Youth took centre stage within the Champions League this week, with six youngsters lighting up the scoresheet – the joint-most in a single spherical of the competitors.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly had been amongst those who dazzled, however these names want little introduction by now.
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As an alternative, BBC Sport appears to be like on the rising wonderkids who introduced themselves amongst Europe’s brightest stars.
Chelsea youngsters make mark
This text might be made up completely of Chelsea gamers given the success their kids had in a
The Blues gave minutes to 10 gamers aged 21 or youthful, whereas they turned the primary group in Champions League historical past to have three teenage scorers.
Marc Guiu was first on the scoresheet, with the 19-year-old Spaniard – often called a strong, fast quantity 9 – poking residence to briefly change into the membership’s youngest goalscorer within the competitors.
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His file on Wednesday evening lasted for simply 33 minutes with Estevao Willian, who’s one 12 months, three months and 20 days youthful, netting a penalty.
Already a Brazil worldwide with 9 caps, Estevao was described as a by ex-England striker Wayne Rooney when he scored a late winner in opposition to Liverpool earlier this month, whereas his Chelsea team-mate Jorrel Hato – one other teenager who began in opposition to Ajax – stated Barca sensation
English winger Tyrique George scored Chelsea’s fifth objective, and the 19-year-old is already a well-recognized identify after a breakthrough season with the Blues final time period when he performed 750 minutes of their run to the Europa Convention League title.
Reggie Walsh, a technical, deep-lying playmaker who turned 17 on Monday, broke one other file for the membership by turning into their youngest participant in Europe’s high tier competitors, whereas Jamie Gittens, 21, turned the youngest Chelsea participant to create 5 or extra probabilities in a Champions League match – a file beforehand held by Eden Hazard.
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Viktor Dadason
Viktor Dadason got here on within the seventy fifth minute of Copenhagen’s defeat [Getty Images]
Age: 17. Place: Striker. Nationality: Icelandic.
At simply 17 years and 113 days previous, Viktor Dadason turned the third youngest participant to attain within the trendy Champions League period when he netted a comfort objective for Copenhagen within the ninetieth minute of their by Borussia Dortmund.
It was his first objective for the facet, having made his debut within the Danish Superliga on Friday.
Dadason has represented Iceland at numerous youth ranges and his headed objective on Tuesday confirmed he has the talent and potential to change into a bodily dominant centre-forward.
Lennart Karl
Age: 17. Place: Attacking midfielder. Nationality: German.
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Lennart Karl wasted no time in showcasing why he’s one among Germany’s brightest prospects on his first begin for Bayern Munich.
The 17-year-old waltzed effortlessly previous two defenders earlier than rifling a left-footed shot into the highest nook from the sting of the field to attain Bayern’s opener after 5 minutes of their
His confidence ought to come as no shock. Karl, who usually performs within the quantity 10 position, scored 27 objectives and made 11 assists in simply 18 matches whereas enjoying for Bayern’s under-17s final season.
Dro Fernandez
Fernandez joined Barcelona from Val Minor Nigran in 2022 [Getty Images]
Age: 17. Place: Midfielder. Nationality: Spanish.
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The newest expertise from the famed La Masia academy manufacturing line, Dro Fernandez made his first senior aggressive begin final month after collaborating in Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Japan.
The 17-year-old Spaniard showcased his imaginative and prescient with an help in Tuesday’s receiving the ball on the half-turn earlier than driving into house and threading a wonderfully weighted go into the trail of Fermin Lopez.
Fernandez is a forward-thinking midfielder with very good ball management in tight areas – attributes which have earned him comparisons to Barcelona legends Andreas Iniesta and Thiago Alcantara by his youth coaches.
Roony Bardghji
In 2021, Bardghji, on the age of 16, turned Copenhagen’s youngest participant and youngest goalscorer [Getty Images]
Age: 19. Place: Winger. Nationality: Swedish.
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Roony Bardghji, who joined Barcelona from Copenhagen in the summertime, is one other teenager who offered an help for Lopez, who scored a hat-trick.
The 19-year-old confirmed off his fast toes and aptitude by beating an Olympiacos defender with the ‘elastico’ talent earlier than fizzing in a cross from which Lopez fired residence.
Born in Kuwait to Syrian dad and mom, Bardghji – stated to have – moved to Sweden on the age of six and made his worldwide debut for Sweden earlier this month.
Watch highlights of each Champions League recreation from 22:00 on Wednesdays in match weeks on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site and app.