Champions League: Mohamed Elias Achouri, the Tunisian who could trouble Bayern

The Champions League can sometimes produce dream nights. And Mohamed Elias Achouri has a golden opportunity to seize this Tuesday, 03 October 2023. His side, FC Copenhagen, host mighty Bayern Munich. On paper the Danish club start with a clear disadvantage, but as the saying goes, "in football, anything is possible". What's more, the Bavarians have been showing defensive frailties at the start of the season. They conceded 3 goals against Leipzig in the German Super Cup, for example, and 2 against the same opponents in the Bundesliga. Against Leverkusen, they also let in 2. In the Champions League, despite a controlled display against Manchester United on matchday 1, Bayern still managed to concede 3 goals (4-3 win). All of which is to say there will be space to exploit.

A winger who thrives on space and dribbling

Mohamed Elias Achouri loves wide-open spaces. The Tunisia international (6 caps) thrives on the room he can race into at pace. A right winger, he is one of Copenhagen's most dangerous weapons, having arrived this summer. In 14 games in all competitions this season, the Eagle of Carthage already has 2 goals and 6 assists. The 23-year-old also scored in the qualifying rounds to help his side reach the group stage. Since the start of the season, his partnership with Mohamed Elyounoussi, his counterpart on the left, has been working wonders. His dribbling ability has impressed observers of Danish football.

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Last season, too, Mohamed Elias Achouri showed unrivalled dribbling ability. Between November 2022 (the date of his first start for Viborg) and July 2023, he completed 60 of his 111 attempted dribbles. Nobody did better in the Danish league.

Elias Achouri ➕ Mohamed Elyounoussi = 🤯🥵😱 #fcklive #sldk pic.twitter.com/GQQeyyQ9TB

— F.C. København (@FCKobenhavn) August 19, 2023

Spells in France and Portugal

Before establishing himself in Denmark, Mohamed Elias Achouri moved around quite a bit. The right winger, who developed at Saint-Etienne, never got his chance there as Les Verts let him leave at 17. In 2016 he joined the youth teams at Vitória Guimarães. He then moved to GD Estoril in 2020, who loaned him to Trofense in the Portuguese second division. That is where he made his 1st appearance, in September 2021.

In 2022, Mohamed Elias Achouri decided to sign for Viborg FF in Denmark on a three-season deal. It proved a wise choice, as he finally got to show his talent. In 28 games in all competitions, the Tunisian scored 6 goals and provided 9 assists. That caught Copenhagen's eye, and they didn't hesitate to sign him. It looks like a move that is working well for both parties so far. The Danish club can count on an explosive winger. And Achouri has the chance to shine on the European stage, and who knows, perhaps as early as tonight against the Bavarian giants.