Champions League 2011-12: 20 Players Who Should Dominate

The Champions League groups are beginning to take shape with the first two games having being played already. The group stages don't finish until early December, and then the knockout games will start in February. That's when the real football gets underway, with the eight group winners taking on the eight runners-up.

It's not too difficult to decide which teams will qualify for the last 16, but there will probably be a surprise or two somewhere along the line. The knockout games usually bring the very best players to the fore, and in this article I'll try to profile 20 players who will make an impact in this season's competition.

There are of course some players who are bound to shine, as they play for the best clubs and are established stars already. There are also some young players who are looking to make a name for themselves, and the Champions League is the ideal platform for them to display their talents.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is simply the best footballer in the world at the moment. There's no dispute about that fact, and the rate at which he scores goals is quite astounding. It's hard to figure exactly what position Barcelona play him in, but I suppose it's a free role he has.

The current Barcelona team are one of the best club sides the world has ever seen, and Messi is their crowning glory. It's not easy to guess how good they might be if he was to pick up a serious injury, but it could certainly end their current domination for its duration. When other clubs are difficult to break down, Messi is the man to make the difference.

It's impossible to dislike him, or not to marvel at how good he actually is. His ability to take players on and beat them is magnificent, but he is also an excellent finisher. So often players with a lot of ability to beat opponents don't add enough goals to their game, but that cannot be said of Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the next best player in the world after Lionel Messi. He has a similar scoring rate to Messi, and he is second to none when it comes to taking free kicks. If Real Madrid are going to have any chance of breaking the Barcelona dominance, they will need Ronaldo to play at his very best.

He has become a figure of hate for many opposing fans because of his tendency to dive and exaggerate injury. He has an exceptional talent, and his ability in the air is quite unusual for such a talented player. It would be interesting to see exactly how good he might be if he was a part of the Barcelona team instead of Messi.

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is the star of a Manchester United team that will be looking to go one better than their runners-up slot in last season's Champions League. He has had an excellent start to the current campaign, and his goals have helped United to get off to a great start in defence of their Premier League crown. United have become very dependant on Rooney though, and an injury to him for any spell could seriously damage their chances domestically and in Europe too.

Rooney is very good in the air for a player of his stature, and his movement on and off the ball can be very difficult for opponents to deal with. He has been lethal in front of goal this season, and his goals can earn United points when they seldom deserve them. United have changed their style a little this season, and Rooney has definitely benefited from the new style.

Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres was signed by Chelsea last January to try to bring in the extra quality they needed to help them win some trophies. He hasn't had the greatest start to his Chelsea career, but there is no doubting the quality he has. The Champions League has become a "holy grail" for Chelsea in recent seasons, and the club desperately want to win it.

Chelsea have signed some very good players in recent months, and they now have the ability to play a game which suits Torres' skills. If they can play him in behind opposition defences, Torres can be absolutely lethal, but they needed to bring in new players to add that option to their game. Torres still has a lot to prove at Chelsea, and the Champions League could be the competition that he proves it in.

Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero has had a great start to his Manchester City career, but if they are to progress in the Champions League, they will need him to reproduce his Premier League form in Europe. They are in a very tough group at the moment, and qualification will not be easy for them. City probably have the strongest squad of any team in England, but quite a few of their players are short on Champions League experience.

Aguero always looked like a very good scorer at Atletico Madrid, and he has risen to the challenge of playing at City so far. He has a real goalscorer's instinct, and the ability to score spectacular goals too. With Carlos Tevez no longer welcome at the club, Aguero has become vital to their plans, and he seems to be relishing the challenge.

Robin Van Persie

Robin Van Persie has become the new Arsenal captain since the departure of Cesc Fabregas, and he also has the weight of the club's expectations on his shoulders. He has already scored 29 goals in the current calender year, and he will need to keep scoring if Arsenal are going to have any chance of winning any trophies this season. He has had a horrible history of injuries in the past, but if he stays injury-free this could be his season.

He has a very sweet left foot, and his ability to drop and join in the play makes him very hard to mark at times. Despite claiming that his right leg is his "chocolate leg," he has scored plenty of good goals with it as well. RVP recently became the 17th player to reach 100 goals for Arsenal, and he has the ability to substantially add to that this season.

Wesley Sneijder

Wesley Sneijder is the playmaker for an Inter Milan team that won the Champions League in 2010, and if they are to make an impression again, he will be the player to inspire them. They had a slow start to their season, but they have now picked up the pace in the Champions League, and are currently on top of their group. In 2010, Sneijder was one of the stars of an Inter team that conquered all in Europe and domestically too.

He has the ability to find teammates with passes that others don't see, as well as being a very good goalscorer himself. There were rumours of him joining Manchester United in the summer, but it doesn't seem to have affected how he plays for Inter.

Mario Gomez

Mario Gomez has had a very good start to the season with a Bayern Munich team that are playing like they really mean business. They are on top of their domestic league, and they are scoring goals for fun. Their defence has been tighter than any other defence so far this season, and it all points to a very successful season for them. 

Gomez has had a good start to his season too, and his ability to score goals has helped his club greatly. He may not be the greatest player, but he has the uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time. That knack led to him scoring twice against Manchester City, as Bayern beat them 2-0, and it should be enough to see them through from a very tough group.

If Bayern continue to play in the manner they have started this season, they have to be considered as real contenders for the Champions League, and Gomez could get an awful lot of goals this season too.

Pato

Pato has the possibility to be the star striker with Italian champions AC Milan, and if they are going to do well in the Champions League he could be the player to make a difference for them. Playing alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic cannot be an easy task for any player, but Pato has shown he has the ability required to fill that role. His current injury will probably keep him out of their next game, but he should be fit to return before the game with Barcelona.

Both Milan and Barcelona should qualify comfortably from the group, and Pato should be ready to make an impact in the knockout stages. He's still only 22 years old, and he is the bright young prospect in an aging Milan team.

Oscar Cardozo

Oscar Cardozo is the star striker for a Benfica team that look like they might just qualify from a group containing last year's runners-up Manchester United. He has scored two goals from the first three group games, including the goal which took a point off United in Portugal. He has been prolific for Benfica over the last four years, and he looks ready made for a bigger stage.

He has an excellent left foot and the ability to score from free kicks too. Benfica look certain to qualify from their group, and Cardozo will then get the chance to display his skills on a bigger stage.

Xavi Hernandez

Xavi is the player who makes Barcelona's well-oiled machine work in perfect coordination. He has been rightly hailed as one of the best players in the world, but they have shown they can cope without him too when the need arises. The signature of Cesc Fabregas has given Barcelona so many options that Xavi can be rested if he needs to be, and he's now nearly 32 years old.

When Barcelona are at their very best, Xavi game statistics are quite exceptional, as he makes pass after pass. They may only be short, quick passes to teammates, but they wear the opposition down gradually. He also has the ability to pick out through balls for teammates, and he's a very good finisher too. If Barcelona manage to retain their Champions League title, Xavi will undoubtedly be the man leading their charge.

David Villa

David Villa is Barcelona's next best goalscorer after Lionel Messi, and if they are going to retain their title, his goals will be very important. At any other club, Villa would be the top scorer, but it's not easy to compete with a player who averages a goal every single game.

Villa has shown himself to be a very accomplished finisher for both club and country, and he has scored some very important goals. He has the ability to play in a wide role if needed, and his goals can be very important in tight games at times. He has started the new season in good goalscoring form yet again, and he looks certain to have a big say in where the Champions League trophy ends up in May.

Thomas Muller

Thomas Muller is another Bayern Munich player who looks to have the world of football at his feet. He is only 22 years old, but he has already made himself a permanent fixture for both his club and country.

He can play in any of the attacking positions in the Bayern team, and he has a real eye for a goal too. Bayern look almost certain to qualify at the top of their group and get themselves a favourable draw for the last 16. When it comes to the knockout stages, players with the ability of Muller can be the ones to make the difference.

Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard is undoubtedly the star player of current French champions, Lille. He is a very talented player who had some of Europe's top clubs looking to sign him last summer, and Lille will do well to keep him for the rest of this season. If French champions Lille can somehow manage to qualify for the last 16, Hazard could be the man to make a difference for them.

He's still only 20 years old, but he's in his fourth season as a first-team regular for his club. He can play as an attacking midfielder or a winger, and he has the ability to open defences up. He's also capable of scoring goals himself, and the future looks very bright for him.

It won't be an easy task for Lille to make the last 16, as they only have two points from three games, but Hazard could be the player to inspire them.

David Silva

David Silva signed for Manchester City from Valencia in 2010, and he looks like a superb acquisition for them. City have a squad which is big enough and strong enough to compete on all fronts this season. They are currently on top of the Premier League in England and in a competitive position in a very tough Champions League group.

Silva has found it hard to get into the Spanish national team at times, but he has shown his class at club level. He has the ability to beat a man, as well as pick a pass and score goals too. If City are going to progress, they will need Silva to be at his very best.

If City can get to the knockout stages, Silva could be one of a few players they have that can help them to have a real chance of winning the trophy.

Mario Goetze

Mario Goetze is the playmaker for current German champions Borussia Dortmund. He is still only 19 years old, but he is showing an ability and maturity well beyond his years. He could have a real impact in this season's Champions League if his team can qualify from a very tough group.

At the moment, they have only taken one point from their first two games, but they now face back-to-back games against Olympiacos. They need to win both of those games before they make the very tough trip to take on Arsenal at The Emirates. If Dortmund can manage to qualify from their group, Goetze is the man most likely to make the goalscoring chances they need.

There has been an awful lot of interest in him from Arsenal, as well as other clubs, and he could possibly be playing his football elsewhere next season. It will take an awful lot of money to pry him away from Dortmund, but he would be an excellent buy for any club looking for a playmaker.

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain is a striker for Real Madrid who has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks. Real need other players besides Ronaldo to take some responsibility for them if they are going to break Barcelona's hold on the Spanish and European crowns. Higuain had a rough time with injuries last season, but if he can stay injury-free this could be the season where he really makes an impact.

He's still only 23 years old, and he has shown how lethal he can be in front of goal. Madrid have won their first three group games with relative ease, and look certain to make it through to the last 16. Higuain has played a very small part in those three victories, but I think he could have a much bigger part to play in the knockout stages.

Juan Mata

Juan Mata joined Chelsea from Valencia during the summer, and he has fitted into their team very quickly. Fernando Torres needs quick players around him that operate at the speed that he does, and Mata fits the bill perfectly. They have failed in their previous attempts to win the Champions League, but Mata could be the man to make a difference for them.

He has the ability to pick out Torres with insightful passes, and he is perfectly capable of scoring goals himself. Chelsea have to be considered as one of the favourites to win this season's Champions League thanks to the signings of Mata and others.

Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani is a Uruguayan striker who plays for Napoli, and he has had an excellent start to this season. He was the second highest goalscorer in Italy last season with 25 goals, and he could be the player to help Napoli qualify from their group. They are in a strong position at the moment, but it's such a tough group that it won't be easy for them.

Cavani has two Champions League goals already this season, and he will need to score a few more if they are to progress. If they do, they have a good chance of at least making it to the last eight, as long as Cavani can keep scoring important goals for them. He's certainly a player to watch for the future, and it can't be long before some of Europe's biggest teams are chasing his signature.

Javier Hernandez

Javier Hernandez had an exceptional first season for Manchester United last season, and he looks like he is going to repeat that feat this season. Their expectations are on the shoulders of Wayne Rooney at the moment, but Hernandez is one of the most natural goalscorers I have ever seen. His ability to find space in the opposing penalty area is fantastic, and he is lethal when he gets a chance to score.

In tight games in the Champions League he could be the man to come up with the all-important goal that United might need. United haven't had a great start to their Champions League campaign, but they are still almost certain to make the knockout stages. He might not start all of their games in those stages, but he's perfectly capable of scoring when he is introduced from the bench.

United got him at a very reasonable price, and he looks like an excellent piece of business for them.

That's it for today.

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