DARK HORSES
The two other Spanish sides in this season’s group stage will also be worth watching. Real Sociedad impressed by finishing sixth in La Liga, and the vast experience of David Silva will more than make up for the loss of star man Martin Odegaard, who returned to Real Madrid following his impressive loan.
Granada, meanwhile, were an even bigger surprise package in last season’s La Liga, finishing level on points with Sociedad. Although they have retained their impressive Venezuelan stars Darwin Machis and Yangel Herrera (on loan from Manchester City), last season’s top scorer Carlos Fernandez has returned to Sevilla.
There will be hope for German side
Hoffenheim, who qualified for the competition with a 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund on the final day of last season, and are managed by Sebastian Hoeness. The 38-year-old has been a coach in Bayern Munich’s academy for the last three years, but will hope to follow in the footsteps of Julian Nagelsmann, the hugely promising RB Leipzig head coach, who made his name at Hoffenheim.
In the last 24 years, Marseille are the only French side to reach the final, but that could change this year. Lille have handled the loss of Victor Osimhen and Gabriel Magalhaes as well as could be expected, quickly replacing them with Canada goal machine Jonathan David and Dutch defender Sven Botman. The rest of the squad that finished fourth in Ligue 1 has largely remained intact, and is packed with potential.
Looking beyond the big leagues, two-time winners Feyenoord have made an encouraging start to the season thanks to the exceptional form of skipper Steven Berghuis. In Serbia,
Red Star Belgrade are on course for their fourth league title in a row having won their first ten matches of the season. Having to play in an empty stadium, however, will significantly reduce the fear factor for visitors to Belgrade.