Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Champions League 2019/20

#4 Jadon Sancho wins the wonder-kid winger war

Jadon Sancho

On Tuesday evening, both sides employed teenage sensations on their flanks. While Sancho started for the hosts, Ansu Fati was given the nod over the returning Lionel Messi.

Both starlets had enjoyed superlative campaigns before the game, with the Barcelona prodigy in particular, turning heads with his display at the weekend.

At the Signal Iduna Park though, the 16-year-old lost out in the battle of the teenagers to Sancho and rather convincingly.

However, the result of the winger war didn’t particularly come as a surprise, especially in light of what the Englishman has achieved over the past eighteen months.

Sancho has catapulted himself into the higher echelons of English football courtesy a string of dazzling displays for club and country. Capable of waltzing past any defender, the winger’s directness, pace and trickery has often unlocked many a stubborn defensive door.

And, on Tuesday, the Dortmund forward showcased his entire repertoire of offensive weapons.

On numerous occasions, Sancho ran at the Barcelona defence with intent, meaning that the visitors’ rear-guard were instantly pushed onto the back foot. The Englishman was also crucial in winning his side a penalty.

As for Ansu Fati, the teenager looked bright in patches but was unable to scale the dizzying peaks he did against Valencia. The hosts did extremely well to not afford him any space behind the back-line, thereby disabling him from using his searing pace.

Encouragingly for Barcelona though, despite not enjoying a great game, the winger wasn’t afraid to ask for the ball. And, that particular trait might endear him to the Blaugrana faithful even more.

At 16 years of age, Ansu Fati has an enormous amount of time to blossom into a superstar and perhaps, the match against the Bundesliga might’ve come at the right time for him.

After all, football isn’t that easy and an experience such as the one at the Signal Iduna Park will only help him traverse his footballing journey better.