Slovakia only in their third major FIFA final (including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2016) will face an emerging powerhouse of European football in Poland. The Poland vs Slovakia game will be played at Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Poland. The Group-E encounter will start at 9.30 pm, 14/06/2021.

Poland Vs Slovakia: Recents forms of both the teams

This game vs Slovakia is a must-win game for the Polish team ahead of their away match against much stronger opposition in Spain. Poland has always looked a better sight on the pitch but has not got their desired results till now. They will look upon the leader of their team, Robert Lewandoski. The striker was in sublime form this season breaking the record of Gerd Muller of most goals in a Bundesliga season. However, the main concern for them will be their coach, Paulo Sousa. Paulo Sousa has not got enough time to gel up with the squad after joining the team in January this year.

Poland recent form in all competitions- D D L W D L (most recent first)

Read Also: Most Goal involvements in the 2020-21 season

On the other hand, Slovakia will also like to use this match to progress to the next round. With Marek Hamšík in their lineup, they can hope for the second round qualification, just like the 2016 Euro cup 2016. Thus, Poland vs Slovakia match becomes more important for Marek Hamšík and his team. Štefan Tarkovič is though focusing on the team game as they did it in their previous tournaments.

Slovakia recent form in all competitions- D D W D D L (most recent first)

Poland Vs Slovakia: Team news, head to head record and Probable starting xi

Poland

Paulo Sousa will be very keen to start the competition on a positive note. Since his appointment in January, Poland has not had some success behind their name. Sousa have tried many experiments with the team and tactics in their Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier games. Those tactics only lead to one win against a humble side,  Andorra.

Ploand will still be the side with advantage on paper with the current "Best Player in the world", Robert Lewandoski in their side. Lewandoski had a great season with Bayern Munich and will be looking forward to lead the team to their first biggest glory.

Read Also: Most Champions League Goals In History

Probable Lineup – Poland

Szczęsny; Piątkowski, Glik, Bednarek, Bereszyński; Krychowiak, Klich, Zieliński, Puchacz; Jóźwiak, Lewandowski.

Slovakia

Štefan Tarkovič's team would surely be hoping for a great outing just like the last Euro in 2016 in France. The last 16 qualification in France was their first time since their independence. The team had a great turn around in the Euro qualifiers as Tarkovič brought in the luck and tactics to beat the Northern Ireland in final after Pavel Hapal was sacked as the coach of the team.

However, since then the team had some tough times winning matches. Slovakia has  won only two of their last 13 matches within 90 minutes. Their World Cup qualifiers also did not well so well. But a win over Russia did gave them some confidence as well.

With new talents in Milan Skriniar and national legend Marek Hamšík in the team, Slovakia can hope to break the Polish ego to make it a significant move in fight to qualify from group- E.

Read Also: Euro 2020: 10 players to watch out for

Probable Lineup – Slovakia

Dúbravka; Pekarík, Šatka, Škriniar, Hubočan; Kucka, Hromada; Haraslín, Hamšík, Mak; Duda

Poland Vs Slovakia Dream11 team prediction

The European Golden Shoe is one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, given annually to the leading goal scorer from the top European leagues. Over the past decade, some of football’s biggest superstars have dominated this recognition, showcasing their incredible talent and consistency in front of goal.

In this article from Sportz Point, discover the last 10 European Golden Shoe winners list, featuring stars like Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane, and legendary players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez.

Last 10 European Golden Shoe winners List:

Harry Kane | 2024-25 season | Bayern Munich:

Harry Kane is among the greatest strikers to crave his name in the European Golden Shoe winners list. Despite the Bayern forward's failure to win any silverware, he won one of the most prestigious individual awards the Golden Shoe, this award shows his goal-scoring prowess. The Englishmen won the award for scoring 36 goals in the 2024-25 season.

 Erling Haaland | 2022-23 | Manchester City:

Earling Haaland scored 36 goals in the Premier League 2022-23 season to win the prestigious individual award and cemented his name among the top players to win the European Golden Shoe winners list. In that season Earling Haaland and company won their maiden UEFA Champions League title and completed a treble for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

 Robert Lewandowski | 2021-22 and 2020-21 | Bayern Munich:

Robert Lewandowski won the Golden Shoe Award in the 2021-22 season, as he cemented his name as one of the two players to win the European Golden Shoe multiple times in the list. His goals were more than enough to declare him a Ballon d'Or winner, but he was overshadowed by Karim Benzema in that season. 

In the 2020-21 season, Robert Lewandowski won his first Golden Shoe Award. In that season Robert Lewandowski and his company won a treble for Bayern Munich under Julian Nagelsmann, but he failed to win the Ballon d'Or award as Lionel Messi won the Copa America.

Ciro Immobile | 2019-20 | Lazio:

Immobile scored 36 league goals for Lazio in 2019-20 to win the prestigious individual award and cemented his name among the top players to win the European Golden Shoe winners list. Despite scoring 36 league goals for Lazio but did not get the chance to claim a Ballon d’Or rank as the award was cancelled that year due to Covid.

Lionel Messi | 2018-19, 2017-18, and 2016-17 | FC Barcelona:

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the only players to crave their names multiple times in the European Golden Shoe winners list. In the 2018-19 season, Messi became the last player to win the Golden Shoe and Ballon d'Or in one season. Messi was the only player, who was dragging Ernesto Valverde's managed Barcelona side to the treble and scored 36 goals.

In the 2017-18 season, Messi scored 34 league goals and won his second European Golden Shoe, despite delivering a stinker performance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In the 2016-17 season, Messi scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d'Or that season, but Messi won the European Golden Shoe and became the first player to win the Golden Shoe thrice in the list.

Luis Suarez | 2015-16 | FC Barcelona:

Luis Suarez was a goalscoring machine in 2015-16, as he even managed to outgun the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. The Uruguayan scored 40 goals in La Liga alone, and he became the one and only player to win an individual award in Messi and Ronaldo's era. His goalscoring prowess is the reason, he is on the European Golden Shoe winners list. 

Cristiano Ronaldo | 2014-15 | Real Madrid:

Surprisingly, 2014-15 was the last time that Ronaldo ever won the European Golden Shoe. He enjoyed an excellent individual season, scoring 48 league goals for Real Madrid, but was ultimately overshadowed by Barcelona and Messi who won the treble that year. His excellent goal-scoring skills are the reason he is on the European Golden Shoe winners list. 

Let us know your thoughts via our Twitter, moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scorelines.

Many Players have experienced taking the UEFA Champions League match ball home. But few have done it multiple times. Listening to the UEFA Champions League anthem on the pitch while being in the starting lineup is the dream of every other kid football fan. But among the dreamers, few players go on to make further history in the game.

Players who leave a lasting impression through their quality, be it defending, goalkeeping, or even scoring goals. In this article, we will have a look at the players with the most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League history.

10. Harry Kane| 2 Hat-tricks| Tottenham Hotspurs & Bayern Munich:

First Hat-trick | Tottenham Hotspurs:

On 26th September 2017, Harry Kane hit his first hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League against APOEL FC, Tottenham Hotspurs won that match 3-0 in the group stage and Kane finished the group stage joint second in the top scorers chart with six goals.

Second Hat-trick | FC Bayern Munich:

On 18th September 2024, Harry Kane hit his second hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League. Kane scored 4 goals and Bayern Munich won that match 9-2 at Allianz Arena in Munich. 

9. Kylian Mbappe | 3 Hat-tricks | Paris Saint-Germain & Real Madrid:

First Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

On 23 October 2019, Mbappe scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Club Brugge. Mbappe bagged three goals and Paris Saint-Germain won 5-0 against Club Brugge. 

Second Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

On 17 February 2017, Kylian Mbappe scored his second UEFA Champions League Round of 16 hat-tricks against the mighty FC Barcelona in Parc des Princes. Mbappe scored 3 goals and Moises Keane scored the last goal against Barcelona and they won 4-1 against the Blaugranes.

Third Hat-trick | Real Madrid: 

On 20th February 2025, Kylian Mbappe scored his third UEFA Champions League career Hat-trick against Manchester City in the League phase Knockout's second leg. With Mbappe's hat trick, Real Madrid beat the mighty Manchester City 3-1 and aggregated 6-3, and secured a spot in the Round of 16.

8. Neymar Jr. | 3 Hat-tricks | FC Barcelona & Paris Saint-Germain:

First Hat-trick | FC Barcelona:

On December 11, 2013, Neymar Jr. scored his first-ever hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou in Spain. In that Lionel Messi was injured, but Neymar stepped up and scored a hat-trick against Celtic FC and FC Barcelona triumphed over a dominant 6-1 win against Celtic FC.

Second Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

Neymar Junior scored his second UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Red Star Belgrade on 4 October 2018. The Brazilian scored his second Champions League hat-trick with Paris Saint-Germain.

Third Hat-trick | Paris Saint-Germain:

Neymar Junior scored the third UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Istanbul Basaksehir. With the help of the Brazilian wizard's hat-trick, PSG triumphed in a 5-1 win over Istanbul in Parc des Princes in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 9 December 2020.

7. Filippo Inzaghi | 3 Hat-tricks | Juventus & Paris Saint-Germain:

First Hat-trick | Juventus:

Filippo Inzaghi scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Dynamo Kyiv. Filippo Inzaghi became the first Juventus player to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick when he found the back of the net on three occasions against Dynamo Kyiv in March 1998. Juventus won that match with a comfortable 4-1 scoreline.

Second Hat-trick | Juventus:

On 13 September 2000, Filippo Inzaghi netted his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Hamburg. Filippo Inzaghi's hat-trick rescued Juventus as an astonishing Champions League match against Hamburg finished 4-4 in Germany. Juventus led 3-1 at one stage before falling 4-3 behind and it needed a late penalty from Inzaghi to rescue a point.

Third Hat-trick | AC Milan:

The former Italian international scored his third UEFA Champions League hat-trick in his iconic AC Milan Jersey against Deportivo La Coruna. With the help of his hat-trick AC Milan won with a comfortable 4-0 scoreline in the 2002-03 season.

6. Mario Gomez | 3 Hat-tricks | FC Bayern Munich: 

Mario Gomez scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against the Romanian side CFR Cluj in November 2010. Almost a year to the day later, the German forward scored a match-winning hat-trick against Napoli to seal a 3-2 win. 

5. Luiz Adriano | 3 Hat-tricks | Shakhtar Donetsk:

Luiz Adriano had registered his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick two years prior when he netted three times in Shakhtar's 5-2 win over Danish side Nordsjaelland in November 2012. Luiz Adriano netted his second UEFA Champions League hat-trick against BATE Borisov in the 2014 season. The Brazilian recorded his third hat-trick against BATE as he inspired Shakhtar to a 5-0 win.

4. Karim Benzema | 4 Hat-tricks | Real Madrid:

Karim Benzema netted his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid against Auxerre in December 2010. The Frenchman would wait five years for his second as he scored three times in an 8-0 win over Malmo. 

The Frenchman would wait five years for his second as he scored three times in an 8-0 win over Malmo, scoring three against PSG in March 2022, Benzema recorded his fourth UEFA Champions League hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Chelsea in April that year.

3. Robert Lewandowski | 6 Hat-tricks | Dortmund, Bayern Munich, & Barcelona:

The only player in UEFA Champions League history to score the hat-trick for three different clubs.

Robert Lewandowski truly announced himself on the world stage with a four-goal haul for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in April 2013, he scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick in Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid. 

The Polish forward had already agreed on terms with Bayern at that point and Lewandowski recorded four hat-tricks for the German giants when opposing Dinamo Zagreb, Red Star Belgrade, Benfica, and lastly Red Bull Salzburg.

A move to Barcelona in 2022 brought Lewandowski his sixth UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen.

2. Lionel Messi | 8 Hat-tricks | FC Barcelona:

Lionel Messi scored a UEFA Champions League hat-trick in five consecutive calendar years from 2010. He scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick against Arsenal in 2010. The Argentine Talisman became the first player in the competition's history to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.

The former Barcelona legend scored other six UEFA Champions League hat-tricks against Ajax, APOEL Nicosia, Celtic, Manchester City, and PSV Eindhoven, a record equaled by Cristiano Ronaldo just six months later.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo | 8 Hat-tricks | Real Madrid & Juventus:

Cristiano Ronaldo never bagged a UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Manchester United. The Real Madrid legend netted his first hat-trick in the competition against Ajax in 2012. Ronaldo netted seven UEFA Champions League hat-tricks while he was in Real Madrid, the seven club names were - AFC Ajax, Shakhtar Donetsk, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid, Galatasaray, and Malmo FF.

Although the most memorable one came against Atlético de Madrid the second time. This time in the colors of Juventus. Juventus progressed 3-2 on aggregate to reach the quarterfinals.

In 2025, the football world continues to admire the remarkable teamwork and brilliance of some of the best attacking trios in football. These forward lines are not just scoring goals but redefining partnership, creativity, and dominance on the pitch. Across football leagues in the world, these trios drive their teams' successes, producing magical moments that charm football fans worldwide.

Top 10 best attacking trios:

Note: The stats of best-attacking trios are the list of the trios currently playing in the top 10 leagues and domestic leagues of those countries along with UEFA Competitions. 

1. Lewandowski- Raphina- Lamine Yamal: (55 goals)

Barcelona's attack is one of the most feared in Europe and their strong performances in all major competitions are the reason they are bubbling in the hope of winning major trophies this season.

The Yamal-Lewandowski-Raphinha trio is one of the lethal attacking trios currently formed in the Spanish League. This lethal front three scored a combined 55 goals, with Lewandowski leading the charge with 26 goals. Yamal and Raphinha also contributed, with 9 and 20 goals for them respectively.

Recently Barcelona won Super Copa de Espana, where the Catalan giants triumphed over Real Madrid with a dominating 5-2 scoreline. The trio played a major role in that game, with Raphinha scoring a brace and Yamal's magical finishing giving them their 15th Spanish Super Cup title.

Read Also |  Barcelona vs Real Madrid Spanish Super Cup Final | 10-men Barcelona outclass Madrid by 5-2 to win their 15th Spanish Super Cup

2. Gyokeres-Trincao-Conard (46 goals):

Sporting CP are currently having a remarkable 2024-25 season with their deadly attacking trio of Viktor Gyokeres, Francisco Trincao, and Conard Harder leading the team in front. The lethal attacking trio was formed under Ruben Amorim in Sporting CP at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Till now, they have scored a combined 46 goals with Gyokeres contributing 32 of those 46 goals. Trincao and Harder donated notably 7 goals each.

They were pivotal in Sporting CP winning the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Portuguese Cup this season. This enabled them to be so high on our list of "Top 10 best-attacking trios in football" at the moment.

3. Salah-Diaz-Gakpo: (45 goals):

Liverpool are currently one of the best football teams in the world, topping the charts in both UEFA Champions League and English Premier League. The trio of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have been one of the reasons why they are feared so much by opponents at the moment.

Though this trio was created by none other than Jurgen Klopp, it is becoming one of the World's best under the creative eyes of Arne Slot. Salah, Diaz and Gakpo have scored a total of 44 goals so far across competitions and 32 of them came in Premier League. 

Salah is having a fantastic season contributing 21 goals while Diaz and Gakpo had their fair share of success with 12 goals as well. 

4. Kane-Olise-Musiala: (45 goals)

Although Bayern Munich has not had a great start in the Champions League this season, the defending Bundesliga Champions have run riot in their league. All thanks to the goal-scoring combination of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala. 

Kane with 36 league goals last season had already shown that they can be lethal in any league in the world while Olise and Musiala are proving why they are called the future of football. 

In 2024-25 season, this trio has scored 45 goals across competitions. Kane is topping the chart for them with 22 goals. Meantime, Musiala has been on the best in business with 14 goals to his name. Olise, meantime has scored 9 so far. 

5. Retegui-De Ketelaere-Lookman (37 goals): 

This can come as a shocker for a few of the football fans. But, the 2023/24 Europa League winners are having a good season with their best arrivals Mateo Retegui, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman in action for them. 

Ketelaere was brought in from AC Milan while Retegui came to the club from Genoa CFC to form a lethal combination with Lookman under Gian Gasperini. The trio till now have added 37 goals of which 27 came in the Serie A.

Retegui has added 15 goals while Lookman and De Ketelaere added 12 and 10 respectively.

6. Pepi-De Jong-Tilman: (37 Goals)

The defending Dutch league champions are cruising in their league at the moment and the devastating trio of Ricardo Pepi, Lukk de Jong and Malik Tilman are mostly responsible for that. Tilman was brought into the club from Bayern Munich by Peter Bosz. 

Though they are not being mentioned enough in the conversation of many football pundits currently, this attacking trio has enjoyed great success in the league so far. So far, they have added a total of 37 goals in the season with Pepi leading them with 15 goals. 

De Jong and Tilman have added 11 each as well. The pace of Tilman and the finishing skill of Pedri to go with De Jong's physicality is what has made this trio unbeatable till now.

Can they transfer that form in UEFA Champions League? That would be the question the PVS fans would be asking though. 

7. Alvarez- Griezmann- Sorloth: (36 Goals)

Normally whenever we talk about a Diego Simione team, we talk about defence, we talk about the solid base and style at the back. However, this time, we are compelled to discuss the attacking trio formed by Julian Alvarez, Antonio Griezmann and Alexandar Sorolth

Alvarez's inclusion into this team has helped them bring pace and creativity to the offensive areas while Griezmann's experience was always invaluable. Meantime, Sorloth, the former Villarreal recruit brought in the finish they had been looking for years. 

Read Also | Antoine Griezmann retires from International football: A throwback to his journey

Till now this trio has added 36 goals across competitions, 21 of which coming in the La Liga which helped them crawl back to the top of the Spanish League table. 

Argentine forward Alvarez has added 14 goals while Griezmann added 10 and Sorloth contributed with 10 goals. However, it has been Angel Correa, the right winger who has been instrumental as well in the Champions League for them, scoring 3 goals in 5 appearances in the tournament.

  8. Marmoush-Ekitike-Larsson (36 goals):

Well, if you are giving a fight to teams like Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in your national league, there would be some things you are doing right as a team. Though this trio is not as popular as the Kane-Musiala-Olise one, they are surely cranking up numbers for them.

The attacking trio of Omar Marmoush, Hugo Ekitike, and Hugo Larsson has been one of the best in the top 5 European Leagues at the moment with 27 goals in the Bundesliga so far. Across competitions, they have added 36 goals so far and the credit must go to Omar Marmoush who has added 20 goals for them so far.

Hugo Ekitike has scored 12 while Larsson added 4 goals. 

But, with Marmoush heading to Manchester City, it would be interesting to see how Frankfurt can keep the momentum. 

Read Also | January Transfer Window: All you need to know

9. Aghehowa-Galeno-Gonzalez (36 goals)

If you are looking for a football league which has been one of the most competitive so far in Europe, it would be the Portuguese League. Defending champion Sporting CP with 41 points, Benfica with 41 while FC Porto are giving them a fight with 40 points after 17 games for all of them.

And the credit for Proto's great run in the league must go to the trio of Samu Aghehowa, Galeno, and Nico Gonzalez. 

Aghehowa, who was brought in from Atletico Madrid, has been their best player with 18 goals in 23 games while Galeno added 12 and Gonzalez scored 6 goals.

However, they have not been able to transform their league form to Europa League so far. 

10. Mbappe-Vinicius-Bellingham (36 goals):

This trio was already making a noise even before it was created. Every football pundit was guessing how Real Madrid could line up with Kylian Mbappe arriving at the most successful European club. 

Though they have not given the results expected from them, they have done enough to be on this list. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham have added 36 goals in the season so far.

But, they would surely be looking to add more goals to that tally, especially in UEFA Champions League, where they have struggled till now. Mbappe after joining his dream club has netted 15 goals this season, followed by Vinicius with 14 goals. Jude Bellingham has scored 9 goals so far this season.

In La Liga, this attacking trio has added 25 goals, the 10th best in the top 5 European leagues.

An Honorary mention: 

Doku- Haaland- Foden: (33 Goals)

The trio is not on the list because of their inconsistent performances for Manchester City in all competitions, but their skill to run through teams enabled them to get the mention.

This lethal trio has added 33 goals so far, where Haaland led the trio with 21 goals, Doku contributed with 5 goals, and Foden chipped in with 7 goals.

The Evolution of Attacking Partnerships in Modern Football:

Attacking shapes and formations along with style of play has evolved over the years. Here is a brief discussion how attacking trios have evolved in the last few decades.

• In the 1930s, Raich Carter and Cliff Bastin (Arsenal in the 1930s) were centred around two central forwards or inside-forwards working together.
• As football progressed in the 1970s and 1980s, we saw more dynamic combinations like Kevin Keegan and Keny Dalglish (Liverpool), where one striker was often more of a playmaker while the other was the goal scorer or the finisher.
• By the 1990s and 2000s, attacking combinations became more fluid with the rise of false nines and multifunctional forwards. We saw that combination in Spanish team with players like David Villa, Fernando Torres, and Pedro showcasing how diverse an offensive system could be, mixing pace, skill, and finishing skills.
• The 2010s marked the peak of attacking trios, notably with B-B-C (Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo) at Real Madrid and M-S-N (Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar Jr.) at FC Barcelona. The fluid movement, exceptional link-up play, and individual brilliance of both those trios helped those two teams win domestic and European titles.
• In the 2020s, attacking units became even more flexible. The combination of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City showed how the modern football system needs versatility at the top and midfield. 

Read Also | MSN vs BBC: Rivalry of football's greatest trio in stats

Predictions for the rest of 2025:

Which trio will dominate the remainder of the year? Let's predict that. 

Note: These predictions are based on the teams and the best-attacking trio's current form.

1. FC Barcelona (Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski):

With Robert Lewandowski as a top-tier striker, Raphinha's flair, and the explosive talent of Lamine Yamal, Barcelona has a balanced attacking trio. Lewandowski's experience combined with the youth and creativity of Raphinha and Yamal could provide a powerful offensive force, especially as the season progresses.

2. Bayern Munich (Kane, Musiala, Olise):

Harry Kane offers a clinical finishing ability, while Jamal Musiala's creativity and Michael Olise's flair add significant dynamism to Bayern's attack. This most lethal attacking trio, alongside Bayern's overall strength, could be a key contender for the remainder of this year.

3. Liverpool (Salah, Diaz, Gakpo):

Mohamed Salah continues to be one of the best in the Premier League, with Luis Diaz adding the South American flair and speed and Cody Gakpo's versatility and finishing making Liverpool's attack incredibly strong in European football.

4.  Atalanta BC (Lookman, De Ketelaere, Retegui):

Mateo Retegui's goal-scoring ability, Ademola Lookman's pace and directness, and Charles De Ketelaere's technical skills provide a very effective combination. Atalanta has often been an underdog with powerful attacking units. This trio is one of the most lethal attacker's trios formed in Italy.

5. Real Madrid (Mbappe, Vinicius, Bellingham):

With Kylian Mbappe's pace and finishing, Jude Bellingham's intelligence, and Vinicius Junior's dribbling and explosive skills, Real Madrid has one of the most exciting lethal attacking trios in all of Europe. If they build chemistry, they could be devastating for the rest of the season.

Potential Emerging trios to watch:

1. FC Barcelona

Lamine Yamal, Vitor Roque (currently on loan at Real Betis), Gavi

2. Bayern Munich

Mathys Tel, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane 

3. Real Madrid:

Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Endrick

4. Liverpool:

Ben Doak, Harvey Elliot, Curtis Jones.

Let us know your predictions about these attacking trios and which trio will dominate the rest of the year. Share your thoughts on our Twitter and Facebook pages. 

Denmark's former national team captain and defender Simon Kjaer has announced his decision to hang up his boots. Kjaer captained Denmark to the semi-finals of the EURO 2020 and also won the Scudetto with AC Milan in the 2021-22 season. 

After a commendable career spent playing for clubs across Germany, Italy, Spain, and beyond; Kjaer announced his retirement on Monday, January 13th, 2025.

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Simon Kjær has announced his retirement from professional football. ❌🇩🇰

A great defender, a proper bloke and a truly inspirational leader when tragedy struck at EURO 2020 with his Danish teammate Christian Eriksen.

We wish him the best for the future. 💫 pic.twitter.com/n7xrxxwOfV

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 13, 2025

In his club career, Simon Kjaer played for Midtjylland, Palermo, Wolfsburg, Roma, Lille, Fenerbahce, Sevilla, Atalanta, and AC Milan. Last summer, the defender parted ways with the Rossoneri and has been without a club since then.

Simon Kjaer: the hero of Denmark in an unnerving EURO 2020 incident 

In June 2021, during the face-off between Denmark and Finland in a crucial group game in the EURO 2020, Denmark's star midfielder Christian Eriksen suddenly collapsed on the field due to a cardiac arrest. 

Kjaer also led his teammates to escort Eriksen off the ground along with the Danish medical personnel. He also offered his consolation to Eriksen's partner, earning appreciation from football fans all over the globe. 

Eriksen was stabilized, and later out of danger. Even after this worrying incident, Kjaer led the Denmark team in an iconic journey to the EURO 2020 semi-finals.

The former Denmark captain and the Danish Medical staff in the EURO 2020 later received the UEFA President’s Award for his “exceptional leadership qualities” following the incident. He said:

I try to lead the team on and off the pitch, in every aspect of life, as footballers, when we’re together. I think it’s one of the biggest privileges I have in my career.

FIFA also awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award to Kjaer along with the medical team.

"Now is truly the right moment to close this chapter": Kjaer

Speaking to TV2 Sport in an interview, Simon Kjaer expressed his thoughts on his decision to retire at the age of 35. 

Now is truly the right moment to close this chapter. This isn’t a decision I made overnight after the summer; I had been contemplating it even before the Euro. Last autumn, I realized that my time at AC Milan was perhaps coming to an end. What would happen next? I didn’t need to announce anything to anyone, other than to myself.

A lot of factors have influenced my future since then. My children, family, the national team, and AC Milan – my dream club. Many things led to this conclusion after the Euro: I had expected something to arise, but first and foremost, I had to make a decision for my family before considering the sporting aspect. I have no regrets. I lack nothing in this regard.

I experienced the final at San Siro, and that experience... I knew perfectly well that this was the end. I didn’t need to inform anyone about it, apart from myself. Looking back, I could have easily made the retirement even more spectacular and taken another, bigger step after Milan. But I didn’t require that. For me, having such a grand farewell wasn’t essential,

As football fanatics, we know that the rich history lies beyond this rivalry. Real Madrid secured their place in the Super Cup Final by defeating Mallorca, and Barcelona advanced to the final by emerging victorious against Atletico Club the previous day.

Let's look after some important things we must know as Football Fanatics before the "Nail Bitting Derby".

When and how to watch the "El Classico" Super Cup Final?

Match: Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona

Date and time: 13th January, 12.30 am IST 

How to watch: Football fans from India can watch the match live on Fan Code.

Road to the "El Classico" Super Cup Final

Bellingham's decisive goal in the semifinals has sealed the path for this highly anticipated encounter and resulted in the first El Classico of 2025. At the same time, Barcelona's victory was secured by the goals from Gavi and Yamal, against Atletico Bilbao.

Also Read | Real Madrid vs Barcelona El-Clasico 2024 Highlights | Barcelona humiliates Real Madrid with a 4-0 win

The Super Cup final is scheduled on Sunday, January 12, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid added two late goals in their favour that included an own goal and a strike from Rodrygo. 

Recent Meetings, Head-to-Head | El-Calsico

El-Classico Head-to-Head

Barcelona aim to avenge their 4-1 home defeat against their fierce rival Real Madrid in last year's Spanish Super Cup. The Super Cup has been dominated by these two highly reputed clubs since the tournament moved to Saudi Arabia in 2022, with Real Madrid winning in 2022 and 2024, while Barcelona claimed the Cup in 2023. 

This trend is also reflected in La Liga, as well where the Super Cup winner secured the La Liga title on a consistent basis since the tournament's move to Saudi Arabia.

On October 4, in their last encounter, Barcelona triumphed with a 4-0 victory, with a brace from Robert Lewandowski. However, the current form of the teams has changed significantly, as Barcelona's defence looks vulnerable and struggling, and Madrid's attack is gaining momentum, which could result in a different outcome this time.

Read Also | Youngest goalscorers in El Clasico: Lamine Yamal breaks 77-year-old record to become the youngest ever

Mbappe Might Find A Way to Become a Legend!

Kylian Mbappe-Stats Real Madrid

The stakes are always high when these two giants meet face-to-face. A goal from Mbappe for Real Madrid combined with a victory might signify the beginning of his era as the number nine gets a challenging start to his career in Real Madrid, Spain. As we know, El- Classico matches are known for creating legends, particularly when comes to winning silverware.

Read Also | "I take full responsibility for it": Kylian Mbappe shares message following Real Madrid's defeat against Athletic Bilbao

Laporta's Position at Stake!!

The recent decisions made by the Board of Directors, Barcelona which was led by Laporte have not been welcomed by certain segments of Barcelona fanatics.

Read Also | Dani Olmo is not a FC Barcelona player anymore: What is the future of the Spanish star?

The registrations of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor in limbo, combined with the disruption surrounding the near signing of Hurtel, are the main reasons for concern among the Catalan fans. The situation has reached a critical point that resulted in an immediate resolution.

Tchouameni is uncertain for the final!

Tchouameni's withdrawal from the match against Mallorca due to an injury demands careful observation. This pre-cautionary is essential as his absence in the final might significantly impact Real Madrid as it could shrink Real Madrid's team depth.

Read Also | Copa Del Rey past winners and finalists of last 10 seasons

So, the coming Sunday is going to be great for all Football Fanatics all over the world as per the thrilling El-Classico is concerned. Who will lift the Spanish Super Cup? Whether it is Real Madrid or Barcelona?? Which team is in a better position to win??? What are the records of El Classico???? What are the odds?????

Questions are many, and as Football Fanatics we are eagerly waiting for the night of January 12th, to get all the answers.