Roar Sports Writer Edward Ducker gives us his insight into the 2022/23 Champions League group stage and how some of Europe’s supposed elite have struggled this year and what that means for their creation of a European Super League
With the World Cup in Qatar kicking off on the 20 November, Champions League group stage fixtures have concluded much earlier than usual. This season’s matchday six was played across the 1st and 2nd of November, with it customarily being held in early December. With matches played weekly (in some instances) rather than fortnightly, fixture congestion was always going to be an unavoidable complication. A somewhat atypical season has produced results far from orthodox, and whether fixture congestion is a contributor or not, the Champions League group stages have seen some unfathomable outcomes.
With all 96 group matches having been played, the final standings and team statistics demonstrate just how far certain clubs have fallen from glory, whilst others are seemingly on the rise.
Rise of the Underdogs
Group A commenced with Napoli taking on Liverpool in Naples. As Liverpool were on the verge of lifting the Champions League trophy last season – losing narrowly in the final – they were clear favourites heading into this fixture, regardless of their limp start domestically. Spalletti’s side had other ideas however, and they comfortably beat the red’s 4-1. Napoli went on to beat Rangers 3-0 twice and Ajax 6-1 and 4-2. A 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on matchday 6 ended their staggering 21-game unbeaten run in all competitions, the club’s first loss since April.
Scoring 20 goals in 6 games, Napoli top the Champions League scoring charts so far, but who is accredited for their attacking success? Both Giovani Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori, who both usually play second fiddle to main striker, Victor Osimhen, contributed 4 goals each. Goals aside however, Napoli’s star (insofar of the competition) has been 21-year-old Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The young winger has asserted himself as one of Europe’s hottest talents with his outstanding performances and now has elite clubs such as Real Madrid and Man City interested in acquiring his services. His positive performances aren’t just subjective to the Champions league however, as he is a primary contributor to Napoli’s current pole position in Serie A. The Georgian has 18 G/A in just 17 matches across all competitions this season – a certified star in the making.
Nobody quite anticipated Napoli to perform to this level this season, however. The loss of key players such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabian Ruiz, Dries Mertens and club captain, Lorenzo Insigne should have theoretically hindered the squad’s overall performance. If anything, these departures have rather made way for a new set of talent and the Southern-Italian side are flourishing more than ever. There is no doubt that they are this season’s dark horses, with coach Luciano Spalletti having built an exciting and dangerous outfit heading into the knockout rounds. With Napoli set to play Frankfurt in the RO16, they have been dealt a real opportunity to reach the quarter finals for the first time in their history.
The Champions League has seen some entertaining underdog stories in recent times. Whether it’s AS Monaco in 2016/17 or Ajax in 2018/19, the competition always seems to provide a stage for less anticipated teams defy the rule of Europe’s elites. Last season it was Villareal, who – against all odds, beat Bayern Munich to advance to the semi-finals where they unfortunately lost to Liverpool. Despite many foreseeing Napoli to fill the slot this year, they aren’t the only team who are seemingly overperforming on the European stage. Club Brugge were predicted by the majority to finish bottom of their Group. In sharing Group B with Porto, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, qualifying was never going to be an easy task.
Nonetheless, the Belgian outfit proved the majority wrong, finishing second in their group and keeping 5 clean sheets in the process. Stellar performances against Atlético and Porto secured their unexpected qualification in second place, seeing Leverkusen finish third. The Belgian side will play Benfica in the RO16 – an opponent they will favour more compared to the potential opponents of Real Madrid and Bayern. It will be interesting to see just how far their outstanding defensive performances can carry them and if they can truly be the success story of this season’s competition.
The Underperformance of Royalty
Group B also witnessed arguably the biggest shock of the group stages, as Atletico Madrid finished bottom. The Spanish side were even unable to acquire a place in this season’s Europa League via a third-place finish. Atletico were predicted to finish top of the group, especially given their prowess in Europe and the calibre of the players at their disposal. This was not the case however, and they exit the competition in the group stage for only the 2nd time in 9 years. For a team who only 2 years ago were champions of La Liga, failing to score in 3 out of 6 matches against supposed weaker opposition is unfathomable and a principal factor in their elimination.
Atletico coach, Diego Simeone, has been slammed in the past for his defensively orientated and ‘negative’ style of football, even if it has provided positive outcomes for his side. This UCL campaign however has demonstrated the flaws of Simeone’s tactics, as Atletico were visibly lacklustre in the creative department, consequently leading to their substandard results. Despite their shortcomings in Europe, Atletico sit 4th in La Liga. However, with only 3 points currently separating them from 8th place Bilbao, a minor slip up could put Simeone’s job in jeopardy.
Atletico Madrid aren’t the only first-class club who have underperformed in Europe this season, however. Group C saw Barcelona finish third to Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, and Group H witnessed Italian giants Juventus also finish in third place. For Barcelona and manager, Xavi, there is a sense of déjà-vu as they fail to qualify for the RO16 for a second consecutive year. Barcelona’s elimination last season was, whilst shocking, somewhat understandable, due to the dire state of their finances and the lack of world-class players in their squad. Upon dropping into the Europa league, they were eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter finals to put a cap on a dismal European campaign.
Robert Lewandowski, Raphina and Jules Koundé were amongst a plethora of high-profile signings made by the Catalonians in the summer to rectify the issues on the pitch, even if it worsened those off it. These signings combined cost €153 Million, a large amount for a club in financial disarray. The fact that these players were acquired primarily to ensure that a repeat of last season was implausible makes Barcelona’s exit even more embarrassing. Slack losses to Inter Milan and Bayern Munich highlighted that Barcelona still lack their cutting edge – a necessity if they want to compete with the best and reclaim their role as one of Europe’s most distinguished clubs.
The Europa league also beckons for Max Allegri’s Juventus. This campaign will be the first time they’ve played in the competition since the 2013/14 season. Much like Barcelona, Juventus are also a Champions League regular who have fallen drastically below expectations this season. They failed to compete with both PSG and Benfica, and most shockingly of all, were dealt a 2-0 loss by Israeli team, Maccabi Haifa. Although their exit may seem surprising, Juventus have manufactured poor performances in the Champions League for 4 seasons running. They have failed to surpass the RO16 since the 17/18 season, and have since been eliminated by Ajax, Lyon, Porto and Villareal, all of which are significantly poorer teams on paper. Unless they improve in Europe, it seems that reaching the final in 2017 will be the pinnacle of their success in the UCL for years to come.
Group Stage Round-Up
Group D finished as most predicted it to, even if it wasn’t plain sailing for group winners, Tottenham. A 95thminute winner on matchday 6, courtesy of Pierre- Emile Højberg, ensured the North London side the top spot with last season’s Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt finishing in second.
Bar a disastrous 1-0 loss to Dynamo Zagreb on matchday 1, Chelsea was able to ease through the rest of the group stage, finishing top of Group E. New manager Graham Potter is yet to be defeated across 5 games in the Champions League – a positive sign for the West London side who are to face Borussia Dortmund in the next round.
Group G also played out predictably, with Man City coming out on top and Borussia Dortmund in second. With the World Cup imminent, Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham has surely secured a place in England’s starting XI with his exceptional performances in Europe. He is impressively reliable at 19 years of age and is an established player in the Dortmund side. He will likely be a key player for Gareth Southgate going forward. Sevilla will enter the Europa League via a third-place finish. They will be hoping to lift the trophy for a record seventh time and continue their feat as the most decorated club in the competition’s history.
Where it was misery for Barca and Atletico, business resumed as usual for Real Madrid who topped Group F and became the only Spanish side to qualify for the knockout rounds. They will face Liverpool in the RO16, a tie with a rivalry in recent times. German Side RB Leipzig joined them, qualifying in second place. With the announcement that they are to face a rampant Manchester City side, their hopes of reaching the quarter finals are increasingly diminished.
European Super League Implications:
The elimination of teams such as Barcelona, Atletico and Juventus demonstrate just how unpredictable and thrilling football can be as well as showing that no amount of previous excellence can prevent the worst. The excitement that the uncertainty of football puts forth is why fans sit to watch for 90 minutes. Uproar was sparked upon the announcement of the European Super League in April 2021, a competition that was exclusive to the elite clubs in Europe based purely on their name and history. Fans believed it stripped the enthralment from the game and inequitably boosted the revenue of the top clubs. Amongst others, Barcelona and Juventus were key initial members of the ill-fated competition, with owners Laporta and Agnelli heavily pushing for it to come to fruition. Despite the tournament failing to materialise, the same owners are still arguing in favour of its existence.
A report in The Telegraph in early October claimed the owners of Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid will recommence efforts to launch the breakaway competition. In December, the European Court of Justice will issue a non-binding opinion on the legality of the ESL irrespective of the opinions of fans worldwide. With the early exit of Barcelona and Juventus from this year’s Champions League however, their owners’ hopes of a Super League revival will be dangling by a thread as the elitism in football becomes progressively conspicuous.
