Di Maria and Gnabry ready to upstage superstars
● Lesser-known pair may grab the glory ahead of Neymar, Lewandowski & Co
A couple of lesser-known players could prove decisive in the Champions League final tomorrow.
While most will be watching Paris Saint-germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, or Bayern counterparts Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski, the title could come down to Angel Di Maria or Serge Gnabry.
They don’t carry the same hype as some of their teammates, but they have been crucial for their teams this season. Both made an impact in the semi-finals. Di Maria scored once and had two assists in PSG’S 3-0 win over Leipzig on Tuesday, while Gnabry scored twice in his team’s 3-0 win over Lyon on Wednesday. Both won the man-ofthe-match accolade for their performances.
“We are very happy to have reached our goal of being in the final,” Di Maria said. “Now we want to go a step further.”
The skilful and agile Di Maria has already made the difference in a Champions League final, leading Real Madrid to the title against city rivals Atletico Madrid six years ago. The 34-year-old Argentine is among PSG’S top scorers this season and is one of the team’s assist leaders.
The sturdy and fast Gnabry is less experienced but has been just as crucial for his club this season. The 25-yearold German has scored nine Champions League goals in nine matches, behind only Lewandowski’s 15. The 24 combined goals scored by them is a record by a duo in a Champions League season.
“If you look at the way Serge developed in the last years, not only at Bayern but also in the national team, then you have to say that he is close to world class,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick, inset. “He is a dynamic and dangerous goalscorer, so we are happy that he is in our team. He is of tremendous quality but I am sure that he is far from a finished product.”
Gnabry’s improvement is visible from a year ago, when he was scoreless in the Champions League and couldn’t help Bayern avoid elimination by Liverpool in the round of 16. This season he has scored a goal in every three shots he took, and has created nearly two chances per game on average, according to statistical analysts Driblab. He has also become one of the team’s leaders in recoveries, with almost five per game.
Di Maria scored three goals but was a lot more effective then Gnabry creating chances, with an average of almost three per game in his eight matches with PSG. He also thrived setting up his teammates, with an average of almost one assist per game. Di Maria didn’t play in the quarter-finals against Atalanta because of a suspension.
What both players have in common is that they will be playing for the title after having their careers stalled in England – Di Maria while with Manchester United and Gnabry with Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion.
Di Maria was United’s record signing when he joined from Real Madrid in 2014, but was unable to live up to the fee of £59.7 million. Manager Louis van Gaal couldn’t work out how to get the best from him, using him in central midfield and on the left wing as the team finished fourth in the Premier League. Di Maria and his family were also shaken by an attempted burglary before leaving for Paris in 2015 after less than a year in Manchester.
Gnabry could not get it going during his time with Arsenal in the early 2010s, making only a few appearances as a starter before being sent on loan to West Brom where his qualities were questioned by the management. His career was revitalised after joining Werder
Bremen and Hoffenheim, eventually leading him to a place with Bayern in 2018.
Both Gnabry and Di Maria have played a role with their national teams. Di Maria is a three-time World Cup veteran and reached the 2014 final in Brazil, while Gnabry helped Germany to a runner-up finish in the 2016 Olympic final. He did not make the World Cup squad two years later, though.
Di Maria could have a bit of an edge over Gnabry in Lisbon tomorrow night. The Argentine used to play there during his time with Benfica, and it’s where he won the 2014 Champions League final.