The Champions League 2020-21 season is set to begin from October 20. The group stage draw 2020-21 took place on October 1 and beginning Wednesday, six matchdays will run till December 9. Top European clubs will once again lock horns to claim the throne of the champions of Europe.
Four teams from the Bundesliga will take part in this season’s CL. German champions Bayern Munich are the defending champions, having won the treble last season. Gone are the days when the Bundesliga used to be called a farmers’ league with the most talented youth currently being signed from the German league. Let’s take a look at Bundesliga teams contesting in the Champions League this season:
Bayern Munich
Defending champions Bayern Munich are in group A this season along with Atletico Madrid, FC Red Bull Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow. They have had a dream run ever since Hansi Flick took over the coaching duties, with every player seeming to be in form. The signing of Leroy Sane from Manchester City has probably been one of the best summer transfers this season, although the loss of Thiago can turn out to be a big blow, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Corentin Tolisso and others have the potential to fill that gap.
With striker Robert Lewandowski and winger Serge Gnabry never stopping to score goals, a perfect blend of experience and youth in the team and a tactical genius like Flick, Bayern have the potential to defend their title in the 2020-21 season as well.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig made history last season by reaching the CL semi-finals. They are in group H this season along with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir. After 2-0 win over Augsburg on Saturday, Julian Nagelsmann’s men remain unbeaten this season and are currently the Bundesliga leaders. With players such as Dayot Upamecano, Yussuf Poulsen, Ibrahima Konate, Willi Orban, Kevin Kampl and captain Marcel Sabitzer, Leipzig will definitely try to repeat their last season’s heroics and can even go further.
Borussia Dortmund
Despite a disappointing season last year, Dortmund will be high in confidence with almost every player in form. Dortmund possess one of the most talented youngsters in European football currently, which can prove to be fruitful in the upcoming season.
They started their season with a 5-0 win at Duisburg in the first round of the DFB Cup and followed it up with a 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Although they lost their next Bundesliga match 2-0 at Augsburg followed by a 3-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Supercup, they bounced back immediately with a 4-0 win over Freiburg and a 1-0 win at Hoffenheim.
Dortmund is in Group F in the CL and will take on Lazio in their first fixture. The young talents such as Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna will definitely try to flourish and get to a potential CL final.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is back in the CL after a four year hiatus. They are currently placed in group B along with Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Defensively speaking, Mönchengladbach had a great last season, conceding just 40 goals in 34 league matches. Matthias Ginter has been rock solid at the back and attracted the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea during the summer window, but decided to stay back. The midfield duo of Jonas Hofmann and Florian Neuhaus have also been in terrific form.
Last season, Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea scored 10 goals each along with assisting eight and 10 respectively. On the other hand, goalkeeper Yan Sommer is arguably the best in the league right after Manuel Neuer. Yes, Gladbach are in a tough group, but with such in form players and a decent previous season, they will be high on confidence and look to go as far as they can in the CL.
