New Delhi: The UEFA Champions League 2024/25 is all set to kick off tonight with the new format, with more teams and more matches. The Champions League matchday 1 will witness eighteen matches and for the first time, there will be Champions League matches on Thursday as well.
The group stage has been replaced by the league stage, where all 36 teams will lock horns every evening to have interesting matches between big teams. And, of course, the pitches will be graced by great players. But before the action kicks off, let’s take a look at the top 10 players to look out for in the upcoming league.
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappe , goal celebration during UEFA Super Cup match Real Madrid vs Atalanta BC in Warsaw, Poland on 14 August, 2024. (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Los Blancos forward Kylian Mbappe only needs to score twice to enter the list of the top 10 European Cup goalscorers ever this season. Mbappe has yet to lift the trophy. His move from Paris St-German to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer window means this could be his year to achieve the triumph.
The France forward has spent six seasons in PSG, broke numerous goal-scoring records, and even won multiple trophies. However, the one trophy that eluded him in PSG was the Champions League. The 25-year-old even said the move to Real Madrid is a ‘dream come true’. So far, he has netted three goals in five appearances and could shift gears in the Champions League.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland can’t stop scoring this season. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Manchester City missed out on the Champions League last season, but this season, City will be eying to regain the coveted trophy. And one player who will play a crucial role in deciding how far City will go this season is none other than their centre-forward Erling Haaland.
The 24-year-old Norwegian has made a breathtaking start in the Premier League, where he has netted nine goals already, including back-to-back hat-tricks. Manchester City are fully loaded and are again playing like a well-oiled machine, and Haaland is leading the line.
Manchester City and Haaland will look to continue the same way, and if it works, then there are high chances that the Champions League trophy could be returning to City.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The Gunners have ended as the runner-up in the Premier League in the last two seasons, finishing behind Manchester City. Arsenal will again push hard for the Premier League title and, at the same time, will aim for the first Champions League title.
Mikel Arteta has worked hard and looks to set the Arsenal squad up for a title challenge on multiple fronts. One player who will play a crucial role for Premier League giants is their striker Bukayo Saka.
The 23-year-old Saka holds immense experience and still remains a vital threat on the front line. In the current season, he has netted one goal and assisted four times and will look to push hard to help Arsenal win the Champions League title.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane of FC Bayern München celebrates after scoring his teams fourth goal during the Bundesliga match between Holstein Kiel and FC Bayern München at Holstein-Stadion on September 14, 2024 in Kiel, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian El-Saqqa – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Harry Kane, even after being one of the greatest footballers of his generation, is still hunting for a maiden trophy again. Be it club or country, Kane has come close to winning trophies but stumbled at crucial junctures.
However, things could change for the English forward this season, who now plays club football for German giants Bayern Munich. Last season, he scored 44 goals, but Bayern could not win any silverware for the first time in a decade, and a few months back, he even lost the Euro 2024 final.
So far he has made a significant start in the current season under new coach Vincent Kompany. Munich are on a three-match winning streak and Kane is leading the scoreboard for the side with four goals and assisted four times. It is tough to keep Bayern Munich like team away from winning the trophy and given Kane’s recent form they might claim the trophy.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah’s contract with Liverpool will expire next summer and the ongoing season could turn around to be the last season in Europe if not offered a new deal by the club. If the Reds does not offer Salah a new contract then it is very likely that he will head to Saudi Arabia.
Salah is determined to do his best for Liverpool. The “Egyptian King” is currently in menacing as he has already scored thrice and assisted as many in four appearances for Liverpool. He has already won the Champions League once with the Reds, but as he is indeed to leave Europe next season, he might want to sign off in style by winning yet another Champions League title.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Lamine Yamal is the most exciting youngster in the world who has emerged from Barcelona’s famous youth academy, La Masia. The winger made a name for himself at Barcelona last season and broke several records at the age of 16.
The 17-year-old carried his form to Euros 2024 and became a global phenomenon, helping Spain lift the trophy. So far, he has netted three goals and assisted four times in just five appearances for Barcelona.
Barcelona will be aiming to win their first Champions League trophy since 2015 and surely Lamine Yamal is a big name in the coming season and there is a lot of hype around his name this season.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz scores the penalty goal to make it 1:3. (Photo by Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Florian Writz has been on the list for years, but he is still 21. Florian Writz and Bayer 04 Leverkusen both had remarkable runs last season. Writz netted 11 goals, assisted 12 in 32 appearances, and helped the club win the Bundesliga title by remaining unbeaten.
Writz has spent his senior career so far with Leverkusen. Twelve of his 44 goals for the club come in the Europa League, but this is his first season in Europe’s top competition.
This season, Bayer Leverkusen will be competing in the Champions League, and the 21-year-old goal-scorer will look to succeed in Europe’s most elite football competition.
Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid celebrates after scoring their side’s third goal during the LaLiga match between Atletico de Madrid and Valencia CF at Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on September 15, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
This season Atletico Madrid signed several high-profile during the summer transfer window but none more important than Julian Alvarez. Madrid signed Alvarez from Manchester City for over £64m and will be expecting him to deliver a great performance.
The 24-year-old spent two seasons at Man City and is now expected to bolster Madrid’s attacking lineup. The Argentine forward has already scored eight Champions League goals and won the trophy but this season will be his first season as the main man in a team.
So far Alvarez has scored his first goal for the Atletico and will continue to net more. Madrid is aiming to win their first Champions League title and Alvarez could play a vital role in helping them achieve that.
Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
Dani Olmo of Spain celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Semi-Final match between Spain and France at Munich Football Arena on July 09, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Dani Olmo is another of Spain’s European Championship stars who is playing senior football for FC Barcelona. Barca’s summer signing from RB Leipzig has already scored in his first three appearances for the club but will be out of action for a month after suffering a hamstring injury against Girona.
It is expected that he could be back in action for Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on October 23. It’s a big blow for the 26-year-old and Barca as the striker has enjoyed a great start at Barca, scoring three goals in as many games.
Olmo’s brilliance will not be missed, as he will surely make a strong comeback soon.
Endrick (Real Madrid)
Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa poses for photos with Real Madrid jersey during his presentation at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on July 27, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alberto Gardin/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
The reigning champions Real Madrid’s answer for Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is the 18-year-old Endrick. Last season, Madrid signed Endrick from Brazilian club Palmeiras. He has already made four appearances for the club and even netted a goal.
Despite Real Madrid’s wealth of attacking talent, Endrick is expected to get valuable playing time during the lengthy season, particularly in the Champions League. The young Brazilian is already regarded as one of the most promising talents to emerge from his country in recent years.
Endrick’s dynamic playing style and ability to adapt make him a potential standout in Madrid’s squad, as the club is already dealing with various injury concerns. With his skills and potential, it’s only a matter of time before Endrick begins to make a significant impact on the European stage for Los Blancos.
The new Champions League format kicks off tonight. With the Champions League getting more exciting and a little bit more unpredictable, here is a look at the top 10 footballers who will surely set the stage on fire in Europe’s most premium football competition. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
