This edition, with its new format, the Champions League has the participation of several Moroccan stars, including Achraf Hakimi, Amine Adli, Eliesse Ben Seghir, and many others.
No fewer than 12 Moroccan internationals are participating in this edition of the Champions League, which features a new format with 36 teams.
The first day of the group stage of the European Champions League began yesterday with many matches, including the meeting of Ismael Saibari’s PSV Eindhoven against Juventus (1-3).
In addition, Saibari opened the Moroccan players’ goal counter in the competition, despite his club’s defeat. The Atlas Lion managed to score in the third minute of added time.
Coming into play in the 62nd minute, the Moroccan player became the first African and Moroccan to score in the new version of the Champions League. The 23-year-old Moroccan player completed 8 passes out of 13 attempts, and scored his team’s only goal. For his part, his compatriot Couhaib Driouech did not take part in the match.
Although he did not take part in his team’s match, Adam Aznou was a spectator of Bayern Munich’s victory against Samy Mmaee’s Dinamo Zagreb (9-2).
Real Madrid also played against Stuttgart on Tuesday (3-1) but had to do without the services of Brahim Diaz who is suffering from an injury sustained during the Liga match against Real Sociedad.
This Wednesday, Achraf Hakimi and Oussama El Azzouzi will make their debut with their respective clubs, Paris Saint-Germain, who will face Girona, and Bologna FC, who will cross swords with Shakhtar Donetsk.
For their part, Amine Adli’s Bayer Leverkusen will enter the competition tomorrow, Thursday, against Feyenoord. After an unbeaten season, Xabi Alonso’s men will hope to surprise and reach the European summits this year.
AS Monaco, with Eliesse Ben Seghir, will face FC Barcelona this Thursday in what promises to be one of the best games of the day, while Ibrahim Salah and Stade Brestois will face Sturm Graz.
As a reminder, only the first eight teams will qualify directly, while those ranked between 9th and 24th place will have to play in play-offs.
