With Europe’s premier club competition now back under way once again, we take a look at the 10 most valuable attacking players in the tournament as determined by the number of key passes made on average per game ….
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10) Marcelo (Real Madrid): 2.3 Key Passes Per Game (KP’s)
The exciting Brazil international has won the battle of the left backs at the Santiago Bernabeu under new boss Carlo Ancelotti so far this season, beating off the challenge of rival full-back Fabio Coentrao to claim the starting berth on the left-hand side of the La Liga giants’ back four, and with good reason too with Marcelo contributing more going forward.
9) Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid): 2.4 KP’s
Despite all the heavy criticism that the German star has been receiving of late in the British press, the brilliant playmaker has still been enjoying an excellent debut campaign with the north London club, especially in Europe, when the 25-year-old has been one of the Gunners’ most creative and inventive players.
8) Jefferson Farfan (Schalke 04): 2.4 KP’s
Yet again the experienced Peru international has been one of the Bundesliga outfit’s standout performers in Europe’s premier club competition, with the forward having managed to contribute an impressive 2.4 key passes on average in every game the Germans have played in the Uefa Champions League this season.
7) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): 2.5 KP’s
The Englishman has perhaps been his side’s best player in what has been a difficult campaign for the Premier League champions, and especially in the Uefa Champions League, although the Red Devils are going to need all of the forward’s creativity as they look to overturn a two-goal deficit at home to Olympiacos at Old Trafford next week.
6) Josue (FC Porto): 2.5 KP’s
The Portugal international’s name is perhaps a surprise entry here in this top 10, especially given the fact that the Portuguese champions did not even make it out of their group and into the knockout phase, although not if you saw some of the 23-year-old’s displays in midfield for the Dragao giants however.
5) Andrea Pirlo (Juventus): 2.8 KP’s
Well it would have been a shock for the Italy international not to have made the cut, especially given the accurate passers reputation throughout Planet Football since joining the Serie A champions for unlocking back fours with his vision.
4) Carlos Tevez (Juventus): 2.8 KP’s
Hardly renowned for his defence-splitting passes during his time in England with both West Ham United, Manchester United or Manchester City,the Argentinian forward appears to have developed a new side to his attacking game since moving to Turin last year.
3) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): 3 KP’s
What a sensational campaign the France international is having up front for los Blancos this season, with both goals aplenty and key passes and assists galore too as the front man makes up for what was a relatively slow start to the campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu.
2) Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica): 3.2 KP’s
There is a reason that the likes of both Liverpool and Manchester United have been keeping close tabs on the brilliant Argentina international of late, and even though the Portuguese giants did not make it past the group stage of the Champions League, the midfielder still managed to catch the eye with his displays for the club though.
1) Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich): 3.5 KP’s
What a wonderful season the twinkle-toed France international is currently having on the wing for the Uefa Champions League holders, with Ribery seemingly intent on making up for the disappointment of missing out on the Fifa Ballon d’Or award by guiding the Bavarian giants to an historic back-to-back triumph in Europe’s premier club competition this May.