Newcomers and long-absent clubs freshen up Champions League

A growing group of newcomers and long-absent clubs is giving Champions League a fresh look this season.

32-team lineup in Thursday’s draw includes at least three group-st debutants and ar club which had t qualified since 1990s.

In most years just one or two first-timers join likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid competing for international club soccer’s biggest prize.

list of fresh faces this time does t even include clubs quickly breaking into Europe’s elite -- Atalanta was a quarterfinalist in its debut last season, and Leipzig reached semifinals in just its second entry.

Champions League looks less predictable and more open at a time when some storied clubs want to close door on challengers from outside established order.

UEFA must soon re-open talks about reforming its club competitions -- taking effect in 2024-25 season -- with a stated goal to “keep dream alive’’ for teams in all 55 member countries.

This season’s Champions League will put new dreamers on center st.

RENNES

In 66th season of a competition formerly kwn as European Cup, Rennes will play its first game at this level.

Rennes rode its luck. A best-ever French league finish of third was sealed on a points-per-game aver when season ended with 10 rounds left because of coronavirus pandemic.

That earned Rennes a place in Champions League qualifying needing to beat two opponents to reach groups. Rennes was lifted up directly because Europa League was won by Sevilla, which already qualified as Spain’s fourth-place team.

It’s a reward for long-time Rennes owner, who might be richest businessman at a Champions League team this season.

François Pinault is in world’s 30 richest billionaires ranked by Forbes magazine, far ahead of Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich outside top 100.

Ar standout personality at Rennes is midfielder Eduardo Camavinga , Angola-born France international who will turn 18 during group st.

ISTANBUL BASAKSEHIR

Turkey’s new champion might be most unfamiliar club in Thursday’s draw.

team w kwn as Istanbul Başakşehir was formed 30 years ago out of a three-club merger, but took its current name only in 2014. That followed a promotion back into top league and being taken over by Turkish sports ministry.

Istanbul Başakşehir has struggled to find popularity and a strong identity in a city with passionate, long-time rivalries between Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. team struggles to fill its 17,000-capacity stadium far from city center.

On field, Başakşehir has got help from signing international veterans with time spent in Europe’s big-5 leagues: Martin Skrtel, Nacer Chadli and Demba Ba are on current roster.

FERENCVAROS

Ferencváros returns to Champions League group st after a 25-year gap as Hungary’s first qualifier since Debrecen lost all six games in 2009.

Adfter navigating four qualifying rounds, Ferencváros will be lowest-ranked team in draw -- . 135 in UEFA standings calculated by European results over five previous seasons.

Much credit goes to coach Serhiy Rebrov, former Dynamo Kyiv and Tottenham forward who has won Hungarian league title in each of his first two seasons.

Ferencváros is ar club with government support. It’s 22,000-seat stadium was state-funded and club chairman, Gábor Kubatov, is a lawmaker and campaign leader in ruling Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

KRASDAR or PAOK SSALONIKI

A Russian debutant or a Russian-owned Greek club absent from competition since before European Cup became Champions League in 1992.

Krasdar takes a 2-1 lead from first leg in Russia to ssaloniki for return game on Wednesday.

Founded as recently in 2008, one year before Leipzig, Krasdar is in Champions League playoff round for second straight year. Its 36-year-old coach Murad Musayev even w has full UEFA qualification .

Funded by retail billionaire Sergey Galitsky, Krasdar would be better kwn if its impressive 35,000-seat stadium had been picked as a 2018 World Cup venue.

PAOK’s owner Ivan Savvidis got his share of headlines for entering pitch with a holstered gun at a game in 2018.

PAOK twice played in old European Cup era as Greek champion, last time in 1985. Its third title last year merely led to a third recent exit against Ajax in Champions League qualifying rounds.

Ar Champions League debutant could join group later Wednesday. Denmark's champion Midtjylland hosts Slavia Prague after a 0-0 draw in first leg.

Im credits: AP

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