Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Elseid Hysaj… seven youngsters set to take the 2017-18 Champions League by storm
Europe's elite competition is finally back, with 32 teams vying to lead their team to glory... but who are the stars to watch?
THE Champions League is finally back, as the group stages get underway tonight.
Six British sides will begin their campaign, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Celtic all in action.
That already looks a good omen, as the last time there were six home nation sides in Europe's elite competition... one of them won it all.
That year - 2008-09 - Man United beat Chelsea in the Moscow final on penalties.
But this time around, it's fresh start, a new beginning and there are a host of top clubs vying for the crown.
Amongst them are Real Madrid, aiming to win it the trophy a record three times in a row.
But who are the young players to watch in this season's competition?
We run down seven starlets to watch out for in the 2017-18 tournament, below...
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
CHRISTIAN PULISIC - Borussia Dortmund
AMERICAN youngster Pulisic, 18, has already proven himself more than capable of lighting-up the Bundesliga.
The forward has already racked up 40 appearances in Germany's top-flight, showing off his quick feet and stunning dribbling ability.
Pulisic's Dortmund will go up against Real Madrid, Tottenham and Apoel Nicosia in a riveting-looking group.
TIMO WERNER - RB Leipzig
A NATURAL goalscorer, Werner has been attracting the attention of a host of European giants, including Liverpool.
With 129 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 37 times, the 21-year-old is set to play a crucial role at the Germans this season in Europe.
In a tricky group, Werner's Leipzig will do battle with Besiktas, Porto and Monaco - but his experience at international level, scoring six times in eight games, will be vital.
ELSEID HYSAJ - Napoli
FULL-BACK Hysaj, 23, has already established himself as one of the best wide defenders in Europe.
The 34-cap Albania international thrived as a teenager at Maurizio Sarri's Empoli, before following him to Napoli in 2015.
Hysaj's Serie A side will take on Manchester City, Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk in their group.
JOE GOMEZ - Liverpool
LIVERPOOL are back in the Champions League and it will give youngster Gomez a chance to shine.
In a shaky back four, the ex-Charlton star can play anywhere across the back four - and in adjusting to a congested fixture list once more, could be given a starring role in Jurgen Klopp's XI.
Gomez, 20, and Liverpool go up against Maribor, Sevilla and Spartak Moscow in this season's group stage.
YOURI TIELEMANS - Monaco
BELGIUM midfielder Tielemans is no stranger to the limelight, having been hunted by a host of European giants during his Anderlecht days.
Now on the books of Monaco, the midfielder, 20, the box-to-box star has a knack for scoring worldies - and will be hoping to find his feet in Europe's top tournament.
His Ligue 1 champions will cut their teeth against Besiktas, Porto and RB Leipzig.
CLEMENT LENGLET - Sevilla
TEN-CAP France Under-21 international Lenglet is a composed, left-footed centre-back set to thrive in Seville.
The defender, 22, is set to take on a starring role at Sevilla this season having made 15 La Liga appearances since joining from Nancy in January.
The Spanish giants go up against Liverpool, Maribor and Spartak Moscow in the group stage.
PATRIK SCHICK - Roma
A TALL, elegant forward, Czech international Schick is an interesting player to watch in this season's Champions League.
The striker, 21, joined Roma on loan from Sampdoria this summer having scored 11 times in Serie A last term.
Schick will look to replicate that form in the Champions League group stages, doing battle with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Qarabag.