UEFA Champions League 2020: The Year of the Underdogs
By Kolade Sodiq

It has been five months since the UEFA Champions League 2020 was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic but the action is set to resume tonight. There has been quite a number of changes within that period as football had to adapt to some unusual changes enforced by COVID-19.

Apart from the fact that the second leg of Round 16 would be played in early August; a time when pre-season football used to be played, teams will also have to play without fans. Among other things, UEFA also tweaked the competition to involve a single game per round instead of the usual two-legged tie. These, among many other reasons, are why this season's UCL is dubbed "The season of the Underdogs".

No longer will inexperienced players have to crumble under the pressure of playing in front of thousands of fans in the greatest club competition. Players like Ronaldo, Ramos, and Messi have succeeded in this competition several times over. However, we have seen Manchester City, PSG, and Atletico Madrid's players crumble time and again when it mattered most. With just one leg of football to contend with and no opposition fans to get in their heads, there is no better time for these teams to win the trophy they crave the most.

The undisputed favourite of this competition is Bayern Munich. With the Bundesliga and the German Cup in the bag, and with arguably the best player of 2019/2020 season in Robert Lewandowski, the German team are better placed than any other team. Bayern plays the second leg of round 16 against Chelsea at the Allianz Arena tomorrow after winning 3-0 away from home. Having scored 11 goals in the competition already, Lewandowski would look to add to his tally as he chases Ronaldo's record of 17 goals in a single UCL campaign. He would also look to win the UCL for the first time in his illustrious career.

Manchester City has had an underwhelming campaign so far. The team has failed to defend the Premier League and the FA Cup this season despite winning the Carabao Cup in February. City's star-studded team are now presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to win the UCL this season with several top teams underperforming and last season's defending champions out of the competition. However, they have to overcome a Ramos-less Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium today. Pep Guardiola's men will know that they might never be presented with a better opportunity than this season. They know they won't have to contend with the pressure of both their fans and the opposition's as they face their opponents. They might just be the team that is most suited to this new normal.

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I totally agree with you... I fancy Man-City to get to the final even though they seem to have a tough path