The UEFA Champions League is well underway and most of the top clubs are really doing well in it. Arsenal are at the top of the league table with a perfect record after five matches. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain are just behind them, with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan following them.
Major Surprises of UEFA Champions League So Far
This season’s tournament has not been without its fair share of surprises. In this article, we are going to take a look at three teams which have been the surprise packages so far:
3. PSV Eindhoven
It has been a long time since PSV really did well in Champions League. They have often found it difficult to go past the group stage in the recent past, exiting early, leaving fans to find a live casino to pass the time until the next season. However, they seem to have turned things around this season.
The Dutch side recently beat Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield. Even considering Liverpool’s poor recent run, it was a memorable win for the Dutch side. Prior to that, PSV had thrashed Napoli 6-2 and drawn with Olympiacos 1-1. They now have eight points from five matches and are in the eighth position in the league table, ahead of the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona.
Ivan Perisic, an experienced campaigner who has played for Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in the past, plays for PSV these days and has contributed towards the club’s success.
2. Atalanta
Atalanta do not have a particularly glorious past, but makes it to the Champions League regularly these days. The Italian side are once again proving this season that they have been worthy additions to the tournament. At the end of their first five matches, Atalanta are 10th in the Champions League table with nine points.
The Italian side has won three of their last four matches in the competition. They have beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 and Marseille 1-0 in their last two matches. However, they had to suffer a big 4-0 defeat against PSG in one of the matches. The Italian representation is strong in the tournament with giants like Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan being there already. It is now up to Atalanta to play their part to perfection.
1. Sporting CP
Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club, Sporting CP, are doing rather well in Champions League this season. After five matches, Sporting are in the eighth position with 10 points. That is a really good position to be in and puts the Portuguese club firmly among Europe’s elite.
Sporting CP have won three of their last five matches in Champions League this season. They have drawn with Juventus and beaten Marseille. Striker Luis Suarez has been playing well for the Portuguese club this season and has scored 10 goals in 19 matches so far.
Sporting have a stiff test awaiting them, as they face the mighty Bayern Munich next in the second week of December. Earning at least a point from that match will be a significant step towards qualifying for the next stage of the tournament. It remains to be seen whether the Portuguese can qualify for the round of 16 this time around, as the chances are really high.
Main image credit IMAGO / Eibner
