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The Champions League is just around the corner and we have some really exciting fixtures coming up. Some big name players will be raring to make a statement: Messi trying to win yet another a Champions League with Barcelona, Neymar and Mbappe trying to get the trophy for the first time to the Parc des Princes and Ronaldo trying to win with Juventus who haven't won since 1996.
Although all the eyes will be on the major stars, we shouldn't leave out the young players ho are wanting to make a mark on the big stage. Let's take a look at some of the young players we need to be on the watch out for this time around.
#5 Amadou Diawara
With Jorginho moving on to Chelsea along with Maurizio Sarri, Napoli are in need of a new first choice defensive midfielder. Fortunately for Carlo Ancelotti, the club already has Amadou Diawara sitting on the bench. The 21 year old has played just 1600+ minutes over the last 2 campaigns combined, but has proved himself to suggest that he is ready for the step up.
Diawara arrived at Napoli from Bologna in 2016, and was nominated for the Golden Boy award that year for his performances. Now a standing destroyer, he won the ball back 5 times a game at Bologna. Although the number has dropped for Napoli, it could be argued that the reason is Napoli retaining possession of the ball 60% of the time.
Like his idol Yaya Toure, in whose honor he took the number 42, is great at breaking opposition attacks. Being heavily involved in their build-up play, playing 80 passes a game, which is better than Sergio Busquets, in the same period with a 91% pass accuracy. Also creating 1.6 chances per 90, and arguably he could prove more useful than his ex-teammate in the Champions League, when Napoli can't seem to keep the ball to the same extent they do in Serie A.
#4 Federico Bernardeschi
Juventus's seventh most expensive signing of all time, Italian wide man, Federico Bernardeschi had a tough first year with the Bianconeri. Having been the jewel of a mid-table Fiorentina side a year earlier, Bernardeschi played just 800 minutes in the league for Max Allegri's team in 17/18 season, a real problem for a player who turned 24 halfway through the campaign.
With just a single game in the Champions League, it meant that 1/7 of his minutes came in the European competitions, as a result his impressive numbers need to be taken with a pinch of salt. But with 2 goals and 4 assists after the turn of the year, he has been genuinely excellent and his role has changed completely from his Fiorentina days. While key passes per 90 has gone down, his shots taken is on a constant rise, now at 3 per game, the third best at Juventus.
Bernardeschi will hope in a new look attack featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, he might be able to replace the 32 year old Mandzukic and the departed Higuain. if Juve want to break the UCL duck stretching to 1996, he very much needs to step up his game.
#3 Cengiz Under
21-year-old Cengiz Under moved to Roma in 2017 after a single campaign at the Turkish top flight. His debut season in Italy was solid, 7 goals and an assist in around 1200 minutes, making him Roma's second highest goalscorer in Serie A. Under also takes a pretty good 3.3 shots per game, nearly half of those coming from outside the box. As a result, it isn't a surprise Under over performed in expected goals last season, his 7 strikes coming against an expected 5.
With also the creation of 1.6 chances per game is hardly amazing, but it was the fifth best for Roma and also better than what new signing Javier Pastore managed in Ligue One. Also with the departure of Radja Nainggolan, he will surely carry the more play making responsibility too.
#2 Santi Mina
Valencia striker Santi Mina is up next, as they return to the Champions League following a 2 year stint, where they changed managers 6 times, yes you read it right. Now led by Marcelino, traditionally known for his tight defense, Valencia were the league's third highest goalscorers last season, with the 22 year old Santi chipping in with 12 goals and 2 assists.
Despite his tender age, the Spaniard already has over 150 senior appearances playing 5 full seasons in Valencia and Celta Vigo. 2017/18 was the first campaign he had reached double figures, with frequent appearances from the bench, it meant that he scored a goal every 111 minutes. With only 14% of his shots coming from outside the area, indicating the ability to find high value opportunities in the box.
With predicted goals at 0.52 per game, the same as Antoine Griezmann, is the 10th best in Spain. However Mina doesn't exactly play the role of a creator, with one chance per game,playing in the wings or as an attacking midfielder, he needs to find a home in the centre of the pitch. The Champions League could give him the perfect opportunity.
#1 Ousmane Dembele
Don't buy the argument that Ousmane Dembele had a disappointing first season at Barcelona. The Frenchman may have spent little time at the pitch last year, starting just 12 matches playing only 931 minutes, he managed to contribute 3 goals and 6 assists, one every 103 minutes.
Despite playing a third of the minutes Rakitic did and half of Iniesta, he contributed more assists than either of them. That may seem surprising, but it shows what the young Frenchman is capable of when he is fully fit. With his 2.7 chances created per 90, best in the Barca squad, narrowly beating Messi on 2.6 per 90.
In his full season with Rennes, he completed 5 dribbles a game, and no just below 4 at Spain. He has a massive 60% success rate on completed dribbles, same as other strong dribblers like Wilfred Zaha.
He may just be 21, but his unpredictability still turns defenders inside out. With the ability to shoot with both his feet,it is impossible for the markers to predict what he does next. And with Messi in the other flank, teams can't focus on man-marking Dembele. The results could be frightening, unless you are a Barcelona fan.
