Champions League Group Stage Reunites Players With Former Clubs
The UEFA Champions League is one of the most popular football competitions when compared with other football competitions across the globe, no thanks to the fact that it plays host to a huge number of top football players, who play for different European club sides.
The draw for the group stages of the 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League, which was held on Thursday the 25th of August, 2022, pitched some players against the club side, they had previously played for, making the forthcoming group stages of the UEFA Champions League to be something to look forward by football fans. In this article, we shall be looking at 4 players, who will be playing against their former football club sides, in the group stages of the 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League.
1) Angel Di Maria
Argentine International player, Angel Di Maria has played for several top European football clubs, thus far in his football career, he recently played for French club side Paris Saint Germain, before he joined his current Italian club side, Juventus.
Angel Di Maria will have a chance to face off with his former club side, Paris Saint Germain in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League as both his current club Juventus and Paris Saint Germain were both paired in Group H.
2) Robert Lewandowski
Polish International forward, Robert Lewandowski has had an illustrious career thus far in his football career, he scored a total number of 238 goals In the 252 matches he played in the German Bundesliga as a player for Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively before he recently joined Barcelona.
The 34 year old Barcelona forward will have the opportunity to play against his former club side, Bayern Munich as they were both paired in Group C with the duo of Inter Milan and Plzen completing the four members of the group.
3) Calvin Bassey
One of the biggest revelations from Rangers last season was Calvin Bassey. The performance of Nigerian International defender for Rangers during the 2021/2022 season saw him become of the most sought after defenders, during the summer transfer window. He was later signed by Dutch side, Ajax for a fee of €23M with his contract with the club extending up till June 2027.
Calvin Bassey who plays in the defensive position will have the opportunity to play against his former club side Ajax as both Rangers and Ajax were drawn together in Group A of the UEFA Champions League.
4) Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland is a football player who plays in the centre forward position for both his club and country which are Manchester City and Norway respectively. The 22 years old Norwegian International forward is highly revered by some football pundits and fans alike for his goal scoring qualities, he scored a total of 41 goals in 41 appearances for his former club side , Borussia Dortmund before he joined Manchester City during the summer transfer window.
The 2022/2023 UEFA Champions League group stage pairing of Manchester City and German Bundesliga club side, Borussia Dortmund in Group C, will afford Erling Haaland the opportunity to play against his former club side. The duo of Sevilla and Copenhagen were also paired alongside Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund to complete the group.
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