2022–23 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Retrospective

Welcome to the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League Retrospective. With the Round of 16 over, I wanted to take a look at the eight eliminated clubs and rank them based on their outlook for 2023–24. Which clubs could shake off this disappointment and contend next season? Which clubs will be in the wilderness for a while? Let’s find out.

Club Brugge

Fate: Lost 7–1 on aggregate to SL Benfica

Most Recent Domestic Result: 1–0 loss to Kortrijk, 5th in Belgian Pro League (Qualification for Belgian Pro League Playoff II, where best case scenario is Europa League playoff round)

Notable Players: Hans Vanaken, Tajon Buchanan (pictured), Noa Lang

Former New England Revolution player Tajon Buchanan has flourished while at Club Brugge, which is great news for the Canada Men’s National Soccer Team. Image Credit: TSN

A lot of things went their way, many of which through their own merit but also through the underperforming nature of clubs in their Champions League group (looking at you, Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen). Now it’s been Club Brugge underperforming in their domestic league. Club Brugge getting as far as they did in this season’s Champions League is important for Belgian football to grow in their reputation, but it could be a few seasons before that feat is replicated. Some of their younger players such as Buchanan and Lang will likely be transfer targets by bigger clubs in the summer.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Fate: Lost 5–0 on aggregate to Napoli

Most Recent Domestic Result: 2–0 loss to Union Berlin, 6th in Bundesliga (Europa Conference League)

Notable Players: Randal Kolo Muani (pictured), Evan Ndicka, Jesper Lindstrom, Daichi Kamada

France have no shortage of options for any poisition, but Randal Kolo Muani’s goalscoring record this season for Eintracht Frankfurt put him on their radar. Image Credit: Bavarian Football Works

Frankfurt qualified for the Champions League by winning last season’s Europa League despite a mid table Bundesliga campaign. Right now despite some talented players, this is still a midtable outfit. Similarly to Club Brugge, many of their key players are coveted by bigger clubs. That’s a tough position to be in when the biggest German club Bayern Munich regularly harvests the best of the rest in the Bundesliga. However, a season in one of the lower European competitions wouldn’t be the worst fate as they’ve already proven to excel there.

RB Leipzig

Fate: Lost 8–1 on aggregate to Manchester City

Most Recent Domestic Result: 1–0 loss to Bochum, 5th in Bundesliga (Europa League)

Notable Players: Dominik Szoboszlai, Josko Gvardiol (pictured), Andre Silva, David Raum, Christopher Nkunku

Josko Gvardiol is considered by some fans to be one of the best center backs in the world this season, so it’s hard to envision him sticking around RB Leipzig. Image Credit: 90min

This is the “we have PSG at home” club. This project looked like it was going to hit that next level a few seasons back when they reached the Champions League semi finals (albeit in the minimized post covid format) but it feels things are stagnating. That’s not good when the product on the pitch was relied upon to balance out being the most hated club in Germany. As a result, no one will feel sorry for their lack of success domestically or in Europe. That “us against the world” mentality will be the key to getting back on track. Josko Gvardiol is unlikely to stick around Leipzig next season (and Christopher Nkunku is set to join Chelsea), but if the Red Bull conveyor belt of talent can keep going, they’ll bounce back.

FC Porto

Fate: Lost 1–0 on aggregate to Inter Milan

Most Recent Domestic Result: 0–0 draw with Braga, 2nd in Liga Portugal (Champions League Qualification)

Notable Players: Diogo Costa, Mehdi Taremi, Otavio

Mehdi Taremi’s goalscoring form for FC Porto has been feast or famine this season, but he’s still one of many solid players for the Portuguese giants. Image Credit: Reuters

The last few Champions League campaigns have seen at least one Portuguese team make it to the Quarter Finals, and Porto were so close to making it two. Instead they’ll have to look on from a distance as rivals SL Benfica try to go one step better. To make matters worse, Benfica have a 10 point lead in Liga Portugal. The only consolation is 2nd place still means qualification for the Champions League group stage. Portuguese clubs can’t prevent all of their players from moving on at some point, but I think the World Cup happening in the middle of the season could help Porto. This will decrease the hype for the likes of Iran International Mehdi Taremi and increase the odds of him staying around Estádio do Dragão for another campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur

Fate: Lost 1–0 on aggregate to AC Milan

Most Recent Domestic Result: 3–3 draw with Southampton, 4th in Premier League (Champions League Qualification)

Notable Players: Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Dejan Kulusevski

Harry Kane is in the conversations for many inidividual records and accolades, but his desire for trophies might see his future at Tottenham come to an end at some point. Image Credit: Sky Sports

Without knowing who the next Tottenham manager will be, it’s hard to project how Tottenham will do. They’ve managed to keep Harry Kane happy and in North London this long, but will England’s all time top goal scorer continue to be loyal or will he finally make a move that can net him silverware? The goal production outside of Harry Kane has been disappointing this season, with Son Heung-min among those who struggled. The Premier League table suggests Spurs have a good chance of qualifying for the Champions League, but they’ll have a huge battle on their hands with Newcastle United and the next club I’ll talk about.

Liverpool

Fate: Lost 6–2 on aggregate to Real Madrid

Most Recent Domestic Result: 1–0 loss to Bournemouth, 6th in Premier League (Possible Conference League)

Notable Players: Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez

Signing Mohamed Salah to a contract with hefty wages was a necessary decision for Liverpool to maintain their talisman, but will it work out ahead of the next few seasons? Image Credit: FIFA.com

Similarly with Tottenham, the manager is a key ingredient to forecasting Liverpool’s future. Jurgen Klopp is instrumental to Liverpool’s rise and success, including winning their most recent Champions League title. He is also great at getting the most out of his transfers, helping the likes of Virgil van Dijk go from great Southampton player to a generational level center back at his peak. That magic hasn’t quite worked on Darwin Núñez yet, but he has improved over the course of the season. If mainstays such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah can replicate their form from seasons past, Liverpool can come back stronger next season. Liverpool paid Salah a massive contract though, and at 30 years old, his future at Anfield is somewhat uncertain.

Borussia Dortmund

Fate: Lost 2–1 on aggregate to Chelsea

Most Recent Domestic Result: 6–1 win over Koln, 1st in Bundesliga (1 point lead)

Notable Players: Jude Bellingham, Nico Schlotterbeck, Raphael Guerreiro, Youssoufa Moukoko, Karim Adeyemi

Whether he plays for Borussia Dortmund or another big European club next season, Jude Bellingham is one of the most exciting and talented young players in the football world. Image Credit: BVB Buzz.

At the risk of this aging poorly, there is something different about Borussia Dortmund this season. I could be eating my words as soon as this weekend when they take on Bayern Munich in a potential Bundesliga decider. Slim margins have determined this club’s status as a good but not great club, with the stigma of being unable to stop Bayern’s Bundesliga dominance over the last decade looming over them. Jude Bellingham is the next young superstar that could be involved in a transfer tug of war this summer with Liverpool and Real Madrid among their suitors. There’s no doubt Dortmund will be in the Champions League next season, but if Edin Terzić can lead them there with a Bundesliga title, they will be bonafide Champions League contenders rather than hopefuls.

Paris Saint-Germain

Fate: Lost 3–0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich

Most Recent Domestic Result: 2–0 loss to Rennes, 1st in Ligue 1 (7 point lead)

Notable Players: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Marco Verratti, Marquinhos

Lionel Messi has done more than enough to rightfully be considered the best player the sport has ever seen, but it wouldn’t hurt adding another Champions League trophy to his collection. Image Credit: Daily Post Nigeria

PSG have the most resources to put themselves in the best position to win the UEFA Champions League out of any of these clubs, yet they manage to stay in their own way. A lot depends on which direction the board wants to go with this club’s project, over a decade without winning the Champions League which has been their ultimate goal since the Qatari takeover. Combining Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar, 3 of the top 5 players in the world at their best, hasn’t been the Exodia level win condition that they expected. The midfield, defense, and goalkeepers have some notable names as well, but the depth is lacking compared to clubs like Bayern and Real Madrid that are goliaths with the Champions League success PSG lacked. There’s also questions about whether Christophe Galthier is the right manager for the job. This is a crucial summer ahead for the Parisians.

Which of these clubs do you hope will be involved in the Champions League next season, and how far do you think they’ll go? Can any of these eight with this coveted title in the near future! Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @IvanOrnelas2 and be sure to check out my latest chapter of The Beautiful Game series.