Ending in a win for Bayern Munich against Paris Saint-Germain, and therefore securing their second European treble, this UCL season truly had it all. Upsets, big stars, dark horses, and disappointments was all in store this past season.
What made this year so great exactly: Football that highlighted raw talent and excitement all the way through.
What better way to end the season than with a final that surely lived up to the hype, especially after last year’s lackluster matchup between Liverpool and Tottenham. Bayern did not cave, and because of that, kept good form until Kingsley Coman showed up big for them in the second half, who Flick put faith in after Perisic was left on the bench for the finale. Big stars had big chances, and this game had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats.
Who would have expected two Farmers’ Leagues to compose the final four of this year, nonetheless two teams who were seemingly doomed heading into the quarterfinals? Lyon and RB Leipzig put on a show, and I loved watching them all the way through the group stage. Don’t forget about the high scoring Atalanta, who under stars in Alejandro Gomez, Duvan Zapata, and others, they really made huge strides in the European competition that had everyone rooting for them.
This year brought out the best in some players the world has not seen yet: Alphonso Davies, Vinicius Jr., Ansu Fati, among others. These young talents really never had the chance to shine in their domestic competitions, but they truly stepped up for their clubs on the big stage and put a couple goals in the back of the net, while contributing to their squads and creating frequent chances. The world can’t wait to see these players become household names when talking about the Champions League.
And finally, with all the glory football has to offer, there are some heartbreaking defeats in the end. PSG’s loss in the finals after having Neymar all the way until the end for the first time, Bayern’s thrashing of Barca (and therefore Messi’s going away party), and don’t forget; Chelsea’s action packed battle with the young Ajax team. Ronaldo was crushed after not making it past Lyon, and moves such as Timo Werner led to the defeat of others.
What a year it has been, and what a future the next generation has to offer. Best part — the next season starts tomorrow!
Image: Goal.com
