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As usual, with the conclusion of the preliminary round of the UEFA Champions League, there have been a number of eye-catching performances from several unexpected players.
While some youngsters staked their claim in Europe's premier club competition, others could not help their teams avoid an early exit from this season's Champions League.
Some of the continent's biggest teams have made their way out of the tournament after a series of poor showings in the group stage. Teams like FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla have been eliminated from the competition along with their hugely talented players.
In contrast, teams like Red Bull Salzburg, Lille, Ajax and Sporting Lisbon have found the required level to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
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Here is a list of 5 players who significantly surprised everyone in the group stage of this season's UEFA Champions League.
#5 Antony (Ajax)
Brazilian youngster Antony was a key member of Erik Ten Hag's record-breaking Ajax side that won all their matches in a group that contained Borussia Dortmund, Besiktas and Sporting Lisbon.
The 21-year-old winger joined the club in 2020 from Sao Paulo and quickly established himself as an important player. His performances in the Champions League this season, however, have elevated his ratings in the football world.
Antony formed a deadly partnership with Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller as Ajax breezed through the group stage. The Brazilian international assisted Haller three times, the most any two players combined for goals in the group stage this season.
Antony scored two goals and contributed four assists in just five appearances in the Champions League group stage this season.
#4 Karim Adeyemi (RB Salzburg)
In Karim Adeyemi, Red Bull Salzburg seem to have unearthed another gem destined for the very top of world football. Still only 19 years old, the German international striker scored three goals and created two assists in six appearances in the Champions League this season. He also won four penalties for his side.
Adeyemi played an important role for the Austrian club as they reached the Round of 16 of the Champions League for the first time in their history. Salzburg are the first club from Austria to reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.
Like Sadio Mane, Erling Haaland and Patson Daka before him, Adeyemi is expected to move on to bigger things from Salzburg very shortly.
#3 Pedro Goncalves (Sporting Lisbon)
Sporting Lisbon have performed admirably in the Champions League group stage this season. How often do you easily replace a player who scored 63 goals and contributed 52 assists in 137 club appearances? Sporting Lisbon certainly did so in some style.
After the sale of Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United, Sporting moved to sign Pedro Goncalves from Famalicao in 2020. Immediately, the attacker scored 23 goals and contributed assists in 32 appearances to lead them to a first title since 2001/02.
In the UEFA Champions League this season, Goncalves scored four goals and recorded two assists in four appearances in the competition. Sporting Lisbon reached the knockout stage of the competition for the first time since 2008/09.
The 23-year-old forward helped his side overcome Borussia Dortmund and Besiktas in their group to qualify for the Round of 16 alongside Ajax.
#2 Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid's Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr has come to life for the club this season. The 21-year-old winger has consistently delivered for Real Madrid this season alongside club captain Karim Benzema.
Vinicius Jr scored two goals and contributed four assists in six appearances in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League this season. Two of his assists were for Benzema, the second-most number of times two players combined to score for a team.
The Brazilian helped Real Madrid overcome the early setback they faced after a shock defeat to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol and top their group comfortably. He won two man-of-the-match awards in the group stage of the competition and was one of the best players in the group stage for any team.
#1 Sebastien Haller (Ajax)
Undoubtedly, the man who took the group stage of the UEFA Champions League by storm this season was Sebastien Haller. The 27-year-old Ivorian striker sent multiple records crashing in his debut campaign in the competition.
Haller scored ten goals and added two assists in only six appearances for Ajax in the group stage. The striker was erroneously left out of the squad for last season's Europa League after his move from West Ham. He quickly made up for lost time by scoring four times on his Champions League debut.
Haller became the first player to score in each of his first six appearances in the competition. He is also the second player to score in each group stage match after Cristiano Ronaldo.
