The 2021-22 Champions League Review and Awards

The 2021-22 Champions League Review and Awards

George Burke (Work Experience Student from Harrogate College), May 2022

The 2021-22 Champions League campaign has certainly been one to remember. The tournament has had its fair share of shocking moments, out-of-this-world performances, wonder goals, and dramatic endings. 

A staggering 379 goals have been scored across 124 games (pre the highly-anticipated final between Liverpool and Real Madrid). So let’s take a look at the teams and players who have truly shone in this year’s edition of Europe’s top sports competition.

Best Player: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid

What a resurgence the French forward has had in the last few years. Players at the age of 34 are typically slowing down in their career and playing a diminishing role in their team. Not this man. Nicknamed, ‘Karim the Dream’ by some, the Real Madrid number nine has gone on to enjoy the best season of his career statistically speaking. 

Benzema is the focal point of Los Blancos attack, and has scored an unbelievable 15 goals in 11 Champions League games this season. This included two hat tricks against PSG and last year’s champions Chelsea, as well as an outrageous Panenka penalty away at Premier League Winners Man City in the semi-final. 

Many thought that with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the disappearance of Gareth Bale’s form and the age of Benzema, the most prestigious side in Europe would lack that goalscoring threat needed to win trophies. But Benzema has proved all the doubters wrong, leading his team to the final wearing the captain’s armband. 

He is surely a prime contender for the Ballon D’or later this year.

Other Nominees Include: Mohammed Salah (Liverpool), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Thibault Courtois (Real Madrid)

Breakout Player: Arnaut Danjuma, Villareal

Followers of England’s second tier competition, The Championship already knew all about this Dutchman’s capabilities from his prolific goalscoring form last term for Bournemouth. But the whole footballing world is now talking about Arnaut Danjuma after having a dream start to life in the Champions League. 

Since joining the Yellow Submarine, Villareal, for £25 million last year, the Holland International has scored six goals as his side reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2006. Danjuma’s performances against the likes of Atalanta, Juventus and Bayern Munich have been crucial to Villareal’s journey and Europe’s top clubs are now watching his every move. It’s always a risk to buy players from the Championship and chuck them straight into the deep end of the Champions League, but this risk has very much paid off.

Other Nominees Include: Darwin Nunez (Benfica), Antony (Ajax), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Jurrien Timber (Ajax) 

Surprise Team: Villareal

Whilst many teams have produced extraordinary shocks this campaign, surely there was only ever one winner of this award? Getting to the semi-final of the Champions League for the first time since 2006 was a huge shock itself, but for a moment in the second leg of the semi-final against Liverpool, it looked as though the city with a population of just 50,000 was going to reach the final (indeed, the stadium capacity is larger than the city’s population!). 

The way Villareal reached the semi-final was just as remarkable, as their group-stage campaign looked average with just three wins from six games, finishing second behind the Red Devils, Man United. But as the knockout-stages began, things really took a turn, with last year’s Europa League winners beating Italian giants, Juventus, 4-1 on aggregate. After this they went to the home of the 2020 winners, Bayern Munich and knocked them out which meant they’d secured place in the semi-finals. Their journey would end here against six-time winners, Liverpool but they went out fighting, losing 2-3 in the second leg of the tie. The future certainly looks bright for manager Unai Emery and his men.

Other Nominees : Real Madrid, Benfica, Sheriff, Sporting Lisbon, Ajax

Goal of the Tournament: Thiago Alcantara VS Porto (Group Stage Match Day 5)

This was (and is always) one of the toughest awards to give a winner to. Every year we see stunning long-range strikes, mesmerising solo runs and cerebral team moves. It’s one of the many reasons why the Champions League is such a special tournament. This year was no exception as there were so many fantastic goals that could have received the award. 

An agonising decision, but we’ve given the Goal of the Tournament award to Thiago Alcantara’s elegant screamer against Porto in the group-stage. The ball falls to the Spanish magician from a Porto defender’s head and makes first time contact with the ball, as it satisfyingly swerves in the air and on the ground, nutmegging a Porto player and placing right into the bottom corner. The keeper had absolutely no chance!

Other Nominees : Cristiano Ronaldo’s late-levelling volley VS Atalanta, Karim Benzema’s audacious Panenka penalty VS Man City, Sebastien Thill’s Thrilling Volley VS Real Madrid, Jordan Henderson’s captain-finish vs AC Milan.

Most Shocking Moment: Sheriff Take all Three points Away at Real Madrid

Possibly the biggest upset in Champions League history occurred on match day two of the group stage as Moldovan champions, Sheriff went to the historic home of record 13-time champions, Real Madrid and took home all three points with a last-gasp strike outside the box from holding-midfielder, Sebastien Thill, making the score 2-1 and winning the game for the Tiraspol Club. The score was already shocking enough at 1-1, but one of the goals of the season allowed Sheriff to pick up the biggest win in their club’s history against this season’s finalists. To put how monumental this win was into perspective, by the time Sheriff were founded in 1997, Real Madrid already had one 6 Champions Leagues! One of the craziest ends to a football match ever.

Other Nominees: Rodrygo 2 last-minute goals VS Man City, Villareal knocking out Bayern Munich, Nkunku’s hat-trick VS Man City, Barcelona dropping into the Europa League, Benzema hat-trick knocking out PSG in the Round-Of-16.

Biggest Let Down: PSG

It seems like every year we hear the same story. For all the money PSG have spent on players, (over €1.41 billion in the last decade), they never seem to turn up when it matters. At the start of the year many believed the Parisian club to be favourites to win the competition, especially with their acquisition of Lionel Messi. But no, once again PSG have shown the world that money can’t buy you everything! 

When the knockout-stages were drawn, everyone looked at the tie between the French champions and Real Madrid and expected PSG to go through relatively comfortably with the strength and depth of their squad. But that is not at all what happened, as they showed a complete lack of a team mentality, absolutely capitulating in the second half of the second leg. Karim Benzema bagged a hat-trick, sending the Spanish Champions through to the next round. The only players who turned up at all during the tie were the future Ballon D’or winner, Kylian Mbappe, who helped himself to two goals and Neymar, who for once was fit enough to play the tie. PSG are the biggest example of how money doesn’t fix all your problems!

Other Nominees: Barcelona, Man United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan

Best Game: Real Madrid 2-3 Chelsea (Real Madrid win 5-4 on aggregate)

Again, this is another award that seems impossible to narrow down a winner. This year’s edition of the Europe’s top Sports Competition did not at all lack in having drama filled, high scoring, quality football matches. 

In the end, we decided to give the award to Real Madrid VS Chelsea in the second leg of the quarter finals. After the Galacticos cruised past last year’s winners 3-1 away at Stamford Bridge thanks to another insane Karim Benzema hat-trick, we all believed that Chelsea were down and out. That’s how it transpired in the end, but Chelsea gave it a very good shot to try and win the tie. 

Inside the first 15 minute, England International, Mason Mount ran inside the box and placed the ball in the back of the net after just two touches. Five minutes into the second half, Chelsea’s brute of a centre half, Antonio Rudiger, met Mount’s corner with a bullet header and smashed the ball past Thibault Courtois to level the tie. After many failed attempts, Real Madrid couldn’t seem to put the tie to bed and with 15 minutes to go found themselves on the back foot. 

But with all the space in the world, £50 million man, Timo Werner, ran into the box past two incoming defenders, netting the fourth in the tie for Chelsea, as they lead for the first time in the tie. At the 80 minute mark, Chelsea gave the ball away to Luka Modric, who played a magnificent cross into Brazilian showboat, Vinicius Junior. Junior buried the ball with a first-time volley, leaving Eduard Mendy with no chance. 

With the game looking like it could head to extra time, Chelsea had one final opportunity to win the game from Mason Mount, who blasted it just over the bar. The game now in extra time, Vinicius Junior flew down the left wing and crossed it into the box. Who else should it fall to but Karim Benzema? Benzema fired his third header against Chelsea into the bottom left corner to put Los Blancos back into lead. They managed to hold out for the final 25 minutes and punch their tickets to the semi-finals. An absolute emotional rollercoaster of a game!

Other Nominees Include: Man City 4-3 Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool, Juventus 0-3 Villareal, Atalanta 2-3 Villareal

What a tournament it has been. Another year of unbelievable football matches and some of the best games and moments we’ve ever seen in the competition. After the final tonight in Paris, it’s going to be a long wait until the group-stages begin again in September!