5. Will He Thrive In Champions League Football?
UEFAFor a player of such a high standard, Luis Suarez has limited Champions League experience. He has only
played eleven Champions League games, all whilst at Ajax, scoring five goals. He has more Europa League experience, playing a total of 31 matches across all clubs, netting 16 times. His strike rate in front of goal in European football is relatively impressive despite his little experience at the top level of club football. This leads to the question, how well will he do in Champions League football this season? Barcelona had a poor season all told in 2013/14, failing to win any European trophies so they will be looking to atone for this, starting with the Champions League. Suarez could be just the type of footballer that Barcelona need in European competitions. He is feisty, determined and not afraid to get stuck in. This is a trait that Barcelona, with the exception of Mascherano, have lacked in recent years and it is something that is needed at European level. With teams from Italy, England and Germany, the Champions League can be a lot more physical and gritty than La Liga, with many teams stopping Barca from playing their usual free-flowing football. Suarez is used to this style of play and would adjust quickly to European football and prove to be a valuable asset for Barcelona; providing a variation on their usual front line.