They are in their twenties, are stars in the making, and face each other on Wednesday (9 p.m.) for a place in the eighth of the Champions League: Dominik Szoboszlai and Joao Félix, prodigies of Salzburg and Atlético Madrid, play very big during 'a high-stakes European summit.
Behind the untouchable Bayern Munich, first in Group A and already qualified, the Austrian club (4 pts) and their Spanish opponent (6 pts) engage in a direct confrontation for the second available ticket, with the Hungarian nugget and the Portuguese diamond as spearhead.
Under pressure, Felix shines
At Atlético, Joao Félix has gained the upper hand over offensive tauliers like Diego Costa, Luis Suarez or Vitolo.
At only 21 years old, and after a mixed first season in Madrid, this mobile and technical striker is asserting himself day after day as the real boss of an Atlético in full change.
The “Menino de Ouro” (“golden boy” in Portuguese) proved his worth again against the reigning European champion, Bayern Munich, last Tuesday (1-1).
He opened the scoring, multiplied high-class gestures and was the basis of the Colchoneros' attacking construction.
Arrived in Spain from Benfica against 127 million euros in the summer of 2019, a purchase record for the Madrid club, Joao Félix needed some time to adapt, but ended up seducing the supporters , convinced that the Lusitanian nugget is worth its price.
Felix's first goal with Portugal against Croatia last September (4-1)
Since the outbreak of Joao Félix, Atlético has transferred Morata to Juventus in Turin, Angel Correa and Thomas Lemar are often confined to a replacement position, and Luis Suarez and Diego Costa, long absent (Covid-19 and injuries, respectively), were barely missed by the Rojiblancos.
Never as good as when the stakes are high, as against Barça on October 21 in La Liga (1-0), the Portuguese will once again have to take on the role of leader of Atlético to offer Diego Simeone a new qualification for the final phase of C1, almost four months after the surprise elimination in the quarter-finals against Leipzig (2-1) suffered on August 13 in Lisbon.
Szoboszlai, "a new hero is born"
His Salzburg counterpart Dominik Szoboszlai (20) already took part in a historic moment for his country last month, when he led Hungary to a Euro qualification with a last-minute victory over Iceland (2-1) from a long distance goal after a breakthrough in the defense (90th + 2).
“It was the biggest game of my life.
Playing against Cristiano Ronaldo, it will be a dream come true, ”savored the young nugget, who will find next summer in Group F of the Euro France, Germany and Portugal of… Joao Félix.
The player "that all of Europe claims" according to the German magazine Kicker was recruited by Salzburg when he was 16 years old, after having made his first footballing steps with his father, former pro and educator in a training center with innovative methods .
A great attacking midfielder, compared to Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, with a strong penchant for long-distance strikes and passing through the lines, Szoboszlai grew up in Salzburg in the shadow of Norwegian Erling Haaland (transferred from Dortmund), who he had beaten in the final of the Euro U17 in 2017 thanks to an epic strike at the very end of the match.
"A new hero is born," said a TV commentator at the time.
Elected best player in the Austrian championship last year, Szoboszlai also finished 8th in the Golden Boy 2020, ranking of the best young player in Europe (established by journalists) that Felix had won in 2019. According to the press, clubs like the Real Madrid, AC Milan or Leipzig have already shown interest in attracting the jewel.
"I am convinced that in the coming years he will be one of the best midfielders in Europe," said Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund.
A gala poster, in the queen of European club competitions, to compete for a ticket for the round of 16: the perfect scenario for an expected clash between two of the most beautiful promises of European football.
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