The 2024/25 Champions League season kicks off this week with the competition now using a controversial new format which has lifted the number of teams involved from 32 to 36.
UEFA has made these changes to create more heavyweight clashes between the strongest teams, but the new format could also help create more underdog stories. Here are three underdogs who could make an impact in this season’s Champions League.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa opened their Champions League debut with a 3-0 romp over Young Boys. The Villans won the European Cup back in 1982, but this is their first season participating in the Champions League. Under Unai Emery, the Villa Park outfit have made significant strides and will fancy their chances of making the knockout rounds after being handed a league phase route that includes fixtures against Bologna, Club Bruges, Monaco and Celtic.
Ollie Watkins finally found his scoring touch by scoring twice in the win over Everton on Saturday. While the striker was removed for injury against Young Boys, Aston Villa will hope the England international can make a quick return and bring his scoring touch to the Champions League after netting 19 goals in the Premier League last term. Jhon Duran could also make an impact off the bench in games.
There is quality throughout the Aston Villa team, from Pau Torres in central defence to summer signing and Tuesday goalscorer Amadou Onana in central midfield. Morgan Rogers has emerged as a difference-maker in the attacking third in the early part of this season and could be crucial to Villa finding a creative spark, while the club will hope Youri Tielemans can take the next step in his development. Villa’s structure and shape could make them a difficult opponent for most.
Celtic
Celtic could benefit more than most from the new Champions League format. The Scottish champions have been handed a favourable fixture list that includes matches against Slovan Bratislava, Club Bruges, Dinamo Zagreb and Young Boys. Victory in a couple of those games could put the Hoops in contention for a place in the knockout rounds.
Brendan Rodgers’ team have started the season with five straight wins in the Scottish Premiership and will hope to carry that impressive form into the Champions League where Celtic haven’t fared so well in recent times. The Hoops appear to have taken a step forward since last season.
Belgian international Arne Engels has joined Celtic as the replacement for Matt O’Riley and has made an impact impact, scoring against Hearts on Saturday. Kyogo Furuhashi remains Celtic’s biggest threat in the attacking third, although Adam Idah has given Rodgers a focal point since joining permanently from Norwich City for £9m. Celtic could spring a surprise or two.
Sporting CP
There is a lot of excitement around Sporting CP right now. The Portuguese champions kept all their best players over the summer transfer window and retained manager Ruben Amorim after he was linked with a number of Premier League clubs including Liverpool and West Ham. That continuity should benefit Sporting, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Lille.
Viktor Gyokeres can’t stop scoring at the moment having found the back of the net 12 times in just eight games for clubs and country this season. The Swedish striker scored an incredible 39 goals for Sporting CP last term and opened the club’s scoring in the Champions League before half-time on Tuesday evening.
Pote is also one of the most prolific chance creators anywhere in European soccer right now, registering seven goal contributions in five league games this season. And in central defence, Sporting CP boast one of the best young defenders in the sport in the form of Ousmane Diomande. From front to back, there is quality in Amorim’s team.
