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Complicated group, more than it seems to indicate, for the Real Madrid, which will have to face the best Inter in recent years and two fresh teams with a lot of dynamite in attack such as Shakhtar and the Gladbach. If to that it is added that the Madrid of the last two seasons fell before City Y Ajax, sets similar to the ones he will have this time in the league, it will be convenient for those of Zidane are applied from the beginning to avoid mess.
He Madrid the group stage starts and ends at home, with what that means to be beneficial, but in between, you will not be able to get lost because any match is complicated, both against him Inter like visits to Ukraine Y Germany. A group without weak rivals, that invites us to think that none of them is going to drop the hook soon and therefore they will keep the options almost until the end. We will see how the Madrid faced with the requirement of having more powerful opponents than those he has had lately in the league.
Who knew that after achieving four Champions In five years in a five-year period of almost unrepeatable glory (2014 to 2018), the Madridistas were going to assume that conquering the ‘Orejona’ is now seen as a very distant dream and difficult to fulfill. The march of Christian, the executor deck of those four European Cups, has had a terrible impact on Madrid for the IBEX of continental football. Two years in a row without being able to pass the round of 16. But there may still be hope for the well-fed white crowd. The team will play without pressure as it is no longer in the shortlist of favorites (Bayern Munich, Liverpool and PSG occupy that podium) and it could be that Hazard recover his successful version of Chelsea to raise the options of the troop Zidane on the great European nights to come. The Champions it's a tournament of moments and Zizou He has only lost one tie as a coach (the last of the City). Never rule out in advance the team that is still the king of Europe with its 13 crowns …
The star: Sergio Ramos
The lord of the Tenth, the captain who helped lift the Eleventh (a goal and a penalty in the shoot-out against the Athletics in Milan), the leader of a team that revolves around his leadership. Sergio Ramos He is the one who pulls the cart and in Europe, when he is missing, certain defeat. Missed before City and good bye. Yes Bouquets is full, the camero can dream of his fifth Champions. Although for that dream to become a reality you need 100% of your companions. The previous season he was the second top scorer for his team, being infallible from 11 meters. His records speak well of him, but not so much of the team. It is history of Real Madrid and also of the Champions.
The coach: Zinedine Zidane
Unquestionable his worth on the white bench, he won three Champions and decided to take a year off. Claimed back, won a League, thanks especially to the team bolt with an orderly defense and a Courtois unbeatable. This season, everything indicates that the defense will once again have to be key for the Whites to progress in Champions. If the defense is a wall, it is only necessary for those at the top to show success on goal. A slip ahead of time could put your future in doubt.
A Madrid rocky, built from back to front, with a Courtois immeasurable in the goal and a couple of centrals, Ramos-Varane, key to lock the white goal. Is not a Madrid spectacular, despite preserving Kroos Y Modric in midfield, but of course the drops of quality in the attack are provided Benzema, become a scorer as well as an artist. It lacks accompaniment in terms of scorers. It is expected that Vinicius, Rodrygo or Asensio can be your partners in that section.
He Inter has become a giant of the Calcium and in this Champions League must prove it. The last year ended with the runner-up in the A series (to a point of the Juventus) and the end of Europa League lost with him Seville: Now the Nerazzurri aim to win titles, something they have not experienced since 2011. The market shows that the idea of the club is this. All the best stayed and players arrived to succeed now, like Achraf (who in Italy they already consider a crack), Vidal Y Kolarov. They were tailor-made signings for Conte, which despite an absolutely positive first course, was about to leave and now has a much more complete and competitive squad. Antonio wants to succeed and his wishes will depend on Lukaku and Lautaro, one of the best offensive couples in Europe: in the last season, together they added 55 goals. Alone Gnabry Y Lewandowski of the Bayern did better (78 targets) in the Old continent…
The star: Lukaku
The Belgian has surpassed all expectations in his first Nerazzurri course, scoring 34 goals. With these figures he equaled the record of Ronaldo in 1998. His signing was very exciting and, despite its high price, it has proven its worth and has been decisive for Inter to aspire to win the A series and to reach the end of the Europa League. The Belgian has reached the maturity of his football in Milan and the Inter he moves to the rhythm of his offensive referent. Its current form is at the level of the great nines of Europe. Inter's goal on his feet is assured.
The coach: Antonio Conte
ItalyHis arrival had a significant and immediate impact on Inter's results. He has changed the face of the team with his classic system of three centrals and two lanes. The previous year caressed the A series and the Europa League and this season he wants to return the Italian club to its place in Italy and in Europe. The club has managed to keep its attacking duo formed by Lukaku Y Lautaro. In addition, the signings of Vidal Y Achraf give a plus to the team. He has a squad to fight for the first place in Group B and to have a long journey in Champions this season. An always competitive coach, he is also now.
Pure Antonio Conte the drawing of Inter, with three very well defined centers and two long lanes who like to step on the opposite area. That way has come Achraf, a strategic signing that can make the Interistas' wing play even more powerful. He has kept the club to his entire block, especially his attacking partner Lukaku-Lautaro. If it is not one of the best in the world for its degree of rapport, it is very close to being one.
The history of the Bundesliga Smile again. Three seasons later, the Gladbach go back to Champions and it does so thanks to the excellent work of the technician Rose. After the odd failed experiment on the bench, the 44-year-old former German player took over the Fohlens last season and endowed them with a competitiveness that ended the year in the top four. The secret is in the tireless pressure that the other Borussia of Germany usually exerts on his rivals. It is a most uncomfortable set and he put it to the test before the almighty Bayern, which he endorsed the only 19/20 loss since Flick took over the team. He owes it, too, to his intimidating trio in attack. Plea, Embolo and Thuram they manufactured 32 goals and 28 assists last season. Lazarus Y Wolf, both on loan, are the reinforcements for a team that accepts the challenge of returning to Champions.
The star: Thuram
FranceThe son of the French world champion Lilian is the threat of Gladbach. It's fast, dial, attend. His role has nothing to do with the demarcation of his father (central and lateral), but the attraction of his last name is only one of the hundreds of reasons that make this young forward stand out. He has physique, height, defines well, is creative and explosive … And he celebrates each triumph by replacing the corner flag with his shirt.
The coach: Marco Rose
GermanyHis stage in the Salzburg, he Gladbach bet on him and in his first campaign put him in the Champions. Modern and dynamic methods. A great technician. His team plays attractive and show football. And his entertaining football is accompanied by the results. Above the individualities, he has managed to form a very competitive team. One of the revelations of the previous season, the German team leaves no one indifferent. Although Inter Y Real Madrid They start as favorites to go to the second round, nobody gives them up for dead. And much less your technician.
A counterpuncher Gladbach, with the speed of Plea Y Thuram as true weapons, although also with good foot players in midfield such as Neuhaus that they can equip him with football in games in which he carries the weight. The reality is that he feels better with spaces ahead and the group will give him the opportunity to have them in front of him. Madrid and Inter. The question, as always, is in defensive performance. Sometimes he exposes himself too much because he tries to defend very high by pushing the rival towards pressure.
If there is a sports department in Europe that it is clear where to 'fish' players that is the Shakhtar Donetsk, which has been reigning in Ukraine thanks to a project that combines the toughness, coldness and seniority of the region's players for the team's defensive sections and a collection of well-standing Brazilians for everything related to the goal. With that formula the Shakhtar achieved the Europa League in 2008 and since then it has settled in the Champions, where it is not strange to see him in the round of 16, even in the quarterfinals. Luis Castro He is the one who has directed this Ukrainian ship that moves to the rhythm of samba since last season. The Portuguese coach was able to pick up the baton from his predecessors (Lucescu Y Fonseca) and hardly anything has changed: what works is left as is. Taison, Marlos, Teté, Júnior Moraes, Dentinho, Patrick, Maycon, Marcos Antonio, Fernando… It is clear what is played in Donetsk.
The star: Tete
BrazilThe most unbalanced player on the team who perfectly embodies what he is Shakhtar, an offensive team that plays to the rhythm of its Brazilians. It is perfectly associated with Taison Y Junior moraes. Born in 2000, he is a footballer with a lot of projection, fast and very skilled at dribbling. After sounding for great teams, such as Roma, the Brazilian footballer stayed in the Shakhtar And this may be your season to assert yourself as a great promise.
The coach: Luís Castro
PortugalFollowing in the wake of the Portuguese technicians of the Shakhtar, embodies the same philosophy a bit and acts as an idiomatic and soccer bridge with the Brazilians. He is a coach who likes to have the ball and his team tends to dominate possession. Last year the Shakhtar reached the semifinals of the Europa League with the visible imprint of his coach, who improved the transitions of the game, and converted the Ukrainian team in a fast and direct team.
It has a lot of merit about the Shakhtar year after year, always with a roster of very interesting Brazilian players, perhaps not with as many players as others, but with a very high performance in general. From the mix of the tactical rigor of the Ukrainian players and the magic of the Brazilians comes this Shakhtar with many offensive qualities in attack but also very balanced always in midfield. On a day of inspiration it can hurt anyone. Maybe his big hole is in the goal with Pyatov.