UEFA have revealed their ‘breakthrough’ team of 2020 including just ONE Premier League star.
Europe’s governing body have picked out their best XI of players who enjoyed a breakout year in the Champions League in 2020.
Uefa’s breakthrough Champions League XI of 2020
Only players who made their debut in Europe’s elite competition or who had ‘only limited prior experience’ last year are eligible and stars must be aged 24 or under.
Some big names such as Alphonso Davies and Jude Bellingham make the cut in the star-studded XI.
But which Premier League icon is in the team? Find out below…
GOALKEEPER
Anatolii Trubin, 19 (Shakhtar Donetsk)
THE young stopper started five of his side’s six Champions League group stage games this season.
Trubin kept three clean sheets in those games, including the two goalless draws with Inter Milan and the 2-0 win over Real Madrid.
However, he was between the sticks for the 6-0 mauling at home to Borussia Monchengladbach.
DEFENDERS
Jules Kounde was named in Uefa’s breakthrough XICredit: The Mega Agency
Alphonso Davies enjoyed a phenomenal 2020 with Bayern MunichCredit: Reuters
Zaidu Sanusi, 23 (Porto)
UEFA picked two left-backs in their XI, with the first being Porto star Sanusi.
The defender played all-but 13 minutes of the Portuguese giants’ group stage after joining the club from Santa Clara in the summer.
Porto qualified for the last-16 where they will face Juventus.
Cristian Romero, 22 (Atalanta)
THE Argentine defender has been in superb form for Atalanta since joining on loan from Juventus.
Romero played in five of Atalanta’s Champions League group stage games, including the shock 2-0 win at Anfield having only missed the 5-0 mauling at home to the Reds earlier in the campaign.
Jules Kounde, 22 (Sevilla)
BEING chased by a host of European giants, Kounde was in superb form in the Champions League group stage.
Kounde even scored a spectacular goal against Rennes as Sevilla missed out on the Europa League – instead making it to the Champions League last-16.
Alphonso Davies, 20 (Bayern Munich)
DAVIES is arguably one of the most-promising footballers on the planet.
The exciting left-back has been in electric form for Bayern and most-notably caught the eye during the latter stages of last season’s Champions League.
MIDFIELDERS
Dortmund duo Bellingham, left, and Reyna, right, both make the XICredit: Getty Images – Getty
Dominik Szoboszlai’s performances for Salzburg attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubsCredit: AFP or licensors
Jude Bellingham, 17 (Borussia Dortmund)
THE ex-Birmingham star played in all six of Dortmund’s group stage games.
Still only just 17 years old, Bellingham has already played 20 times in all competitions this season, becoming the latest young English star to thrive at the Westfalenstadion, after Jadon Sancho.
Giovanni Reyna, 18 (Borussia Dortmund)
ANOTHER promising young Dortmund star, USA ace Reyna also played in every one of his side’s group games.
While he failed to score in the Champions League, Reyna has netted twice in the Bundesliga, playing 24 times for club and country already this term.
Dominik Szoboszlai, 20 (RB Leipzig)
CHASED by Arsenal and Real Madrid after a superb year at RB Salzburg, Szoboszlai officially joined Leipzig on January 1.
He scored three times in six group stage games despite the Austrians only picking up four points and crashing out below giants Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
ATTACKERS
Diogo Jota has gone from strength to strength at Liverpool and scoring a Chgampions League hat-trick at AtalantaCredit: Reuters
Marcus Thuram joins Jota and Pedri as the attackers in the XICredit: EPA
Pedri, 18 (Barcelona)
THE hot prospect became one of the youngest-ever Champions League scorers when he found the net against Ferencvaros in October.
With 20 appearances for Barcelona under his belt this season, he’s been a rare bright spot for the struggling giants.
Marcus Thuram, 23 (Borussia Monchengladbach)
SON of France legend Lilian, Marcus played in all six of the German side’s group games.
Thuram scored twice in the 2-2 draw with Real Madrid as his side narrowly progressed to the last-16 in a thrilling group.
Diogo Jota, 24 (Liverpool)
JOTA was originally signed from Wolves in the summer as back-up for Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
But he’s quickly become a key figure, playing in all six Champions League group stage games, scoring four times, including a sensational hat-trick in the 5-0 win at Atalanta.
Man Utd wonder boy Charlie McNeill scores on his debut against Derby
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
