As the Champions League season reaches its halfway stage, the football world is buzzing with excitement, anticipation, and drama. The most prestigious club competition in European football has delivered thrilling moments, surprising upsets, and stellar performances, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the current state of the Champions League, highlighting the standout teams, players, and moments that have defined the tournament thus far. With the knockout stages on the horizon, the competition is heating up, promising even more footballing magic in the coming weeks.
Best Players:
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) – The English star just keeps getting better and better, and he is showcasing his talents to the fullest of his abilities on the biggest stage of them all, the Champions League. He has scored in each of Real Madrid’s three games and has bossed the midfield in all of those games. He’s also created 2.7 chances per game and maintains an 88% pass accuracy. Que Jugador!
Rodri (Manchester City) – In my humble opinion, Rodri is the best midfielder in the world. No one quite compares. The difference in Manchester City’s team with and without Rodri is staggering. He is unflappable in the face of pressure, calm on the ball, and exceptional at winning it back. He controls the game with over 100 accurate passes per game at a 92% pass accuracy. He’s chipped in with a class goal against Red Star Belgrade and has hardly given opposition attacks a sniff.
Brais Méndez (Real Sociedad) – 26-year-old Brais Mendez is having himself some season, especially in the Champions League. Having scored in each of Sociedad’s three games, the Basque club found themselves with seven points from three games and with a real shot of qualifying for the knockout phase. His silky ball control makes him a joy to watch and he is a player for which to keep an eye out over the coming weeks.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – Harry Kane is on fire. Three games, two goals, two assists. Most importantly, three wins. Kane is a superstar now playing on a team of superstars, and it is a team that knows how to win. This Bayern team looks devastatingly impressive and it could be the year that Kane finally lifts some silverware, potentially the Champions League.
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) – Jesus has been so impressive in the Champions League for Arsenal so his latest injury is a serious blow to the Gunners. He’s scored in each game but it was his performance against Sevilla that was especially impressive. He scored and assisted. It was a complete striker performance. Jesus was electric. Linking play with his teammates, laying on chances, and tying the Sevilla defence in knots. He’ll be an enormous miss.
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Biggest Surprise Team: Lens
When Lens impressively finished 2nd in Ligue 1 last year, there were serious questions about how they’d fare in the Champions League. They are dispelling all those doubts now. Having beaten Arsenal, they have proved that they are a serious outfit and they mean business. Yashin Trophy-nominated goalkeeper Brice Samba is a wall in the sticks and young striker Elye Wahi has the eyes of all top European clubs as he continues to score at alarming rates. Yet to lose a match, Lens will be looking to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Most Underwhelming: AC Milan
Yet to win a match, AC Milan have seriously disappointed so far. Two draws and one loss, this is not the start that the Rossoneri fans would’ve been hoping for. With their formidable squad, and their strong summer reinforcements in Cristian Pulisic, Luka Jovic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, amongst others, one would’ve expected Milan to make the knockouts without too much trouble. There is still hope. Three games remain and there is time to turn it around. They have the players for it, do they have the mentality?
The State of Play:
In Group A, Manchester United are fighting back from a poor start to try and qualify for the knockout stages. Bayern Munich lead the way comfortably. Galatasaray currently sits in 2nd with Copenhagen last.
Group B sees just four points between Arsenal in the top spot and PSV in fourth. Expect things to constantly move around in this group.
Real Madrid have won three out of three in Group C as they flex their European dominance. Napoli sit in second with Braga and Union Berlin third and fourth respectively.
In Group D, Real Sociedad and Inter Milan are fighting for the top spot, both on seven points. RB Salzburg have a mountain to climb as they are on just three points. Sadly, for Benfica, it looks like they’ll crash out early as they are yet to pick up a point.
Group E sees Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid leading the way with Lazio closely behind. Celtic have an enormous deficit to overturn as they have just one point so far.
In the group of death, Group F, there is possibly the most on the cards still. PSG, Newcastle, Dortmund, and AC Milan are all terrific sides, it’s a pity that two have to crash out. Like Group B, just four points separate top from bottom.
In Group G, no surprises, Manchester City dominate. They’ve won three out of three whilst Red Star and Young Boys sit third and fourth with a point each. Leipzig are sitting comfortably in second with six points.
Group H sees a hierarchical status being implemented with each team having three points less than the next team. Barcelona lead, Porto follows, and Shahktar and Royal Antwerp look to be heading out. Barcelona are looking impressive, far more secure than last year, and will be real contenders for the Champions League trophy this year.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter (X)
