Dodi LUKEBAKIO
(Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Having scored a hat-trick as Fortuna Dusseldorf drew 3-3 at Bayern Munich, the Belgium under-21 is proof positive of the benefits of the loan system.
After joining Watford from Anderlecht in January 2018, the Belgo-Congolese 21-year-old found the going tough at Vicarage Road. But how well he has bounced back since joining Fortuna this season.
Within a few months of moving to Germany he became the first Bundesliga marksman to score three against Bayern since Ebbe Sand of Schalke in 2001 and the first player ever to put three past Manuel Neuer in a league game.
So what has made the difference? Well, in marked contrast to his experience in England, his Dusseldorf coach Friedhelm Funkel believes in him. Unlike in the Premier League, top-flight bosses in Germany will back a hunch and give youngsters their head.
“Dodi’s a young man with a lot of self-confidence and has settled in very well,” says Funkel. “He’s extraordinarily quick, has great dribbling ability and is ice-cool in his finishing.
“He’s an unpredictable sort of player. That’s why we like to give him as much freedom as possible. He has the potential to develop into a very good footballer, but we must not get carried away.”
Jordan TORUNARIGHA (Hertha Berlin)
The Germany under-21 international centre-back has been mightily impressive this autumn, scoring in his side’s win away at Hanover.
Eder MILITAO (Porto)
The Brazilian stopper was on target in the Champions League win at Schalke and is getting better with every week.
TAISON (Shakhtar Donetsk)
The Ukrainian side’s skipper and dribbling machine made two and scored another in his side’s 3-1 Champions League victory at Hoffenheim.
Juan BERNAT (Paris Saint-Germain)
The left-back, unjustly labelled a “bad buy” by Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, scored his side’s opener in the 2-1 Champions League win at home to Liverpool.
Marcos LLORENTE (Real Madrid)
The 23-year-old is proving himself an outstanding alternative to Casemiro as Madrid’s midfield anchor.
Houssem AOUAR (Lyon)
The midfielder was quite brilliant in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Manchester City – whose boss Pep Guardiola is a self-confessed fan.