5 Players to Watch in Champions League Matchday 5
Champions League action returns this week with a whole series of potentially decisive and indisputably mouth-watering clashes.
Several key issues are set to be settled on Matchday 5, the penultimate round of group-stage fixtures.
In this feature, we pick five players to watch in the midweek games.
These players have been chosen for different reasons. Some play for flagging sides in desperate need for inspiration; others have the quality and the momentum to guarantee qualification to the last 16 this week.
Gervinho
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The voting closes tonight for the BBC African Player of the Year award. One name in line for the award is Ivorian forward Gervinho.
The ex-Arsenal man enjoyed an unlikely revival at AS Roma last season and has continued his fine form both domestically and in Europe this term.
In the Champions League, Gervinho has scored three and contributed one assist in his three starts to date.
Thanks in no small part to his contribution, the Italian side have given themselves an excellent chance of escaping from the group of death.
If they can beat CSKA in Moscow this week, and if Manchester City fail to beat Bayern Munich, the Giallorossi will have guaranteed their spot in the last 16.
Can Gervinho inspire his side to victory once more?
Adam Lallana
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How things are falling apart for Liverpool!
They have lost their last three in the Premier League and having fallen 18 points behind leaders Chelsea, the fallen giants cannot seem to find any meaningful level of coherence.
Their defeat to Real Madrid may have been spirited, but Brendan Rodgers’ mindless tinkering made for a dreadful week when the Reds were last in Champions League action.
Their European campaign is also limping into disarray, even two victories from here on might not guarantee progression to the last 16.
One player who I believe must be given the nod against Ludogorets is Adam Lallana.
The ex-Southampton man hasn’t always been given the baton since signing in the summer. He demonstrated his class, however, against Scotland while on England duty, and he is the kind of intelligent, capable, gifted player who can find ways through a ranked defence (as Ludogorets’ is likely to be).
It took Rodgers’ side 82 minutes to break down the Bulgarians at home, they will need something a little special to make headway in Sofia on Wednesday evening. After his terrific assist against Crystal Palace at the weekend, Lallana needs to be given a run in the first team to allow him to demonstrate his worth.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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Borussia Dortmund’s mid-week trip to the Emirates Stadium will hold little fear.
Few teams have impressed as much as Jurgen Klopp’s men so far this tournament—they are the highest-scoring group leaders after four matches—and beat Arsenal back in September.
They knocked eight past Galatasaray over two legs and have rightfully taken their place atop Group D with a maximum 12 points.
Only two other sides—Real Madrid and Bayern Munich—have 100 percent records.
While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, like some of his teammates, has struggled to find his rhythm in the Bundesliga, he has looked in fine fettle in Europe.
Both Arsenal and Gala have tasted his venom so far this term.
With the Gunners likely to press forward to appease their troubled home fans—unsettled after the weekend defeat to Manchester United, the Gabon hitman should have plenty of space in which to operate!
Fabian Frei
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There weren’t too many players who impressed me more than Fabian Frei during the last round of Champions League matches.
Admittedly, FC Basel were only playing lowly Ludogorets, but while the Swiss side’s attackers stole the headlines, Fabian Frei pulled the strings in midfield.
In his side’s opening match with Real Madrid, Frei struggled to impose himself.
As indicated by this handy Opta infographic, as featured on Here in the City, the international made no tackles and won only one duel.
Ahead of the return match with the reigning champs, Frei has fanned the flames.
Speaking to Swiss source Le Matin, he commented that his side’s showing against Ludogorets was close to perfection, and that the RotBlau will head into this contest without any fear.
Frei will be aware that any kind of positive result will take the pressure off Basel heading into their final group match against Liverpool at Anfield.
Enoch Kofi Adu
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At the beginning of November, Enoch Kofi Adu lifted the Swedish Allsvenskan title with his Malmo teammates.
It was the club’s 21st league title, and it was won in fairly comfortable fashion after they built up a six-point gap over second-placed IFK Goteborg.
While the domestic title was secured, Malmo are struggling on their return to the Champions League. A matchday-two triumph over Olympiacos is the anomaly as the Swedish side have lost their other three matches, conceding nine and scoring zero.
That run may well continue on Wednesday as they welcome Juventus to the Swedbank Stadion. If it does, however, it will spell elimination for Age Hareide’s side.
To date, the Champions League has represented a tasking learning curve for central midfielder Enoch Kofi Adu.
If Malmo are to have any chance of sneaking into the top two qualification spots, or even the Europa League, then he will need to assert himself—both offensively and defensively—in their upcoming matches, beginning with Juve this week.
