The 2020-2021 Champions League starts this Thursday.
More than a month after the previous campaign, concluded with an exciting Final 8 in Lisbon (Portugal), the big European clubs will know the details of the group stage at the end of the day's draw in Geneva (Switzerland), scheduled for 17 hours.
Like the PSG, the cadors lived a summer disturbed by the health crisis and the delayed resumption of the championships.
Overview of the forces involved.
Let's start with Bayern Munich, winner of the 2020 edition. "The summer has been dense and the management of the workforce quite complicated, a bit like PSG, summarizes Jean-Charles Sabattier, commentator of the Bundesliga on the antennas of BeIN Sports.
Their sporting success last year was based on a policy focused on player loans with Coutinho, Perisic, Odriozola all left… Their great recruit, Leroy Sané, is already injured.
The jump to the new season is very quick and it all starts with a big question mark.
"
Full of surprises (RB Leipzig, Atalanta Bergamo, Lyon), the Final 8 of the summer left a few big teams on the sidelines.
To correct its unexpected elimination from the quarters, Manchester City (again) strengthened its defensive sector with the arrivals of Ruben Dias (68 million euros) and Nathan Aké (45 million euros).
A contribution supposed to help Pep Guardiola to find Olympus.
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Among the disappointing cadors in 2020: Juventus Turin, another victim of OL, in the round of 16.
"For the club, for the players, for the football world, the arrival of Andrea Pirlo as coach is very significant," said Philippe Genin, Serie A follower for BeIN Sports.
The mood has already changed a lot.
The rookie Arthur made an explosive entry in Rome (2-2), he brings percussion and enormous qualities.
Pirlo briefs him a lot.
And when you have Cristiano Ronaldo, who has found a smile again… It's an asset from another planet.
"
Lionel Messi (right) is entering one of his last big chances to win a 5th Champions League with Barca this season. / Reuters
What about his great historical rival, Lionel Messi?
Where is he in this Barça, at the end of a summer eventful by his desires to leave?
"I find that there is an energizing sting brought by the outputs of Vidal or Rakitic and the arrivals of Coutinho, Pjanic, the contribution of the young Ansu Fati, De Jong who is more liberated, lists Omar Da Fonseca, consultant BeIN Sports specialist of the Spanish championship.
Messi is the first to realize that he can no longer sublimate Barça on his own.
He needs mobile players, who run, who dribble… And Ronald Koeman
(Editor's note: the new coach)
shows a certain idea of total football ”.
Chelsea spent 250 million euros
Aged 33 and at the end of his contract next June, Messi is starting one of his last great chances of winning a 5th Champions League this season.
A mission started without Luis Suarez, party to strengthen Atlético de Madrid.
“He will score, he will influence everyone, predicts Omar Da Fonseca.
But I'm going to wait a bit before judging Atlético.
Joao Felix is still a little light.
I'm also watching Simeone closely, who still uses amazing defensive strategies too.
"
Without a new recruit, Real Madrid are counting on their current squad, including defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane./Reuters
In anticipation of next summer where he hopes to bet big on Mbappé, and in order to cushion the Covid crisis, Real Madrid lived a very calm summer without a rookie.
What worries Da Fonseca: “There are always the same certainties and the same disadvantages.
It will be difficult to do a full season with just this squad.
Nobody can score except Benzema… The midfielders and defenders are always the same.
"
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Will there be some surprising new teams?
Borussia Dortmund, for example.
“All positions are doubled and the workforce is even more consistent,” assures Jean-Charles Sabattier.
Sancho is still there, Thomas Meunier has arrived free.
Lucien Favre is very happy and the absence from Final 8 allowed an almost optimal preparation phase.
Chelsea and their 250 million euros spent (Havertz, Werner, E. Mendy…) are of interest.
As for Inter Milan, Philippe Genin recapitulates: “This is act 2 of Antonio Conte!
The workforce is beautiful and built to move up a level.
Vidal, Hakimi, Kolarov, Barella… Inter also kept their attackers ”.