The first leg of the Champions League Round 16 is set to resume with another midweek full of action. Four important contests are set to be played between Tuesday and Wednesday, and it will include some of the biggest football stars on the planet. Therefore, it’s time for another edition of five Champions League players to watch this week.
Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)
After being shown the door by Barcelona last summer, Luis Suarez has been on a terrific form for his new employers, scoring 16 goals in 20 La Liga appearances, whilst the Catalans are struggling to play without a real center-forward.
Nonetheless, the Uruguayan is yet to score a goal in his four Champions League appearances, and will therefore be looking to hit his stride when it matters the most, as the Rojiblancos take on Chelsea.
Luis Alberto (Lazio)
Luis Alberto’s rise in the Italian capital saw him becoming one of the best creative midfielders in the country.
But for one reason or another, the former Liverpool man has been mostly overlooked within his home country of Spain.
Thus, the Biancocelesti star will be eager to put on a strong performance against the Champions League winners in order to earn the recognition that he deserves once and for all.
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
Kylian Mbappé and Erling Braut Haaland stole the show last week, so will we see another young gem rising to the occasion this week?
Playing at left back, Alphonso Davies is unlikely to score a hat trick or a spectacular overhead kick, but the Canadian’s strength and pace renders him a thorn in the oppositions’ backs. Lazio’s Manuel Lazzari has a tough task ahead of him on Tuesday.
Christian Romero (Atalanta)
Defenders deserve some love as well. Christian Romero has been a key player for Atalanta on the biggest of occasions, putting up especially solid performances against both Inter and Milan.
In the absence of Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard, Real Madrid will have some problems up-front, and in the presence of the young Argentine at the back, the Italians do have a genuine chance of coming out of the first leg without conceding too many goals at home.
İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City)
Although Manchester City are blessed with a crop of extraordinary talented players, the German midfielder has surprisingly become their deadliest scorer in 2021.
The 30-year-old is arguably enjoying the best form of his career, and will be looking to showcase his new-found skills in the Champions League when he takes on his compatriots in Borussia Monchengladbach.
Click on this link to read our full preview and expected lineups for this week’s UCL action.