Five to watch from the Youth League finals
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
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UEFA.com has selected five to follow from the 2017 UEFA Youth League finals in Nyon, a real talent showcase for the players of Barcelona, Benfica, Real Madrid and Salzburg.
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Sergio Díaz (Real Madrid)
Díaz, 19, joined Madrid last summer from Cerro Porteño in his native Paraguay. Capable of playing as a lone striker or down either flank, he was a threat against Benfica in the semi-finals on the left of a front three. His assist for Dani Gómez's goal in that match was his fifth of the season – a joint competition best. Also a scorer of four UEFA Youth League goals, Díaz is a regular for Real Madrid Castilla in the Spanish third tier.
João Félix (Benfica)
One of the youngest members of the Benfica squad, 17-year-old Felix was a revelation in his first UEFA Youth League season, scoring six in ten appearances. Like Díaz, he was deployed on the left wing and helped the Eagles gain a stranglehold on their semi-final against Madrid by netting two of their three goals in the opening 19 minutes. This opportunistic strike exemplified his confidence.
Jordi Mboula (Barcelona)
Having sent social media into a frenzy with a superb solo effort against Dortmund in the last 16, the gangly right-winger added another clip to his expanding portfolio by dribbling away from three Salzburg players and curling a left-footed shot into the far corner. That semi-final goal was his eighth in as many UEFA Youth League outings, a total that earned him a share of the top scorers' prize with Ajax's Kaj Sierhuis.
Daka Patson (Salzburg)
Success in Nyon was the culmination of a whirlwind few weeks for the speedy forward, who fired Zambia to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations Under-20 tournament in March. Patson swept in the winner versus Barcelona 25 minutes into his UEFA Youth League debut, cue an acrobatic celebration, and proved his value again three days later with a headed equaliser.
Hannes Wolf (Salzburg)
Wolf, conspicuous by his peroxide blond hair, was one of two members of the Salzburg squad who notched seven UEFA Youth League goals in 2016/17. In contrast to Mergim Berisha, whose strikes all came in the Domestic Champions path, Wolf registered in five successive matches leading up to the final. He set up both goals against Benfica in the decider, having cancelled out Mboula's opener in the semi-finals and laid on the clincher for Daka Patson. More first-team opportunities may be imminent for a player who made his senior debut in December.
