Europe’s big four domestic leagues have returned to action safely and successfully and we’ve already seen some fantastic action.
The Bundesliga and Premier League titles are done and dusted, with FC Bayern and Liverpool lifting their respective crowns in emphatic style, while the races carry on in Serie A and La Liga.
And the top class football just keeps on coming.
We’re half way through the Champions League Round of 16 and the cream of European football are set to renew hostilities, with the outstanding ties set to be completed on 7th and 8th of August, and the final scheduled for August 23rd.
And today’s quarterfinal draw has thrown up some mouth-watering clashes, with the potential pairing of Barcelona and Bayern the tie of the round.
Some of the best players on the planet will be on show, so let’s take a look at seven who could easily light up the return of European football.
Robert Lewandowski
The German champions’ Polish hit man has quite simply been the standout performer in European football since the return of action following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Bayern were relentless in their pursuit of the Bundesliga title and wrapped it up in style with a 4-0 win over Wolfsburg.
And Lewandowski was in scintillating form, winning the Golden Boot with a huge total of 34 goals. He also scored twice as Die Bayern saw off Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup final to keep their hopes of a treble alive.
They are three up against Chelsea after a dominant first leg of their Round of 16 tie and I can’t see the German giants blowing that!
Phil Foden
The Champions League 2020 betting odds have Bayern and Manchester City as joint favourites to lift the trophy, with Barcelona as the other likely champion.
But this Champions League probably means more to Manchester City than their rivals, for two reasons.
First, they have never won the competition and secondly, subject to the outcome of their legal battle with UEFA, the Sky Blues might well be missing from the 2020/21 tournament.
Pep Guardiola’s side has a first leg lead over Real Madrid and should progress.
20-year-old Phil Foden has been outstanding for City, setting the tone with a man-of-the-match performance in their 5-0 destruction of Burnley, scoring a superb brace in the process.
He’s heading for a spectacular career for club and country and already looks ready to replace David Silva as the Sky Blues’ creative leader.
If City navigate their clash with Real Madrid, they will play the winners of Juventus and Lyon, and Foden will relish every challenge that comes his way.
Ansu Fati
We could have picked any one or two from the four of Barcelona’s strikers. Aside from the great Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann have returned to form in recent weeks.
But here at SBOBET we’ve been watching the Blaugrana’s 17-year-old sensation very closely.
He provides width and pace to Barca’s attack with mesmeric control of the ball and an eye for a goal. The youngster scored against Real Betis at the age of 16 years and 298 days to break a La Liga record and he could be the man to fill Messi’s shoes in the fullness of time.
Barca are level with Napoli after the first leg and are expected to navigate that tie to take their place in the last eight, with the big clash with Bayern next on the agenda.
Josip Ilicic
Atalanta’s Slovenian star, Josip Ilicic, made the Round of 16 headlines when he scored four second leg goals in the Italians’ 8-4 destruction of Valencia.
And he’ll fancy more against PSG in the quarterfinals, with the French league was suspended so he’ll hope to catch the Parisians cold.
The attacking midfielder is the joint sixth top scorer in Serie A with 15 goals, and has inspired Atalanta to reach third place in the league, just two points behind Lazio and pretty much guaranteed of a Champions League place again next season.
Timo Werner
This Bundesliga side is already through to the quarter finals after sweeping Spurs aside 4-0 on aggregate.
They have a winnable draw against Atletico Madrid in the last eight and they have a hit man in great form to push them deeper into the competition.
With 28 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga, Timo Werner would have won the Golden Boot had he not been up against the great Lewandowski, and he would love to head to his new club Chelsea with a European medal.
Don’t write Die Roten Bullen off.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Okay, two of our picks are Barca players but you can’t possibly leave either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo out of our Magnificent Seven.
Ronaldo looks likely to pick up another Scudetto medal as the Old Lady has moved seven points clear at the top, and he’s not yet out of the race for the Capocannoniere, three behind Ciro Immobile with 26 goals to his name.
And while Barca are facing an uphill battle to stop Real Madrid in La Liga, Messi will win the Golden Boot again. He has 22 goals, five more than his nearest rival, and 19 assists to his name.
Both will write more Champions League 2020 news headlines before the end of summer, you can be sure of that.
Quarterfinal Draw in Full
Man City/Real Madrid vs Juventus/Lyon
Red Bull Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid
Barcelona/Napoli vs Bayern/Chelsea
Atalanta vs Paris Saint Germain
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