing on this side but they are currently unranked. Their highest EVER ranking was at the end of last season when they won the Hungarian league (why they are in UCL) . And that got them all they way up to #427 in the world.

Prediction – The two giants move on. Would be a massive shock to see anything but.

US Players to Watch: A great group for fans of the USMNT. As already mentioned you have McKennie at Juve. Then we have two players at Barcelona. First is Sergino Dest. Playing outside back so far and has done well for himself in the two matches he’s played in and had a very good game against Getafe. The other player is forward Konrad De La Fuente. He has not seen the field with the senior team yet but has been on several game day rosters. Unreal to think that the USMNT had two players on the Barcelona roster.

Group H

The “award” for this seasons Group of Death. The only group with three monster clubs. Some top team is going home.

Manchester United – Early in the EPL but Man U’s defense has been atrocious. Not only allowing far too many goals (12 in their first 4 matches) but several have been absolute gaffs. But they have talent across the pitch with such well known names as Daivd De Gea (Spain, keeper), English defenders Harry McGuire and Luke Shaw (neither whom have looked in form so far), mifielders Paul Pogba (France) and Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) and a front line of Anthony Martial (France) and Englishman Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood. And they just brought in Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani. They will turn things around. But man oh man is this a tough group.

RB Leipzig – Currently atop the Bundesliga and thats no fluke. This team can flat play. They are tied for second in goals scored and tied for first in goals allowed. And perhaps more importantly they are second in the league in assists with 7. They have players all over the field that can hurt you. Up top Emil Forsberg (Sweden) and Yussef Poulsen (Denmark) are the main scoring threats. But it may be that defender Dayot Upamecano amy be their most critical player. Not that they don’t have plenty of talent in the back. They do. The key here is will the Red Bulls be able to hold onto him as it appears both Man U and Liverpool will go after him. The good news is that talks have cooled and it appears that they will start again next summer. Then there is another kid worth mentioning. Box to box midfielder Tyler Adams. Adams scored the game winner in last seasons quarterfinal win over Atletico Madrid. The deepest goal ever scored by an American in the competition.

Paris Saint Germain – Top club in League 1. Advanced to the UCL final last season. They have striker Neymar (Brazil). They have midfielder Kylian Mbappe (France). They have keeper Keylor Navas (Costa Rica). They have ….oh well you get the picture. They are deep. Very deep. And now they have the experience and are hungry for another shot.

Istanbul Basakeshir – Qualifying from the Turkish Super League unfortunately won’t mean much. They were likely not advancing regardless of the group they were in. They just don’t have the talent. But in some other group had they played over their heads and some other team stumbled they would have had a chance. Even then just a chance. But in this group. Not happening. They would have to play lights out AND have two of the top clubs in the world fall on their face.

Prediction – As much as it pains me as a lifelong fan of Man U, I think RB Leipzig and PSG advance. The odds makers actually favor Man U over RB and they certainly are in the running. I am just concerned their issues in the back are going to hurt them.

US Players to Watch: Already mentioned this one. Tyler Adams is the real deal.

The season all starts to unfold tomorrow. Can’t wait to watch the best soccer around!