Age: 21

Club: FC Barcelona

Position: AM

UCL Caps: 1

The number of players coming out of Barcelona’s La Masia to high praise, and even higher expectations is innumerable. The pressure of being associated with such a famous development system has its drawbacks – often coming in the way of an inability to develop quietly and on a reasonable schedule. In this sea of expectation we find Carles Alena, who has started to turn heads since his call-up to the big squad part way through the season. The going is tough for Alena, who is forced to fight for a competitive midfield spot with a bevy of talented veterans. However in limited starts, the 21-year-old has seemed remarkably comfortable in an advanced position through the middle of the park. Playing off the right, and keeping with the Barca aesthetic, Alena is a highly efficient passer, and pronounced progressor of the ball – exemplified by his 85% pass accuracy in the final third, and 92% overall pass accuracy, which is notable given his advanced position. These numbers, and his familiarity with the system highlight why Ernesto Valverde has been finding more and more reason to use him in the line up. Unfortunately, Barcelona’s bench is deep and their options at midfield expansive, meaning there is a good chance Alena won’t see the pitch in their knockout round matches against Lyon. Nevertheless, if they’re able to establish a big lead in the final leg, one could see Valverde giving him some experience off the bench.