Five Champions League breakout stars this season
Karan Tejwani
- Updated: 2 Nov 2022 21:36 GMT
- 5 min read
The Champions League can tend to be the place where emerging stars make a name for themselves, and this season’s group stage was no different.
The campaign so far has seen some excellent individual performances that have propelled teams, and some players are on the radar if Europe’s elite already.
From Napoli’s excellent form to Club Brugge causing a few upsets and more, there have been some brilliant performers through the tournament so far.
READ: Who is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia? Napoli’s ‘Georgian Maradona’ set for greatness
Here are five Champions League breakout stars.
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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Napoli
Napoli have been sensational this season both domestically and in Europe and a name on the lips of fans across Europe is that of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He’s often compared to Diego Maradona by fans for his drive and ability to entertain, and in his short time at Napoli so far, he is already a hero.
In his Champions League debut for the club, he starred against Liverpool in their famous 4-1, and he bettered that performance with his displays against Ajax, both home and away. Napoli came first in their group and are top of Serie A, and Kvaratskhelia is responsible for a lot of that.
READ: Who is Diogo Costa? The Porto goalkeeper on Man Utd's radar
A joy to watch 😮💨 Kvaratskhelia#UCL pic.twitter.com/uqpVAIcGsX
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 26, 2022
Mykhaylo Mudryk – Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk had a fine Champions League campaign - despite finishing third in their group - and amidst all the noise around his future, winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has shown exactly why he is so highly rated by so many clubs across Europe. The Arsenal-linked Ukrainian has been a star this campaign.
Mudryk scored three goals and provided two assists in the Champions League group stage. Whether Mudryk stays beyond January will be interesting to see – his club may not be able to resist interest in him for longer and they could get a big fee.
Ferran Jutgla – Club Brugge
Barcelona had a horrible Champions League campaign, exiting in the group stages and going to the Europa League, but one of their former talents has been brilliant. Ferran Jutgla left for Club Brugge in the summer, and has had a fine European campaign.
Brugge have qualified for the knockout rounds becoming the first Belgian club to do so in two decades, and Jutgla’s contributions of two goals and two assists has been vital. His stock can continue to rise further depending on how he and his team perform in the knockout rounds.
Diogo Costa - Porto
Diogo Costa has quite simply been Portugal’s best goalkeeper for a year. The Manchester United-linked Porto shot-stopper was brilliant in the Champions League in a tough group. If Porto are to thank anyone for their progression, it has to be their goalkeeper.
He saved three penalties in the group stages, and also provided one assist for the winner against Bayer Leverkusen, showing he is not only Portugal’s best goalkeeper, but one of the most well-rounded anywhere in world football. He’s only 23 and he’s brilliant.
Three penalty saves in successive games for Porto!
Diogo Costa 🚫🚫🚫@FCPorto || #UCL pic.twitter.com/yZIGCHrt7A— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 31, 2022
Kim Min-jae – Napoli
Another Napoli star who joined the club in the summer is centre-half Kim Min-jae, who joined from Fenerbahce to replace Kalidou Koulibaly and has done excellently. Min-jae has been a rock at the back and has helped Napoli make a seamless transition following the departure of the Senegalese defender.
His composure at the back helped keep Liverpool and Ajax quiet and his physicality makes him hard to beat, as forwards have found out this season. Napoli recruited wonderfully in the summer to replace departed players, and Min-jae is one of the signings of the season.
