10 Players To Look Out For – Champions League 2009/2010

The 2009/2010 UEFA Champions League proper gets underway this evening as the 32 teams that made it into the group stages begin the long battle ahead on the route to Madrid. No matter your thoughts on the competition, one thing for certain is that the Champions League brings together most of the best players in the world. But we all know about the Ronaldos and the Kakas of this world already. What about the star players who are perhaps lesser known by the competition’s wide viewing audience? Here Just-Football.com presents 10 players for you to keep an eye on in this year’s edition of the Champions League:

1) Diego (Juventus)

Most football fans will surely have already heard of Diego, but his talents are still not as widely recognised as other top players around Europe. They should be. Diego is a superbly gifted playmaker who was arguably the best player in Germany over the last few years and has now moved on to Juventus. There he has already won supporters over on the back of a masterclass against AS Roma in which he scored two goals in a 3-1 away win. Still overlooked by Dunga, who incredibly seems to favour Elano for the Brazil squad, Diego will be one of the men around whom Juve coach Ciro Ferrara builds his team.

2) Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyonnais)

Known for his blisteringly powerful left foot, Michel Bastos is a talented and determined player who can be used either at left back or as an orthodox left winger as he is for his new club Lyon. After three remarkable years at Lille Bastos was linked to several clubs around Europe over the summer, but it was French giants Lyon who won the race for his signature after mounting a huge €18 million bid for the player shortlisted for France’s player of the year award. Bastos was the fourth top scorer and created the most assists in France last season, and the Brazilian’s career at Lyon has already got off to an impressive start.

3) Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)

Fiorentina would not even be in this season’s Champions League were it not for Stevan Jovetic. The Montenegran international’s goal against Sporting Lisbon was decisive in that qualifying clash, scored just moments after Jovetic came off the bench, and the accomplished way in which he took it showed all the natural abilities the 19-year-old appears to have in abundance – technique, awareness and cool in front of goal. Manuel Pellegrini is suitably impressed. The Real Madrid coach touted Jovetic as football’s next big star when asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport and given the player’s immense potential it is easy to see why.

4) Mounir El Hamdaoui (AZ Alkmaar)

The shining light in AZ Alkmaar’s title winning team of last season, Mounir El Hamdaoui may not have made the grade during unsuccessful spells at Spurs and Derby County but he has certainly proved his worth since moving to Holland. El Hamdaoui bagged 23 league goals for AZ Alkmaar last year while providing countless assists and was the chief creative outlet in a talented AZ side. Two-footed, tricky and with flair in abundance El Hamdaoui was scouted by more than 20 teams last season including FC Barcelona, and with five goals to his name already this season the Moroccan international’s quality is clearly no flash in the pan. It will be interesting to see how he does on a bigger stage.

5) Steven Defour (Standard Liege)

The bad news for Standard Liege supporters is that Steven Defour may not play much part in the Champions League this season having recently broken his foot, but if he does manage to get back to full fitness any sooner than the expected three month lay-off then we will all get a taste of why Defour is so highly-rated. The Standard midfielder has been captain of the club since he was 19 such are his leadership qualities, and Defour’s passing ability and exceptional work rate have made the 21-year-old one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe. A central component of the Standard team that has won two consecutive league titles, Defour won the Golden Shoe for most valuable player in Belgium in 2007/2008 and is now also a regular at international level for Belgium.

6) Edin Dzeko (VfL Wolfsburg)

With 26 goals in the Bundesliga last season it is a minor miracle that VfL Wolfsburg managed to hold onto the Bosnian frontman, but their chances of making it out of the group stages are greatly enhanced for having the 23-year-old around. Described as a ‘young Shevchenko’ by Gianluca Vialli, Dzeko has a good presence about him, can hold the ball up, brings others into play (as proved by his magnificent relationship with strike partner Grafite) and is an impressive finisher. A proper number nine type of centre forward, the likes of AC Milan and Arsenal may just regret not trying harder to acquire Dzeko’s services.

7) Yassine Chikhaoui (FC Zurich)

After covering the yle="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.just-football.com/search/label/African%20Cup%20of%20Nations%202008">African Cup of Nations in 2008 and picking out Yassine Chikhaoui as one of the tournament’s best players it is a real surprise to me that FC Zurich have managed to keep hold of the Tunisian international this long. Back then he was being scouted by Lyon, Ajax and Marseille and if the 22-year-old continues to show the sort of extraordinary promise he has done to date it will not be long before Chikhaoui moves on from Swiss football. Operating as a sort of number 10 type player, Yassine Chikhaoui is stocky and tall yet highly gifted technically, bringing poise, creativity and an assured touch to Zurich’s team. When the situation dictates he uses his physical presence well and is dangerous in the air, but it is with the ball at his feet where Chikhaoui’s magic lies.

Yoann Gourcuff (Girondins Bordeaux)

Bordeaux’s talisman and a central cog in Laurent Blanc’s title winning side of last season, it seems odd to think AC Milan actually let Yoann Gourcuff go. But they did, and Milan’s loss has most certainly been Bordeaux’s gain as the reigning French player of the year spearheaded the club from the wine province’s charge to a domestic league and cup double with his consistently excellent displays. Gourcuff brings grace, balance and vision to Blanc’s side, whilst also offering a constant threat in his role as a central attacking midfielder. Dubbed ‘le successeur’ to Zidane by L’Equipe, Gourcuff can and often does provide the occasional wonder goal.

9) Thiago Motta (Inter Milan)

Those who saw Thiago Motta delight for Genoa in Serie A last season will be fully aware of the Brazilian midfielder’s talents, while those who didn’t are in for a treat now Motta will be playing to a wider audience. A tenacious midfielder who likes to get in the box, Motta is good at timing his runs from deep and brings a cutting edge to Inter Milan’s midfield. His link-up play with Diego Milito was crucial to Genoa’s 5th place finish in Italy last season and will be important to Jose Mourinho’s plans for Inter this year too.

10) Radamel Falcao (FC Porto)

Formerly of River Plate in Argentina, Radamel Falcao was signed in the summer by FC Porto to help them replace the departed Lisandro Lopez. So far he is doing a good job. 4 goals in 4 games has impressed the Porto faithful while hinting that the Colombian is of the necessary calibre to adapt to European football seamlessly. Loved at River for his professionalism, courage and of course his fruitful goalscoring record, Falcao scored 45 goals in 111 matches in Argentina and brings both speed and agility to Porto’s attack.

Anyone you rate higher or think we should have included? Let us know. Comments welcome.

Champions League, Diego, Edin Dzeko, Europe, Michel Bastos, Mounir El Hamdaoui, Radamel Falcao, Stevan Jovetic, Steven Defour, Thiago Motta, Yassine Chikhaoui, Yoann Gourcuff