From Tzolis to Sucic: Unknown players to keep an eye on in the Champions League | Champions League

Christos Tzolis (FC Brugge, 22)

In 2021, Norwich had high hopes for the Greek striker, signed for £8.8m from Paok Saloniki. Tzolis began his career at Carrow Road with two goals and a couple of assists in a 6-0 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup, but was rarely in the starting line-up after that. Dismissed as a flop, he was loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf last summer. The tricky and quick left winger blossomed, finishing as the 2. Bundesliga's top scorer with 22 goals and almost leading his club to promotion. Fortuna did not have the financial means to keep Tzolis with the £3m option to buy, but it made sense to exercise it in order to sell him on for a nice profit. Club Brugge were delighted to get him and Tzolis has made a bright start in Belgium.

Vladan Kovacevic (Sporting, 26)

For three years, Kovacevic was the best goalkeeper in the Polish Ekstraklasa at Rakow Czestochowa, helping the modest club to a historic league title in 2023. Blessed with phenomenal instincts and keeping his cool under pressure, the Bosnian is capable of stunning and decisive saves – such as a last-minute penalty against Rubin Kazan in the 2021 Conference League qualifiers. Rakow played in the Europa League group stage last season and Sporting were impressed by his performances in the two games against them. They signed him this summer as a replacement for the experienced Antonio Adán.

Martin Vitik (Sparta Prague, 21)

The Czech centre-back, who played just one game at Euro 2024, would have loved to play for Bologna in the Champions League this season, but Sparta's sporting director Tomas Rosicky rejected the offer, claiming his club needed to keep its best players. Tall, very physical but quite confident on the ball, Vitik has been considered a top talent since breaking into Sparta's senior team in 2020. As a Milan fan, he was delighted to play against The Rossoneri back then. Now he faces Inter at the San Siro.

Enzo Millot (VfB Stuttgart, 22)

Millot grew up in Monaco's academy but didn't get a chance to prove himself in Ligue 1. His move to Stuttgart in the summer of 2021 proved to be phenomenal. Although many in France saw him as a step back, he overcame a serious injury to prove himself last season. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß made him a regular starter, gave him freedom of movement and Millot developed into one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga. Compared by some to Dani Olmo, he knows how to find space, is difficult to mark and defends quite tenaciously.

Otar Kiteishvili (Sturm Graz, 28)

Georgian football is in vogue after Euro 2024 and last Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the Nations League. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Georges Mikautadze grab the headlines, but Kiteishvili, a versatile midfielder, is playing in the Champions League. Last season he was voted player of the season in Austria as his team won the title and ended decades of dominance by Red Bull Salzburg. He is everywhere on the pitch, combining playmaking with tireless work without the ball. Sturm fans adore him, and there was cause for celebration when Kiteishvili signed a new contract rather than opting for a huge salary in Qatar.

Romain Del Castillo (Brest, 28)

Brest are arguably the most surprising team in the Champions League after finishing third in Ligue 1. Del Castillo was their best player during a magical season, scoring eight goals and eight assists and delighting fans with his incredibly inventive style. The Lyon Academy graduate was considered injury-prone and inconsistent but developed into a true star. Blessed with great ball control in tight spaces, somewhat reminiscent of Jamal Musiala, he is a great dribbler but also selfless and always on the lookout for a pass. Can he steal the spotlight against Real Madrid and Barcelona?

Adam Daghim (Red Bull Salzburg, 18)

Salzburg made positive headlines in the Champions League last season with a very young squad that included Israeli playmaker Oscar Gloukh and Danish midfield powerhouse Maurits Kjærgaard. Now an even younger star is hoping to make his mark. Daghim, a Dane of Lebanese and Libyan descent, was bought from AGF Aarhus, where he became the youngest player in the club's history. After a season at second division farm club Liefering, he was promoted to the first team and scored a great Robben-style goal in the qualifiers against Dynamo Kyiv. He is powerfully built and can play as a centre-forward, but Salzburg mostly uses his speed and ball control on the right wing.

Petar Sucic (Dinamo Zagreb, 20)

Speaking of Salzburg, one of their biggest stars, Luka Sucic, was sold to Real Sociedad this summer and will not play in the Champions League. However, the focus should be on his cousin Petar Sucic, who is making rapid progress at Dinamo. Sucic prefers to play deeper in midfield than Luka, making precise passes or attacking from the back. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was delighted with Sucic's move after he played for Bosnia and Herzegovina at youth level. After Sucic's debut against Portugal in the Nations League last week, Dalic said: “I believe he is the successor to Marcelo Brozovic.” It is a huge challenge, but the young player could be up to it.