A THRILLING Champions League group stage has reached its conclusion – and some stars have been born.
Club football is preparing to hold its breath for the Winter World Cup, leaving Europe’s finest competition to wrap up in just nine weeks.
Fans of England’s big clubs will be biting their nails ahead of Monday’s crucial Champions League Last 16 draw as they find out who their team will play.
Despite the shortened group stage schedule, there was still plenty of quality on show throughout the early rounds of this tournament.
While established stars like Lionel Messi and Mo Salah frequently grabbed headlines, lesser-known talents also emerged from the group stage.
SunSport has put together an XI of the breakthrough talent that we have seen in this season’s Champions League…
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Goalkeeper
Porto keeper Diogo Costa was being linked with a move to Manchester United even before his heroics against Bayer Leverkusen.
The goalie became the first in Champions League history to register an assist and save a penalty in the same game. It was the high point of a solid tournament for Costa as Porto topped Group B.
Defence
He may have only started one game, but Rico Lewis‘ performance at right-back for Manchester City last night has got many excited.
The 17-year-old has already earned comparisons to teammate Joao Cancelo and could have a big future ahead if last night’s adventurous performance against Sevilla was anything to go by.
At left-back is Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie, who can play both at full-back and at the heart of defence.
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The 20-year-old prospect has demonstrated brilliant ball-control and quick footwork across a string of impressive Champions League performances.
Benfica’s centre-back prodigy Antonio Silva slots in at the back after an impressive showing.
The 19-year-old helped fend off PSG’s attacking talents twice to help Benfica land two draws against the French side and top spot in the group.
He is joined at centre-back by Red Bull’s Salzburg’s Strahinja Pavlovic.
The no-nonsense defender is old school but effective and has been dominant in the air throughout his six appearances in the competition.
Midfield
Club Brugge’s Champions League performance stunned everyone as they managed to get into the knock-out stages.
Key to that was midfielder Raphael Onyedika, with the talented Nigerian shielding his defence with aplomb.
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott also had a Champions League group stage to remember as he scored away at Rangers and Ajax.
The young midfielder’s energetic and all-action displays regularly gave Jurgen Klopp’s team the boost it needed.
And Sporting Lisbon’s Marcus Edwards completes the trio after a few dazzling European performances.
The former Spurs youth player scored a stunning goal on his return to North London and likely has caught the interest of bigger team.
Attack
There was already significant interest in Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhaylo Mudryk before his outstanding Champions League appearances.
He scored three goals in six games as the Ukrainian side tried but failed to get out of a difficult group.
Equally impressive was Napoli’s flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The 21-year-old Georgian has emerged from nowhere to become one of the most exciting players in Europe, and he registered two goals in his campaign.
His club mate Giacomo Raspadori meanwhile has scored four goals already as Napoli tore through Group A.
The striker, signed from Sassuolo, has proven to be a star already and will likely be one to watch in the latter stages of the tournament.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
