A New Challenger Approaches (in the Champions League)
The Champions League is looking a little different next year
Champions League qualification, for some clubs it is seen as an inevitability, therefore they are deeply disappointed when they don’t achieve it and criticise others for celebrating something they see as a basic achievement.
However, for some teams, qualifying for Europe’s top competition is unexpected and deserves praise. A goal that was outside of their wildest dreams when the season commenced.
And if you’re a fan that enjoys an ‘underdog story’, this season has provided an example in each of Europe’s top five leagues. And we’re going to take a look at each of them in this instalment of Played on Paper:
Newcastle (Premier League)
Last appearance in the Champions League - Second Group Stage (2002/03)
When the season began, many expected that Newcastle would improve on last season’s 11th-placed finish, but no one expected them to finish in the top four and qualify for Europe’s top competition (despite now being backed by the riches of Saudi Arabia which slightly undermines the underdog narrative).
They were helped by the poor form of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea (especially Chelsea) but they also played excellently throughout the campaign.
The players they have brought in since last January have been significant, including Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak and allowed them to go from relegation candidates to European challengers.
But it has been their form against the big teams that have secured their place in the top four this season.
Howe spent time watching Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and this was clear to see in the bigger games; Newcastle often went out of their way to frustrate their opposition in a way the Argentinian manager would be proud of.
They will need to upgrade their squad in the summer to manage the extra games and maintain their good form into the 2023/24 campaign, but that won’t be on the minds of the fans currently, they will be looking forward to European football next season for the first time since 2012.
RC Lens (Ligue 1)
Last appearance in the Champions League - First Group Stage (2002/23)
It has been 20 years since RC Lens heard the Champions League anthem rung out around the Estadio Bollaert-Delelis.
Phillip Heise has done an excellent job at the helm and coached his side to an impressive 24 wins in Ligue 1, with the team finishing second behind Paris Saint Germain.
But while Heise and his side should be celebrated (htomufc did a great video which you can watch here), I think a lot of the plaudits should be directed to now former Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi (Nice have done well to poach him).
Ghisolfi’s transfer' strategy saw the club identify and bring in the likes of Facundo Medina, Seko Fofana, Lois Openda, Brice Samba and Kevin Danso who have formed the core of this Champions League qualifying side.
All of these players were undervalued and under the radar. Now, if Lens were to sell them, they would receive a significant markup on what they paid, but Lens will likely try and keep hold of as many as possible as they try to maintain their form next season.
Real Sociedad (La Liga)
Last appearance in the Champions League - Group Stage (2013/14)
One of the historically stronger sides here, but Sociedad’s qualification to the Champions League still shouldn’t be scoffed at.
Sociedad last appeared in the Champions League during the 2013/14 season, dragged there by Antoine Griezmann before the French forward eventually left for Atletico Madrid the following year.
They spent the subsequent years building themselves back up, finishing in the Europa League places multiple times before eventually finishing 4th this season.
Like Newcastle, they were helped by the poor form of Villarreal (at the start of the year) and Sevilla especially, but this shouldn’t undermine their achievement.
Sociedad managed an impressive defensive record, conceding the 3rd least goals in the league (34) behind Barcelona (18) and Atletico (31). A big reason for this was defender Robin Le Normand who has been one of the best players in the league this season, and I think they will have to field some transfer offers for him this summer.
Lazio (Serie A)
Last appearance in the Champions League - Round of 16 (2020/21)
Another one of the stronger teams on this list, Maurizio Sarri has exceeded expectations this season by finishing in the top four with Lazio this season.
Some may say that Juventus’ points deduction did help them, but with 71 points so far, I think it’s safe to say that they deserved their place in Europe’s top competition next season.
I have spoken at length about my love for Sarrismo in the past in this very newsletter (you can read it here) and I think the main reason for Lazio’s success this season is that his brand of football has fully clicked with the team.
This means they have managed to qualify for the Champions League despite their deadly number nine and regular golden boot winner Ciro Immobile only managing 12 league goals this campaign.
The ‘Everybody Eats’ policy is being enforced in the Italian capital, with the main benefactors being Sergej Milinkovic Savic, Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni.
The team is getting older and there will likely be a lot of big decisions regarding key names this summer, so it still isn’t clear whether they will be able to capitalise on the foundations they’ve built this season, but they can be happy that they have qualified for the CL ahead of their city rivals Roma at least.
Union Berlin
Last appearance in the Champions League: N/A
In 2019, Union Berlin earned promotion to the German first division for the first time in their history, now in 2023 they will make their inaugural appearance in the Champions League after finishing 4th in the Bundesliga.
Union had the joint-best defensive record in the league with Bayern Munich and given they ranked in the bottom half of the league for goals scored, this undoubtedly contributed to their finish.
They also maintained their form in the league despite reaching the Round of 16 in the Europa League, showing that Urs Fischer’s squad can manage the fixture congestion.
They do need to improve their squad, however.
Sheraldo Becker was Union’s top scorer in all competitions with 12 goals and to compete on multiple fronts next year, I believe they need to sign a more reliable and consistent goalscorer.
They also need to keep hold of players like Danilho Doekhl who has been an ever-present entity at the back while also contributing five goals. Multiple European teams have already been linked with a move for the 24-year-old.