Gent made the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in their history this season and out-performed expectations, making it to the knockout phase. They've been rewarded with a draw against Wolfsburg, a team that's certainly favored to beat them, but arguably the weakest team that they could have drawn. Amazingly, one of these teams will be in the quarterfinals.
Gent vs. Wolfsburg, UEFA Champions League draw: Hey, one of these teams is making the quarterfinals!
We’ll get something new this year.
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Gent
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Gent is how absolutely normal their squad looks. They have a small handful of solid Belgium Under-21 players, but no can’t-miss superstar wonderkid. They have some other solid internationals, but no one that’s unquestionably destined to get signed by a huge club this summer. They’re just a really solid, well-constructed team.
They also got lucky enough to run into two big teams in serious transition. Lyon and Valencia are having nightmare seasons, exacerbated by the fact that both of them managed to lose to Gent. This really wasn’t supposed to happen. Stuff like this only happens once every three or four years, so enjoy getting to see someone new in the knockout stages.
Key player: Danijel Milicevic
Gent’s veteran attacking midfielder tallied three goals in the group stage, including the winner in his team’s home match against Zenit, plus one assist. No one else on Gent has more than one goal in the Champions League.
Wolfsburg
It took a while for Wolfsburg to figure out how to play in a post-Kevin De Bruyne world, but his direct replacement Julian Draxler appears to have finally figured out his role. Draxler was excellent in his team's win over Manchester United that clinched the top spot in their group, setting them up for this extremely favorable draw.
Wolfsburg have been a bit less impressive in the Bundesliga than Europe, though, and they’ve failed to win in their last three games. They’re in a serious fight to finish top four in Germany, and they might be in for some trouble in this tie if they can’t find time to rotate players. Their defensive record is fine and their strikers are scoring, but something isn’t quite clicking for Wolfsburg yet.
Key player: Julian Draxler
If he’s at his best, Wolfsburg can beat anyone. If he’s off his game, their attack struggles.
Prediction
The fact that Belgium has a playoff to decide their champion and that Gent are already pretty much secure in making it will help them a lot. But Wolfsburg are the much more talented team, and really should win. Wolfsburg by one goal or away goals.
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