The UEFA Champions League is considered by many to be the pinnacle of elite-level
football. It is seen as the biggest stage that a player can step foot on in domestic football - a
competition where true greats have cemented their legacies amongst the very best to ever
play the game. It’s not always the top teams that shine on that very stage, however. We’ve
seen some true underdogs shock the world in the past, and we could be about to see a few
more when it comes to the start of next season, as we’ve outlined below.
Union Berlin to make their first UEFA Champions League appearance?
Union Berlin may just be the biggest underdogs that Europe has to offer, especially since they
are going toe to toe with German giants Bayern Munich this season in just their fourth season
in the Bundesliga. This is mightily impressive considering Bayern are among the favourites
in the UEFA Champions League betting with odds of 7/2 to win the competition. However,
Manchester City are the side to beat according to the betting markets.
It has become a rarity for a club such as Union to not only maintain their rise following
promotion to a top division but reach Europe’s elite. Yet, here Union Berlin is, out to
accomplish what would be an incredible achievement. Urs Fischer’s side could even remain
in the title picture by the time the season reaches its closing stages, as they look to
unexpectedly bring to an end Bayern Munich’s reign of dominance in the Bundesliga.
Real Sociedad to finally return to Champions League football?
The last time that Real Sociedad played in the UEFA Champions League was as many as 10
years ago, as the Spaniards crashed out at the group stage in the 2013/14 season. A decade
later, Sociedad could finally be set to return to Europe’s top table, and, this time, mount a far
greater effort at causing a few upsets.
What’s arguably even more impressive is the fact that Sociedad
has
spent just 53 million euros this season,
compared to the hefty spending often seen by those sitting at the top of
Spanish football. This entire outlay was easily covered by the sale of Alexander Isak to
Newcastle as well because he left for 70 million euros. So, as Barcelona and Real Madrid
predictably compete for the La Liga crown once again, perhaps the story to keep an eye on is
that of Imanol Alguacil’s high-flying Real Sociedad side.
Newcastle United to make it a season to remember?
Many will be quick to point to Newcastle United’s new riches as to why they’re currently
competing for a place in the Premier League’s top four. However, that’s a harsh assessment
of Eddie Howe and the recruiting behind the scenes at St James’ Park.
It could have been easy to just blindly splash the cash last summer on names that would
simply sell shirts instead of fitting the role that Howe required. Newcastle did anything but
that, however, and has been rewarded ever since.
Welcoming
an array of signings this season, the Magpies’ smart spending, combined with
Howe’s tactical genius, has seen St James’ Park go from witnessing a side fighting to survive
the drop to enjoying a team competing for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League
competition.
All three sides deserve plaudits for their form so far this season even if they have gone about
it in different ways and have access to vastly different resources. Fans of all three will be
hoping that they can keep it up for the rest of the season as that could lead to a very special
season indeed.