sport news Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham go head-to-head in crunch Champions League clash ... trends now
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English football's two brightest talents cross path again on Wednesday night as Manchester City host Real Madrid with a spot in the Champions League semi-final at stake.
Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham have both enjoyed standout seasons so far, which presents Gareth Southgate with an intriguing tactical conundrum ahead of the Euros.
Bellingham has made the England No10 his own, while Southgate has deployed Foden on the right wing in the friendlies against Belgium and Brazil last month.
The 23-year-old has also played primarily wide for City, but has shone when deployed in the No10 role this term and has previously made clear he sees it as his preferred long-term position.
From a statistical standpoint, it's nigh-on impossible to separate Foden and Bellingham.
Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham go head-to-head in the Champions League tonight
The two cross paths last week as City held Real Madrid to a 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of their quarter-final tie
The two England stars have taken the Premier League and LaLiga by storm this season
The former has lit up the Premier League for City, racking up 14 goals and seven assists in 30 appearances.
Foden's stunning effort in last week breathless 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu was his 22nd goal of the season in 45 appearances in all competitions this term along with 10 assists
'He has this spark and incredible talent to score goals and create something,' Guardiola said of Foden after his heroics in Madrid.
The highest-scoring midfielder in LaLiga, Bellingham has 20 goals and 10 assists to his name over 34 matches in all competitions.
Ahead of the first leg, Guardiola praised Bellingham's 'massive impact on Madrid', a point echoed by Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday.
'For the future of Real Madrid he will be one of the most important players,' he said.
'Sometimes we forget he is only 20, he is a fantastic player.'
