Bayern Munich and German winger Serge Gnabry will miss the opening match of his side's UEFA Champions League title defence after he tested positive for the global virus, the Bundesliga giants confirmed via a short statement on Tuesday.

“Serge Gnabry, 25, has tested positive for (the virus). The FC Bayern attacker is otherwise in good health and is self-isolating at home,�?the statement read.

It was the reigning European champions�?first case of the global virus in the squad and rules Gnabry out of Wednesday's Champions League group stage opener against Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena.

The Bavarians�?statement didn’t clarify whether Gnabry’s positive test would impact any other member of their squad considering that he was a part of the club's training session on Tuesday morning.

ℹ️ Serge Gnabry has tested positive for Covid-19. He is doing well and is currently in quarantine. pic.twitter.com/ZMYliMAiy6

�?FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) October 20, 2020

His teammates are set to undergo further tests on Wednesday morning and even if more players from the squad tested positive, it would not necessarily lead to the game against Atletico being postponed. 

UEFA rules state that games can go ahead as per schedule if a team has 13 available players, including at least one goalkeeper. However, Bayern will be hoping that local authorities don’t ask the entire squad to quarantine.

One of their most influential players in the wide areas, Gnabry will undoubtedly be missed against Atletico. He scored a hat-trick for Bayern in the opening week of the Bundesliga and is likely to be replaced by Douglas Costa, who’s with Bayern on loan from Juventus for his second stint with the German club.

Gnabry’s absence is a second setback in the wide areas for Bayern this season after Leroy Sane had earlier been sidelined due to injury.

Furthermore, the German’s form in the Champions League is something that Bayern will miss. He was sensational for them in Europe’s top continental competition last season, netting nine times and providing two assists.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Christof Stache

The 2020-21 season of the UEFA Champions League is set to get underway from Tuesday and Matchday 1 features plenty of mouthwatering fixtures that pits some of Europe’s heavyweights against each other. With the best players across Europe braced to have a say on the games, expect plenty of goals and excitement.

Here we look at some of the best game-changers who will feature in Matchday 1 and can help your fantasy team score big. 

Player: Erling Haaland 

Team: Borussia Dortmund

Match: Lazio vs Borussia Dortmund

Norway’s Erling Haaland is a simple must-have for your team. The 20-year-old has been in tremendous form since last season and has thrived after joining Borussia Dortmund. He had 10 goals and an assist from eight games in last season’s Champions League and will be the focal point in attack for the German giants.

He’s already bagged five goals from six games for Dortmund in their Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup games this season. Haaland has previously spoken of how much he loves playing in the Champions League and it will take a brave man to bet against him finding the back of the net in Dortmund’s clash against Lazio.   

Player: Lionel Messi

Team: Barcelona

Match: Barcelona vs Ferencvaros

Second in the list of goal-scorers (115 goals) in the competition’s history, Lionel Messi has made no secrets of his desire to win the Champions League once again and you can rest assured that clinching what would be his fifth European title will be high on his list of priorities. He didn’t enjoy the best of Champions League campaigns last season, scoring just thrice in the competition before being humiliated and eliminated by eventual winners Bayern Munich.

Messi, though, will be eager to make amends with the knowledge that his days of winning another European title keeps diminishing with each passing campaign. Despite a slow start to the La Liga campaign that’s seen him net once in four appearances, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Messi were to produce something special under the bright lights of Champions League football.  

Player: Neymar

Team: Paris Saint-Germain

Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester United

Following the heartbreak of defeat in last season’s Champions League final, Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain will be more eager than ever before to lift European football’s holy grail. Even though Neymar’s PSG are in a tough group, they are expected to progress and will want their Brazilian talisman to lead by example.

The last time Manchester United went to Paris, the Red Devils left France with a memorable win to advance in the competition as an injured Neymar watched on helplessly from the sidelines. However, the Brazilian who’s already opened his account for the season in Ligue 1 can be expected to grab the game by the scruff and put United’s fragile defence on the back foot from the outset.  

Player: Andrew Robertson

Team: Liverpool

Match: Ajax vs Liverpool

Liverpool’s marauding left-back has become one of the most sought-after full-backs in football and is a smart choice for your fantasy team. Not only can he get you points for clean sheets, but his ability to consistently gallop down the flanks and produce quality at the end of those runs makes him a massive threat to any opposition.

He provided 12 assists and scored thrice �?including once in the Champions League �?last season and has already bagged a goal this campaign. He already has two assists in the Premier League, making him a prudent choice for any fantasy team owner.

Player: Serge Gnabry

Team: Bayern Munich

Match: Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid

German winger Serge Gnabry played a huge role in Bayern Munich’s Champions League success last season and the 25-year-old will undoubtedly have a big say in the reigning champions�?title defence. He scored 23 goals and provided 14 assists for Bayern in 2019-20.

Nine of those goals for Gnabry came in the Champions League �?a competition that seems to bring the best out of him. Gnabry scored four goals in a group match against Tottenham Hotspur and braces against Chelsea and Lyon in the knockout stages of last season. He’s started this campaign with three goals from six matches and makes for a smart acquisition for all fantasy enthusiasts.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Christof Stache

With a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in this year’s Champions League final, Bayern Munich became the first team in tournament history to win 11 straight games in the competition. While Bavarians set several records en route to the title, the competition also put on some enthralling performances.

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That said, we take a look at five players who exceeded expectations and emerged as one of the top performers of this year’s competition.

Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)

“He was a beast from the first to the last minute,�?coach Julian Nagelsmann explained in the press conference after defender Dayot Upamecano succeeded in keeping Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa quiet for the entirety of their quarter-final round against the Spanish side.

That @RBLeipzig_EN goal will liven things up. Highlight thus far has been watching the outstanding Dayot Upamecano. Massive future ahead for the young French defender. Superb with and without the ball.

�?Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 13, 2020

His performance, however, wasn’t limited to Costa, as he completed his game with a 100 percent tackle rate, won six of his seven duels on the ground, and three of four he had in the air. In eight Champions League appearances this season, Leipzig’s number 5 has averaged 3.1 tackles and 3.4 clearances per game. A vital member for the Leipzig squad under Nagelsmann, Upamecano’s understanding of tricky situations at 21 years of age has attracted comparisons with the former greats like Rio Ferdinand.

The 21-year-old French centre-back has signed a new contract with Leipzig in July, but given the performances he has put in this year’s Champions League, Leipzig are certain to have issues in keeping him at the club. 

Houssem Aouar (Lyon)

Lyon’s run till the semi-finals was exhilarating, to say the least. The French side defied odds to eliminate Juventus before causing the upset against Manchester City in the quarter-finals. A defeat against Bayern Munich in the semis was heartwrenching but Lyon showcased what is to come from their relatively young side.

Amongst the lot that made Rudi Garcia proud, a certain Houssem Aouar shone the brightest. A return of a solitary goal and four assists might not sound profound, but the fact that Lyon were majorly dependent on his performance speaks volumes. 

We need to talk about how good Houssem Aouar was for Lyon last night

Even Kevin De Bruyne was impressed pic.twitter.com/V7XY3VyPl7

�?Goal (@goal) August 16, 2020

At 22, Aouar not only exuded sheer confidence but the tactical side of his game was so spot on that former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand compared him to Samir Nasri. "He has it all. He reminds me of Samir Nasri at times. He’s someone who can be a top player at one of the top clubs in Europe," said Ferdinand.

Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)

Serge Gnabry’s rise from being a West Brom reject to a Bayern Munich starter was perfectly documented this season. The former Arsenal winger has finished his season with 23 goals and 12 assists, nine strikes of which came in the Champions League in a mere 10 appearances.

DREAM COME TRUEEEE!!! @ChampionsLeague @FCBayern pic.twitter.com/rbtmvgrgBF

�?Serge Gnabry (@SergeGnabry) August 23, 2020

Gnabry was lethal for Bayern since football resumed post-pandemic as he was one of the scorers during his side’s 8-2 rout over Barcelona. He followed that up with a brace over Lyon in the semi-finals. In fact, his numbers against the French side were truly inspiring, having completed the game with 100 percent shot accuracy. He attempted three shots on the night, two of which found the back of the net.

He was relatively quiet in the final against PSG, but that was just a one-off game. Keep in mind that he had scored four against Tottenham early in the tournament. 

Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

From one Bayern player to another, left-back Alphonso Davies was an unassailable revelation in this year’s UEFA Champions League. The 19-year-old Canadian defender provided three assists in the competition but his contribution was simply much more than that, having attempted more take-ons than any other Bayern player this season.

Who would have guessed it a kid from Canada, Edmonton Alberta. Most people don’t even know where that. Where it snows I’m talking -40 weather, he’s now a champion league winner #AD19⚡️

�?Alphonso Davies (@AlphonsoDavies) August 24, 2020

The first-ever Canadian to win the UEFA Champions League, Davies has enjoyed a great run under Hansi Flick, having started in 35 out of 36 games under the German. Blessed with speed, precision and sheer understanding of the game, Davies�?best Champions League outing came against Chelsea in the first leg of the round-of-16 at Stamford Bridge where he dismantled the entire Chelsea defence with his pace to provide an assist for Robert Lewandowski. 

Quick stat: Davies clocked a speed of 36.51 km/h in June 2020, which forced Thomas Muller to name him the roadrunner.

Mario Pasalic (Atalanta)

Attacking midfielder Mario Pasalic, who recently made his Atalanta tenure permanent from Chelsea, has been one of the top performers for his side this season, having scored 12 goals and seven assists in 46 appearances in all competitions. In Champions League, the Croatian has returned with a figure of three goals and a couple of assists, which includes THAT goal against PSG in the quarter-finals.

Gian Piero Gasperini has been applauded for playing free-flowing football at Atalanta and Pasalic has been a vital component of it. Playing alongside former Middlesborough man Marten de Roon and Switzerland rookie Remo Freuler, the 25-year-old has duly delivered what was asked from him. A perfect team player, Pasalic is your typical silent vigilante who delivers when least expected.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Miguel A. Lopez

Four teams, one title!

After an exhilarating quarter-final round of the UEFA Champions League that saw some enthralling performances in Lisbon, Portugal, we are down to the business end of the competition. 

Bayern Munich, after humiliating Barcelona 8-2, face Lyon, who eliminated Manchester City to cause one of the biggest upsets of the season. RB Leipzig, who got the better of Atletico Madrid, square off against Paris Saint-Germain, who ended Atalanta’s fairy-tale run with a last-minute 2-1 win.

With two high profile games in the line, we give you five players who are tipped highly to make an impact in their respective fixtures.

Player: Moussa Dembele

Team: Lyon

Match: Lyon vs Bayern Munich

Striker Moussa Dembele was left on the bench against Manchester City, but it was his brace that guided Lyon to the semi-finals of the competition. With Memphis Depay back in the hold following a long-term injury, Dembele would be hoping to combine with the former Manchester United winger, and Lyon are certain to count on their attacking duo if they are to churn anything positive against the free-flowing Bayern Munich side.

Two goals in nine Champions League appearances don’t really bolster confidence but the former Celtic man is certainly riding high on momentum after a match-winning effort against Pep Guardiola’s side. 

Player: Robert Lewandowski

Team: Bayern Munich

Match: Lyon vs Bayern Munich

A goal against Barcelona in the quarter-finals made Robert Lewandowski the first player in Bayern Munich’s history to score in eight consecutive games in major European competition. Having already notched 55 goals and nine assists in 46 games in all competitions, the Polish striker is highly tipped to wreak havoc when he squares off against Lyon, who have duly struggled in keeping clean sheets this season.

8 - Robert Lewandowski is the fifth player in European Cup/Champions League history to score in eight consecutive matches. Natural. #UCL pic.twitter.com/h6WgJm7pUH

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 14, 2020

As far as his personal record goes, he is just four goals shy of becoming the third-highest goal-scorer the Champions League history.  A no-brainer in the fantasy team.

Serge Gnabry

Team: Bayern Munich

Match: Lyon vs Bayern Munich

Probably one of the most underrated players in the Bayern Munich squad, winger Serge Gnabry has scored seven goals and two assists in eight Champions League fixtures this season, taking his tally to 19 goals and 12 assists across the European competition and Bundesliga. Known for terrorising the opponents with a blistering pace, the former Arsenal man will be the one to keep a keen eye on.

His goal scoring form might have taken a hit in recent times, but a return of a goal and an assist against Barcelona duly keeps him in line of players who can make an impact on the night.

Neymar

Team: Paris Saint-Germain

Match: RB Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain

Baring a barren run against Bordeaux in Ligue 1 and Lyon in the League Cup final in July, PSG forward Neymar has been involved in nine goals (eight goals and one assist) in his last ten appearances (including friendlies). He was at his usual best when PSG faced Atalanta in the quarter-finals. He did miss a few glorious chances, but he made up for the loss by playing an important role in both of PSG’s goals that night.

16 - Neymar completed 16 dribbles against Atalanta tonight, the most by a player in a single Champions League match since Lionel Messi v Manchester United in April 2008. Twist. #ATAPSG pic.twitter.com/WpT1ONRZVV

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 12, 2020

Up against a Leipzig side who have kept just two clean sheets in all competitions since football resumed in Germany, the Brazilian can well and truly be the one who can make a difference. 

Dani Olmo

Team: RB Leipzig

Match: RB Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain

Signed during this year’s January transfer window from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb, attacking midfielder Dani Olmo has made a telling impact at his new club, scoring five goals and an assist across three competitions (Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal). A match-winning goal against Atletico in the quarter-finals meant that he has been directly involved in four goals in his last five Champions League appearances (three goals, one assist).

With Timo Werner no longer available, Leipzig will be counting on their creative outlays in order to cause an upset against PSG. And in that context, Olmo could well and truly be the difference.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rafael Marchante, David Ramos

Four goals in a 7-2 win against former rivals Tottenham Hotspur in October followed by a brace against Chelsea in Bayern Munich’s round of 16 tie remains a perfect testament to describe the rise of a certain Serge Gnabry. 

Once a youth product of Arsenal’s famed academy, Gnabry found it hard to settle in at the Emirates before finally realizing his potential back home with Bayern Munich, and has turned out to be the star many had said he would be.

North London is RED!!! pic.twitter.com/1Te5YjqpWo

�?Serge Gnabry (@SergeGnabry) October 1, 2019

The winger seemingly did enough to impress then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, making his senior debut at the young age of 17 in 2013. However, 18 appearances in his first two seasons as a professional marred by a knee injury, meant game time was hard to come at the North London club. 

He eventually moved to West Brom on loan in 2015, where he made just one Premier League appearance. The Baggies manager, Tony Pulis told the press he wasn't ready for top-flight football, and this marked a move back to Germany, joining Werder Bremen in August 2016.

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"Definitely it was after the West Brom spell," Gnabry said while speaking to BBC about his decision to return to Germany. 

"I knew that I needed to play again at a high level, and I think Germany in the couple of years since I moved had progressed a lot. I didn't see a lot of game time at Arsenal the next season. That was the key factor."

Playing under Alexander Nouri at Werder Bremen, Gnabry scored 11 league goals in that 2016-17 campaign, which earned him a dream move to Bayern Munich in 2017. 

The German champions reportedly paid a measly eight million euros, a bargain considering the outcome of the move for the club. However, he had to wait another season before playing for the Bavarians, and spent the 2017-18 season on loan, scoring another 10 goals in 22 Bundesliga games. 

However, last season was the breakthrough one for the winger, as former Bayern stars Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben taught him the value of practising outside his comfort zone and developing a winning mentality. 

His hard work and commitment to better himself has paid off since, with Gnabry already scalping more goals then he did last season in fewer appearances. 

His form for the national team has also been more than impressive. Gnabry was given his senior international debut in November 2016 on the back of an impressive run at the Rio Olympics, where he finished as the joint-top scorer as Germany won the silver medal. His debut game was more than impressive, with Gnabry announcing himself with a hat-trick against San Marino. He has scored 10 goals in 11 international appearances for Germany, and a record 13 times in 13 appearances. 

Read | Scott McTominay �?the beating heart of Solskjaer’s Manchester United

If not for the global pandemic, his prowess at the international level would have been showcased at the UEFA Euros this year, where Germany were been drawn with incumbent European champions, Portugal as well as world champions France.

While Gnabry has already established himself as a star for the future, his brilliant run of form with the Bavarians has done nothing to personally affect his down to earth approach as he remains grateful to the guidance he has received from star players like Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker as well as his Bayern teammates Robben and Ribery. 

This inspires the 24-year-old winger to always help out his younger mates, seeing himself as a role model. He says, "You have a voice that people will listen to because you are famous and a lot of young kids especially look up to you. You can set an example and be heard more than other people would be, even if they had the same intentions. Everyone has talent, but the earlier you take it seriously, the better the results will come. I have experienced that now." 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

Serge Gnabry scored four second-half goals as Bayern Munich embarrassed Tottenham 7-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday -- the biggest-ever margin of defeat suffered by an English team at home in any European competition.

The Bundesliga champions fell behind to an early Son Heung-min goal but then clicked into gear, producing a ruthless display of finishing in the north London rain as Spurs fell apart.

Harry Kane briefly gave the home side hope with a penalty to reduce the deficit to 4-2 but that was merely the prelude to another masterclass in finishing from the five-time European champions.

"It was a great evening for Bayern Munich and for German football," said Bayern boss Niko Kovac. "Playing this way here in England is really unique."

"I have compassion for my colleague (Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino)," he added, praising the "amazing" Gnabry and Manuel Neuer for his display in the Bayern goal.

Spurs, who reached the Champions League final in June, where they lost to Liverpool, also had a sluggish start to the competition last year, winning a single point from their first three games.

But Pochettino faces a huge task now to lift the team after this humbling at their new ground following an unconvincing start to the season.

The Spurs boss urged his side to stay together despite the traumatic defeat, saying the timing of Bayern's second goal just before half-time was a hard blow.

"The most important thing is to stay calm, no rushed analysis, no rushed judgement, no rushed assessment," he said, praising the clinical finishing of Bayern, who had 11 shots on target.

"You need to show your quality like a man first," he added. "To face it like a professional. This type of situation you have to show your quality, how you are strong."

The early exchanges gave no clue about the carnage to come.

Tottenham's deserved early lead was wiped out 194 seconds later by Joshua Kimmich, but the home side went toe to toe with Bayern for most of the first period.

Bayern forged ahead on the stroke of half-time, though, thanks to a superb finish from Robert Lewandowski, who picked up the loose ball at the edge of the area and swivelled to fire into the bottom corner.

A Gnabry show

The second half belonged to former Arsenal man Gnabry, who struck four times as the visitors completed a rout. Lewandowski also scored a second.

The result leaves Bayern in pole position in Group B with two wins from two matches while Spurs have just one point after seeing a 2-0 lead wiped out in their opening game against Olympiakos.

But despite their poor start they are just two points behind second-placed Red Star Belgrade, who beat Olympiakos 3-1 on Tuesday.

Spurs' misery was compounded as Gnabry struck again two minutes later, capitalising after Harry Winks lost possession.

Pochettino's men were handed a lifeline as the referee pointed to the penalty spot for a foul on Danny Rose, with Kane reducing the deficit to 4-2 on the hour mark.

But Gnabry sealed his hat-trick for Bayern in the 83rd minute after racing beyond the Spurs defence and slotting past Lloris from 15 yards.

There was still time for Lewandowski to side-foot home a sixth for the German giants and Gnabry was able to add his fourth, and a seventh for Bayern, in the 88th minute.

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Daniel Leal-Olivas