This Thursday the different qualifiers of the elimination round of the second most important continental competition begin. The winners of the same, which will be known next week, will join the group leaders to face the round of 16.
The results of the group stage of the Champions League left surprises and, consequently, that not very usual clubs finished in third place and had to settle for playing in the Europa League. We see ten world-class footballers who, in other conditions, would play the highest European tournament but who we will see on Thursdays:
The center-back of French and Beninese nationality will lead the defense of a Seville team that has the Europa League as a fetish competition. In addition, the final of this edition will be held at the Sánchez Pizjuán. The Andalusians will be looking to be the third finalist hosts in the tournament since the title match is a single match. There is a positive precedent with Feyenoord (2002) and a negative one with Sporting CP (2005).
The German goalkeeper does not have the level of other seasons, but in the same way we believe that he is the best goalkeeper in the entire competition. It remains to be seen how Xavi Hernández faces the tournament, if he prioritizes LaLiga and rotates even in goal or if he chooses to go all out and has the German.
The Dutch midfielder is part of the gala eleven of FC Barcelona and, in the same way as the aforementioned, it will depend on how the Egarense coach assesses the tournament. In LaLiga we will surely see him as a starter in the vast majority of remaining stakes, while in Europe we will have to wait to draw conclusions.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder is one of the great promises of German football and will have a great opportunity to show himself on a continental level as he has been doing in the Bundesliga. In the group stage he was key, with three goals and three assists in five games.
The Spanish left winger is one of the key pieces of Real Sociedad, not only at a technical level but also in terms of leadership. The txuri-urdin They are one of the teams covered in a competition where participations such as Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona were not expected. After the debacle in the Copa del Rey and the not very positive results in LaLiga, being able to play in the Champions League happens, to a large extent, to obtain this title.
The Spanish and Serbian midfielder has yet to score or assist in this edition of the Europa League, while he has eight goals and eight assists in Serie A. SS Lazio is in the thick of the fight to be among the top four in the domestic tournament and, in the same way as the previous club mentioned, it is one of the covered candidates.
The English midfielder is a key player in a Borussia Dortmund team that is among the favorites to be crowned in Seville, but competes against its own irregularity. The Briton is a cornerstone despite being 18 years old. The Germans practically have their participation in the next Champions League via Bundesliga in their pocket, but they must be as competitive as possible to convince Erling Haaland to continue.
The English pivot is indisputable at West Ham United and the English team. He is the best valued footballer in his position and the second with the highest rating in Transfermarkt of the midfielders. The Hammers have great competition to finish in the top four in the Premier League, so seeking the title could be one route to qualification.
The Spanish midfielder is one of the essentials of FC Barcelona. Having missed a large part of the season due to injury, everything indicates that we will see him as a starter without the need for dosing if his health allows it in a large part of the remaining games of the season.
The Norwegian striker is the capitalized name of the competition. A striker of his magnitude should fight for the Champions League and not for the Europa League. Borussia Dortmund will have to show him that he wants to put together a competitive project with Sebastian Kehl, the new sports director next year, if he wants to continue counting on his services.
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