Rising stars making a splash

Teenagers Alan Dzagoev, Stevan Jovetić and Miralem Pjanić came to the fore on Matchday 2, all producing eye-catching match-winning performances. uefa.com takes its pick of ten top youngsters, aged 20 or under, making their mark in this season's UEFA Champions League, following the likes of Pato, Bojan Krkić and Davide Santon who have burst on to the scene in the last two years.

Holger Badstuber, 20, FC Bayern München
The centre-back has come from nowhere to cement a place in the side and cites John Terry as his role model. "Terry is rugged, strong in the air and almost the same height as me so I try to copy how he plays," Badstuber said. It seems to be working a treat. Despite never having made a first-team appearance before this season, he is one of just three players to feature in every minute of Bayern's Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League campaigns this term, with Louis van Gaal's side yet to concede in the latter.

David De Gea, 18, Club Atlético de Madrid
With first-choice goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo on international duty and back-up Roberto picking up an injury, the youngster was thrown in at the deep end against FC Porto on Matchday 2, making his debut as a 26th-minute substitute. De Gea has been earmarked to emulate fellow early starters Iker Casillas and Víctor Valdés and proved his worth in Atlético's subsequent match, saving a penalty against Real Zaragoza in a 2-1 triumph. "He has all the attributes to become a great goalkeeper," said coach Abel Resino, himself a former Atlético No1.

Alan Dzagoev, 19, PFC CSKA Moskva
Dzagoev was a revelation last season, but struggled to make an impact this term until the arrival of Juande Ramos last month. The Spaniard took the teenager off the wing, returning him to his preferred playmaker role and the results have been immediate with goals in both CSKA's Group B games. "He is a very gifted and talented player," said Russia coach Guus Hiddink, who gave Dzagoev his international debut last October.

Eyal Golasa, 18, Maccabi Haifa FC
Considered the next big thing in Israeli football, Haifa have Golasa to thank in large part for reaching the group stage. Trailing FK Aktobe 3-0 in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie, the diminutive playmaker was introduced as a substitute and turned the game, scoring one and inspiring an implausible fightback. He scored again against FC Salzburg in the play-offs and impressed in his two group stage starts before getting injured against FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Combining a great work ethic with a delighful touch, he has drawn comparison with former Haifa favourite Yossi Benayoun.

Emiliano Insúa, 20, Liverpool FC
Insúa has taken advantage of Fábio Aurélio's injury to quietly establish himself at left-back. He took time to hold down a place after signing from CA Boca Juniors in January 2007, initally on loan, but impressed towards the end of last term and has started every game this time round, even winning his first Argentina cap in the recent victory over Peru. With Glen Johnson foraging down the right, Insúa has bolstered Liverpool's attacking options down the flanks.

Stevan Jovetić, 19, ACF Fiorentina
Jovetić's emergence will come as no surprise in his homeland where the Montenegrin international has long been tipped for the top. He made his FK Partizan debut aged 16 and was captaining the side two years later. 'Jo-Jo' is now showing his full potential at Fiorentina, scoring the decisive goal in their play-off against Sporting Clube de Portugal and two more against Liverpool. He is even drawing comparisons with a young Roberto Baggio.

İsmail Köybaşı, 20, Beşiktaş JK
Beşiktaş have endured a torrid start to the season, but they can take some comfort from the excellent form of left-back İsmail Köybaşı who is proving the €5.5m they paid Gaziantepspor for him during the summer was money well spent. Confident on the ball, the defender has caught the eye with his surging runs and accurate crosses and has been fast-tracked to the international side, winning three caps since making his debut in August.

Eliaquim Mangala, 18, R. Standard de Liège
Standard are blessed with young talent, but it is Mangala that has stood out in the UEFA Champions League. He scored just 119 seconds into his competition debut against Arsenal FC with a crisp low strike – not bad for a centre-back. The French youngster with Congolese ancestry boasts a prodigious work rate and great versatility.

Thomas Müller, 20, FC Bayern München
Given the firepower at Bayern's disposal, Müller was not supposed to get much of a chance. A series of inspired performances and five goals, however, have consigned some of his more illustrious team-mates to the bench and evoked memories of namesake Gerd. Though Müller II is a different type of player, he does share Der Bomber's eye for goal, with three in three UEFA Champions League appearances. Most importantly, according to Gerd: "Even when he plays badly he scores."

Miralem Pjanić, 19, Olympique Lyonnais
The Bosnian international phoned Juninho Pernambucano for permission to wear his No8 shirt when the Brazilian left Lyon last summer. Juninho gave his blessing and Pjanić has not looked back since, thriving in the playmaker role. His brilliance at set-pieces alone makes him a worthy successor, and the free-kick he scored against Debreceni VSC, his third UEFA Champions League goal this season, paid more than a passing resemblance to one the maestro himself might have struck.

Five youngest players to appear in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League
Jack Wilshere, Arsenal FC (Born 01/01/1992)
Eyal Golasa, Maccabi Haifa FC (Born 07/10/1991)
Timothée Kolodziejczak, Olympique Lyonnais (Born 01/10/1991)
Georgi Schennikov, PFC CSKA Moskva (Born 27/04/1991)
Nika Piliev, PFC CSKA Moskva (Born 21/03/1991)