Group A: a coconut for Atleti

Face the champion of Europe It is never easy and less before this Bayern overwhelming, but the Athletic does not wrinkle before anyone and has been showing it for a long time Europe. Salzburg Y LokomotivDespite having their qualities, quite different, by the way, they seem several bodies behind the two great favorites to go round. If he Athletic competes as he usually does lately and has regularity, it should go hand in hand with the Bayern towards the eighths. Moreover, in them he could not face the Bavarians, so positive conclusions can also be drawn from the fact that he was framed with the great German ogre.

It seems a fact that the Athletic can embarrass the Bayern, but it is also a reality that if one can get out of visiting the Allianz as soon as possible, the better. And that is what the mattress box will do, which must start its journey in the group in Munich. Therefore, he will have time to rectify the situation in case he comes out with a bad result, because he will not see each other again with his greatest rival until the fifth day. Take advantage to get many points before Salzburg Y Lokomotiv in between I would give it a half rating.

He Athletic he took a tremendous blow in Lisbon. Again the Portuguese city. The team of Simeone, after eliminating Liverpool in the rojiblanco's best game of the season, he had a great opportunity to do something important in the Champions. But failed. Atlético is capable of the best and the worst. Capable of leaving the champion out of the competition and then falling to a team like him Leipzig which in theory is inferior to Madrid. The fans had a bad drink again. But another season comes and the Cholo will keep trying. And again. The Champions League It is the tournament that is missing, the fans dream of the title and the squad as well. Atlético is a respected team in Europe, but we need to take a step forward. A definitive step. To be among the eight best in European football is the goal of the club, but to Simeone that is not worth it. João Félix, Luis Suárez, Diego Costa, Koke, Saúl, Carrasco, Marcos Llorente… There are players to try. And to dream. Some year it will have to be. Perhaps it could be this, in which the fans seem to be not as excited as on other occasions. But that supposes an extra motivation for the technician and for the group of footballers. By trying it will not stay. Simeone does not want to leave Atlético without having raised the Champions. And the same happens with Koke or Saul, house players. And that the team is not among the top favorites for the title plays in favor of the team.

The star: João Félix

In the 2019 Europa League, the world was amazed by this young Portuguese man who went from youth to Benfica's first team in just one year. His exhibitions were awarded the Golden boy. One of the games that sent him to the sports covers around the world was his hat-trick to Eintracht, the then team of another promising youngster that was on everyone's lips, Luka Jovic. The very young footballer from Viseu overshadowed the Serbian. That summer his name appeared on the agendas of the great European teams. However, the output of Griezmann He encouraged the 18-year-old player to opt for the rojiblanco club for FC Barcelona. João Felix signed by him Athletic to be one of the best players in European football. In front of Leipzig, in the last Champions League, He revolutionized the game and showed that he is ready for the big events. Now he has one more year of experience and is the main reference of the Athletic to fight for the Champions. Few clubs have such a footballer.

The coach: Simeone

The true architect of the Athletic is year after year rubbing shoulders with the best. The club and the fans continue to trust him fully, but there are already those who, impatiently, demand the long-awaited 'Orejona' from the coach. His winning character has catapulted the team. You need to take the step in Champions, where he has played two finals, in 2014 and in 2016. If there is a third … will it be the charm?

Very significant the 4-4-2 of Simeone, with the lines always very close together and an enormous capacity for work on the part of all its players. The arrival of Luis SuarezIn addition, it gives him a goal for decisive moments, something that the mattress team has lacked season after season. Cemented all on a great Oblak and a high level defensive line, the question is where to place Joao Felix so that it performs better. Either on one side with what it wears for a player like him or as a second striker.

The team to beat in this edition of the Champions. The German giant defends the title after a season in which he swept rivals of the stature of Barça and was crowned with the second triplet in its history. Sané it is the ideal complement for a team that is dedicated to exerting suffocating pressure on its rivals. He accumulates as many players as possible in the opposite field, which allows him to see the door with ease and recover instantly after loss. Neuer under sticks and Lewandowski Above are two more guarantees for a team that, like everyone else, also has its Achilles heel. It is located in the spaces that it usually offers to the back of the defense as a result of playing with the lines so advanced. His meager wardrobe after the marches of Thiago Y Coutinho neither is it the most suitable for the objectives it pursues. Flick calls for loud reinforcements, knowing that the revalidation of the title goes through a compensated staff.

The star: Lewandowski

One of the best, if not the best nine in the world. Last season he scored a total of 55 goals, but he is also key in opening spaces for Gnabry and company. Despite turning 33 next year, he is in the prime of his career. The Champions was the competition that put him in the showcase of European football, with his poker at Real Madrid when he wore the yellow of the Borussia Dortmund. He amazed the world and, of course, Florentino Pérez. However, the Polish footballer had already said “yes” to the Bayern And since then, he has been the benchmark player for the German club. This season they have “stolen” the Golden Ball, by not delivering the award. Total forward.

The Trainer: Hans-Dieter Flick

He arrived as an interim technician after the dismissal of Kovac and without making much noise, but with important decisions, he completely changed to Bayern. He was the savior of a low-trust team. Great manager. With him, Bayern raised the Champions of 2020 without knowing the defeat, with 11 victories, 43 goals in favor and only 8 against. In addition, the coach's work with some of his players has been key. Kimmich has become a total player, Alphonso davies He became more important and is one of the Golden Boy's favorites. It was also vital to Müller, questioned with the previous technician.

Few teams in the world, maybe just the Liverpool, able to play with the rhythm proposed by the Bayern, a tremendously aggressive set in pressure, almost to the opposite area, which completely suffocates their rivals. For history it was 2-8 at Barça With which one page was definitely closed and another opened in terms of football styles. East Bayern of Flick he found the right nuances to function like a machine. Praise central, Davies converted to lateral, Goretzka as arriving, Kimmich as a brain, Müller recovered for the cause, Lewandowski infallible … yes, he left Thiago and it can affect.

Without opposition within its borders (Austria), Red Bull Salzburg The modernity of his game model distinguishes him. The kloppist air of his proposal, with gegenpressing as a flag, constrains his rivals in both victory and defeat. It is a team with a very high rhythm and explosive attacks. American coach Jesse Marsch normally couples the block at 1-4-2-2-2 with the ball. Szoboszlai and the zambian Daka (21 years old), the heir to Haaland, are his most famous footballers.

The star: Dominik Szoboszlai

From the left, using his right leg and acceleration, the Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai (19 years old) is an absolute talent. He is not only the leader of his team, but also of his selection. His potential has not been overlooked by top teams in European football and everything indicates that in the near future he will leave his team to take another step in his career. He is a special footballer who many have come to compare for his ball hitting with Cristiano Ronaldo. Set pieces are undoubtedly one of his specialties. He signed 12 goals and 18 assists the previous season.

The coach: Jesse Marsch

The American technician already surprised with New York RB and has made the leap to its European 'brother', the RB Salzburg. In his first season as coach of the team, he has won the double, with the League and the Cup and, in addition, he has become the first American coach to win a major title in Europe. His team reached 100 goals, with two games remaining, in the Austrian Bundesliga. He has the attacking and daring philosophy that he likes so much. One of its objectives is to consolidate the Austrian team in the highest European competition.

The transitions in speed and the placement in the second plays generate difficulties in their rivals, to the point of having become a group of great tactical wealth all these years in Europe. There is a lot of quality, impudence and names to follow among their players, for example Mwepu, Camera, Koita… More of course its stars Szoboszlai Y Patson daka. Of course, positional aggressiveness has its contraindications. Back offers doubts.

Regarding the past year, where the Athletics already submitted him with authority, the main novelty in the Lokomotiv is the absence of Yuri semin. The veteran manager left the club in June and was replaced by the Serbian. Marko nikolic. Currently sixth in the Russian league, Lokomotiv moves briskly down the wings in the 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-4-2 they use. The looks are focused on what they can offer Miranchuk, the exceltiña Smolov Y Kamano, which has not yet been adapted. The double pivot Magkeev-Krychowiak and the centrals Corluka-Murilo make up the axis of Lokomotiv.

The star: Miranchuk

The highest quality player in the Lokomotiv is Anton Miranchuk (24 years). He moves in any attack position and has a good footing. Sue performs better when she starts from behind and is associated with the attacking zone. His twin brother Aleksei has signed for Atalanta. When the red and white box was measured with the Lokomotiv In the Europa League in 2018, Simeone of the twins already warned: “I like them a lot. They both play very well. They move well, good physique, second-line arrival, vision of the game …”

The coach: Marko Nikolic

The signing of the Serbian for the bench Lokomotiv it was quite a surprise. Comes from directing in Hungary, but little is known about him. Difficult mission to replace Yuri semin. In 11 days of the championship, his team has yet to know defeat and is third in the standings, just three points behind. Zenith, leaving very good sensations.

If he Lokomotiv maintains the idea of ​​these years will be a team whose first premise will be to defend, especially against the powerful teams of the Champions. Since players like Çorluka or Krichowiak, the Russian team has been powerful in that sense and has complicated life for its rivals in games in which it has been locked behind. It is not without quality above, if at all. Smolov is a striker with a goal and already hardened in a thousand battles, while Anton Miranchuk he remains the most creative gamer now that his brother is gone.