This season's UEFA Champions League has seen plenty of players thrive, especially the likes of Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybala, who managed to carry their respective teams several times throughout the competition.
However, there are also a great deal of players that were either not expected to perform as well as they are currently doing, or else they are not in the same form in the league. In order to give some recognition to these players, I have compiled a list of the four players that have overperformed in my opinion.
Axel Witsel - Borussia Dortmund
The Belgian international signed for Borussia Dortmund this summer from Chinese side, Tianjin Quanjian, and he has not looked back since. Apart from helping his side top the Bundesliga, the midfielder has also been one of the major reasons why they are currently at the top of their Champions League group.
Witsel has managed to get an outstanding pass success rate of 93.5%%, one of the highest rates for a central midfielder in the whole competition. To put this rate into perspective, Fernandinho, who is playing under the very tactical Pep Guardiola, has a pass success rate of 85.3%, a stat that is already impressive, highlighting how critical Witsel has been to Dortmund this season.
Apart from controlling the midfield incredibly, Witsel has also pitched in to the goalscoring by getting himself a goal, as well as earning a man of the match performance against a very strong Atletico Madrid side.
Tanguy Ndombele - Olympique Lyonnais
Ndombele has emerged as a key figure in the heart of the midfield for Lyon, both in the league and in the Champions League, earning himself a call-up to the French national team in the process. The Frenchman's key performances have come in the Champions League, putting out two man of the match displays, both of which against Hoffenheim.
Apart from having an average of two shots per game, which is great for a defensive midfielder like Ndombele, who has also managed to get himself two goals in the competition. The energetic midfielder has managed to retain a pass success rate of 84.1%, very impressive considering the tough group that Lyon have in the Champions League.
He has also shown an instinct to drive his team forward with his incredible dribbling qualities, completing an average of three dribbles per match.
Edin Dzeko - AS Roma
The imposing figure of Edin Dzeko has frightened sides in the Champions League this season, often being the gamechanger in crucial matches. Whilst Dzeko has been a consistent performer for Roma for a few seasons now, his form in the league has dropped massively, yet his Champions League displays have been thrilling.
The Boznian has had a hand in seven of Roma's 10 goals in the competition this season, scoring five and setting up another two for his team-mates.
Apart from his goalscoring, Dzeko has also been impressive in Roma's attacking buildups, getting a pass success rate of 71.4%, which is very impressive for a towering striker like him. He has also won an outstanding 4.3 aerial duels per game.
Whilst the Boznian might be isolated in certain matches, he has certainly made his presence felt in the competition this season, being awarded with two man of the match awards for his performances.
Kerem Demirbay - Hoffenheim
The German has been somewhat of a journeyman over the last few seasons, playing for the likes of Hamburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf, yet he has established himself as a crucial cog in Hoffenheim's midfield under Julian Nagelsmann.
Hoffenheim have steadied themselves in the Bundesliga under the German coach, and while they are likely to get knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage, they have held their own and proved to be resolute for teams to break down, especially with the defensive security that Demirbay has offered them.
The midfielder has been converted from an attacking midfielder into a more deep-lying playmaker, and this change in role has paid dividends for the German side, getting himself two assists in the process.
Demirbay has an average of two key passes every match, whilst he has also been secure in his work, being dispossessed on average just once a match.
Whether Hoffenheim progress or not is still unclear, but if they manage to do so, Demirbay will be one of the main reasons that they will have done so.
Do you agree with the list above? Who did we fail to mention?
