Top 5 European clubs to watch out for in 2020-21

Bhargav
Bayern Munich are one of the teams to beat in 2020-21.
Bayern Munich are one of the teams to beat in 2020-21.

#3 Leipzig

Leipzig
Leipzig

Last season's surprise Champions League semifinalist Leipzig could be one of the clubs to look forward to again in 2020-21.

Despite losing their prolific striker Timo Werner at the start of the season, Leipzig have won three of their opening four Bundesliga games of the season to top the table ahead of defending champions Bayern Munich.

Under their young manager Julian Nagelsmann, Leipzig play an enterprising brand of direct, attacking football and are unafraid of taking the game to more fancied and illustrious oppositions.

Last season, Leipzig came within one of reaching the Champions League final in their debut season in the competition, but their inexperience showed as Paris St. Germain ran out comfortable 3-0 winners on the night.

For a club that was founded in 2009 and has come through four promotions, it has been quite the journey for Leipzig as they look to rub shoulders with the biggest clubs in the continent.

Leipzig would fancy their chances of qualifying from a Champions League group containing English giants Manchester, Paris St. Germain and competition debutants Istanbul Basaksehir if they continue to punch above their weight.


#2 Everton

Everton
Everton

Despite pulling off a coup of sorts by snapping up decorated Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti in December last year, Everton finished in the bottom half of the league table last season.

However, in a statement of intent of sorts, the club shelled out over €74 million to acquire the services of center-back Ben Godfrey, central midfielders Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Real Madrid reject James Rodriguez.

With the new arrivals already gelling well in their new surroundings, Everton are currently the surprise leaders of the Premier League after five games. They are leading defending champions Liverpool by three points in the fledgling league table.

Ancelotti's men have the wherewithal to emerge as the dark horses for the Premier League title. However, with no European commitments this season, the club could realistically focus on a top-six finish to return to Europe next season as Everton look to shake up the established order in the English top-flight.


#1 Sevilla

Sevilla
Sevilla

One of the most defensively well-drilled teams in Europe, Sevilla scripted a triumphant campaign in the Europa League last season. They recovered from a goal down to beat Italian giants Inter Milan in a five-goal thriller, landing their sixth title in the competition.

Under Spain and Real Madrid reject Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla are one of the toughest teams to score against or beat in the continent. That is primarily due to their formidable central defensive pairing of Joules Kounde and Diego Carlos, who were plucked out from Ligue 1 at the start of last season.

Led by their inspirational captain Jesus Navas, who flourished in an unfamiliar right-back role last season, Sevilla have exhibited tactical flexibility under Lopetegui.

Despite their defensive solidity, Sevilla suffered from a paucity of goals upfront last season. This is something that the club has looked to address in 2020-21 by acquiring the likes of AC Milan winger Suso, Real Madrid's Oscar Rodriguez and left-winger Oussama Idrissi from AZ Alkmaar.

If the new attacking trio gets going this season, the Andalusian club could challenge the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga while making a deep run in the Champions League.

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Edited by Sai Krishna