Champions League: What to expect this week

• The Champions League is back with some mouth-watering clashes expected this midweek.
• We preview the major talking points of the UEFA Champions League.

The Champions League is back with some mouth-watering clashes expected this midweek.

We preview the major talking points of the UEFA Champions League.

No love lost for Holjund?

Rasmus Hojlund started his career at FC Copenhagen. Photo/FC Copenhagen

In recent seasons, Rasmus Hojlund’s ascent has been quite quick. The attacker has changed teams three times since making his professional debut for FC Copenhagen in October 2020, playing for clubs in Austrian and Italian football before moving for £72 million to Manchester United last summer.

The 20-year-old’s rise has been astonishing; with seven goals in 10 appearances for Denmark, he has become his country’s most promising player. Hojlund has had a strong start to his Manchester United career, but after six league games, he is yet to score in the Premier League.

In contrast, Hojlund has scored three goals in two games to tie for first place on the Champions League goal chart in Europe. On Tuesday night, Hojlund will compete against FC Copenhagen, the team where he rose through the ranks of the academy. Before moving to Sturm Graz, he only made 19 appearances in all competitions, but the Danish Superliga champions will be pleased with how he has grown since leaving the team.

High flying Newcastle

Newcastle United. Photo/Goal

Following their recent 4-1 thumping of Paris Saint-Germain at St. James’ Park, Newcastle officially declared their return to the Champions League. After struggling to a scoreless draw in their tournament debut, Newcastle leads the “Group of Death” going into Borussia Dortmund’s visit.

With eight straight victories across all competitions, Eddie Howe’s team will enter the match in excellent form. This season in the Premier League, Newcastle has been in prolific scoring form and is in the top spot for goals.

Newcastle has also had more different goal scorers than any other team (11 total), and Howe will be hoping that this trend continues. In contrast, after two games in the group, Dortmund has yet to win or score. The Germans, on the other hand, are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga this year and arrive in England having won five straight matches.

Will Ramsdale start over Raya?

Aaron Ramsdale.|PHOTO: CBS|

Aaron Ramsdale, who missed the tie against Chelsea last weekend because his girlfriend gave birth to a newborn boy, will be ready for selection when Arsenal plays Sevilla this week.

As David Raya has taken over as the first-choice amongst Arsenal’s “two number ones,” the England international would have likely started on the bench against Stamford Bridge.

However, following a string of ineffective performances, Raya’s position is now in jeopardy. The Spaniard was caught off guard by Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross-shot, which led to Chelsea’s second goal after he had struggled to inspire confidence in previous encounters with Manchester City and Lens.

After being – perhaps cruelly – driven out by the arrival of the summer, Ramsdale could find a way back into the fold in Europe. If Mikel Arteta chooses to start him against Sevilla on Tuesday night, it will be up to the 25-year-old to seize that chance.

Donnarumma vs Maignan

In this week’s match between Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, two of Europe’s top goalkeepers will square off. This is a match where Gianluigi Donnarumma and Mike Maignan may have lined up in opposing colors had circumstances been different.

Milan’s hearts were broken by the native hero Donnarumma. He made his Rossoneri debut at age 16, making him the second-youngest goalie to start a game in Italian football. He went on to make 251 appearances for the Rossoneri. Hopes that he would strengthen the team for ten years, however, were dashed when Donnarumma left in 2021 for PSG on a free transfer.

Milan did an excellent job of filling the colossal void left by the Italian, reaching an agreement to sign Lille’s Mike Maignan. In 2021/22, Maignan earned the Serie A award for best goalkeeper as Milan broke their championship drought, and since Hugo Lloris’ retirement, he has taken over as France’s top goalkeeper.

The 28-year-old had started his career with Paris Saint-Germain, but he is among a group of excellent players who left PSG in an effort to jumpstart their careers, including Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby. He is now recognized as one of the greatest in the world and has not allowed a goal in the group stage of the Champions League this year.