Fernandes and Salah among top performers set for midweek Champions League action

The Champions League makes its return this week. The 2019/20 competition came to a head less than two months ago, but Europe's elite return as they seek to lift the most prestigious trophy in club competition. Here, we look at the best rated players in Europe's top five leagues this season whose teams are set to embark on their European journey, featuring stars from Manchester United, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and defending champions Bayern Munich... 

10. Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.72 

In a summer where Jadon Sancho dominated the headlines, Giovanni Reyna has quietly gone about his business for Borussia Dortmund. The American has three assists to his name already in the Bundesliga this season and despite his tentative years, is proving a key man for Lucien Favre as his WhoScored rating (7.72) suggests. 

9. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) - 7.73 

The first of three Bayern Munich players to make the countdown, Joshua Kimmich is once again proving his worth for the Bundesliga and European champions. The 25-year-old is averaging the second most passes per game (73) in Europe's top five leagues this season to reinforce a strength of 'passing', which will be key as Bayern seek to defend their Champions League crown. 

8. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 7.75 

Bruno Fernandes has made a fine start to the campaign for Manchester United, even taking into account his penalty miss at the weekend, his first since 2016. The 26-year-old has three goals and two assists to his name in the Premier League this season and United will need him to be firing on all cylinders if they are to secure a spot in the next round of the Champions League. 

7. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.82 

The second Borussia Dortmund man to make the cut, only Robert Lewandowski (15) scored more goals than Erling Haaland (10) in the Champions League last season and he already has four goals to his name in the Bundesliga in 2020/21. Forever the great entertainers, you can be sure that Borussia Dortmund, spearheaded by Haaland, will be ones to watch once more. 

6. Sadio Mane (Liverpool) - 8.00 

After a fine showing in the Merseyside Derby, Sadio Mane will look to get Liverpool's Champions League campaign off to a winning start against Ajax this week. The Senegal star comes into the clash with the Dutch side in good form having scoring four goals in his last three league outings, which bodes well for the Reds this week. 

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 8.11 

Pipping Liverpool teammate Mane to a place in the top five, only Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Son Heung-Min (both 7) have scored more goals than Mohamed Salah (6) in the Premier League this season. His fine strike in Saturday's Merseyside Derby was his 100th of his Liverpool career and he'll be seeking to follow his wondergoal against Everton with another goalscoring display against Ajax. 

4. Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 8.17 

Arguably the most enjoyable side to watch in Europe, Atalanta scraped through the group stages last season and are hoping to make things easier for themselves in the Champions League this time around. Central to their attacking fluidity is Alejandro Gomez, the pint-sized creator continuing as he means to go on this season. In his four league outings, the Argentine has four goals and two assists to his name and the task now is to transfer the excellent club form to the Champions League. 

3. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) - 8.36 

With four assists to his name, Thomas Muller leads the assist charts in the Bundesliga once more and having played a key role in Bayern Munich's Champions League success last season, the German star will look to be at his creative best as Bayern seek to defend his crown. With an additional three goals to his name, the Bavarian side will look to Muller to provide the attacking support for Robert Lewandowski. 

2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.63 

Level with Calvert-Lewin and Son on seven league goals this season, Robert Lewandowski has an additional three assists to his name in 2020/21. The Pole earned a better WhoScored rating (9.03) and scored more goals (15) than any other player in the Champions League last season and he means business once more as he hunts down the Golden Boot in both domestic and continental competition. 

1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 8.99 

The top rated player in Europe's top five leagues this season, Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a sensational start to 2020/21. Indeed, in just four league outings, the French star has had a direct hand in seven goals for PSG, scoring four times. Having picked up a runners' up medal at Bayern Munich's expense in August, Mbappe will look to dust himself down and go for gold this time out.