The Spanish league is graced by some of the top defenders in world football, including Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and Barca’s Gerard Pique. But today it’s the turn of some of La Liga’s most exciting attacking talents to take the limelight as we look at five players who can light fireworks in the 2020/2021 Champions League season.
It may be a little early to think about our SBOBET tips for Champions League 2021 predictions, while we await news of when this current season will complete, but it’s never too soon to look forward to seeing some exciting talent which is already coming through.
Joao Felix – Atletico Madrid
When a 19-year old Joao Felix signed for Los Rojiblancos last summer he arrived with a loud fanfare as the player to replace the departed Antoine Griezmann. He only made his debut for Portuguese giants Benfica during the 2018/19 season, but 15 goals and seven assists in 21 starts was enough to persuade Diego Simeone to shell out an amount which, at the time, was the fourth-highest in the history of the game, surpassing the fee Juventus paid to take Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid.
126m Euros is a big price tag for anyone to cope with, but despite struggling with injury and so failing to score regularly, Felix undoubtedly has the talent and has shown more than a glimpse in his appearances at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Next season is his second of a seven-year contract and I expect to see him make a real breakthrough over the next 12 months.
Felix is a player sure to be in the Champions League 2021 news, providing Atleti can finish the job and confirm their qualification.
Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid
Los Blancos young Brazilian star is still only 19 and is starting to make his name at the Santiago Bernabeu, following his switch from Brazil league club Flamengo in 2018 for a fee of around 45m Euros.
Vinicius knew he had signed for a club of legends and whether he can reach heights of players such as Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo only time will tell. But he’s already won a full international cap, representing the Selecao last year in a 1-0 victory over Peru. And Vinicius began his journey towards legendary status at the Bernabeu with the opener in Los Blancos’ El Clasico victory over Barcelona on the 1st March.
He took a pass from Toni Kroos and finished from a tight angle with the help from a deflection off the leg of Barca’s Gerard Pique, and that goal kept the 2019/20 La Liga title race well and truly alive.
Mikel Oyarzabal – Real Sociedad
Basque loyalist Mikel Oyarzabal is Real Sociedad through and through and, despite reaching the grand old age of 23 just this week, he has already played 158 times for the club, scoring 41 goals, and he has seven full caps for Spain, scoring twice.
This is the winger’s best all-round season so far and, before the break in play, he had contributed an impressive eight goals and six assists towards La Real’s Champions League push. Oyarzabal has a calm head on young shoulders, and that helped him to slot home an early penalty in Sociedad’s win away to Eibar just before the enforced break. That was a crucial victory which lifted his side into the hot seat of fourth place, and it’s one they want to keep.
Jaime Mata – Getafe
Getafe have other ideas and if the underdogs manage to round off a magnificent season by qualifying for the Champions League then they will owe much to the excellent leadership of head coach Jose Bordalas.
But with eight goals and three assists, Jaime Mata has become a potent force for the Madrid minnows. At 6ft 1in he’s strong in the air and a physical character, but with an often lethal finish. He’s the embodiment of Getafe’s tough style and would shake up a few Champions League defenders.
Getafe has a real chance of making the Champions League, currently in fifth place and level on points with fourth-placed Real Sociedad.
Antoine Griezmann – Barcelona
We know all about France hit man Antoine Griezmann but he is yet to stamp his authority at the Camp Nou. When he arrived in Catalonia last summer he knew he was joining a side with riches of attacking flair and titans of the Spanish game, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were already ripping up the record books and terrorizing defences along the way. He took time to settle, but an injury to Suarez put more responsibility on his shoulders and he has begun to show his true quality, contributing eight goals and four assists.
We might see the best of Griezmann in his second season, and that would be great news for Barca fans and neutrals alike.
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