ASSISTKINGS QUARTERLY: THE BUSINESS END, THE VICE TIGHTENS

Welcome my friends...
to the show that never ends
we continue where we last left off with the matches in between the two legs of the quarterfinals always proving to be hard-earned points and battle grounds for further creative achievements from our favorite players as the VICE TIGHTENS...
we begin again with the most creative players in the world right now, playing at this moment (the list won't focus on players who were rested for Champions League play)
let us begin! join us and tell us your top 10 in the comment section below!
PEACE...LOVE...AND FOOTBALL


10
LIONEL MESSI (Barca)
Did Not Play vs Huesca, Messi was wisely being rested for the 2nd Leg vs United


-18 assists
-KEY PASSES:
 -TOTAL: 119
 -PER 90: 3.1 (UCL), 2.9 (LA LIGA)
-Assisted Roberto, Rakitic, Coutinho, Suarez (x2) and Alba who've hit the post 

        This is odd, Messi hasn't been lower than 3rd on our list since we've started doing AssistKings Quarterly. But since he didn't participate for once this weekend, being rested vs Huesca by Ernesto Valverde, Messi (just like Depay, Sane, etc before him) must go from the top spots to the periphery due to his non-participation, as this list favors those who've played recently. 
            But...the King has to be here...he has the toppermost of the poppermost when it comes to straight up assists numbers, he's generally been anywhere in the top five of total chances created... but screw stats, the eye test proves it: even in a match where he's not as involved or as high octane, such as the United 1st leg where he was bludgeoned by the James Bond henchman Chris Smalling, he still produced the moment of unequal magic that irrevocably won Barcelona the match at Old Trafford: his brilliant, eyes in the back of his head turn and cross that put Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling on their knees, openly flabbergasted as Messi crossed the ball across his body without so much as a glance and it went straight to Suarez's head, though it just so happens the ball touched Luke Shaw's shoulder on the way in, turning into an own goal, yet the eye test is proof enough: no matter the opponent, no matter the odds, Messi will create an abundance of chances and sometimes in a team sport, it's up to your teammates to finish them off.
             Stopping Messi will be of greater importance in the coming 2nd leg match vs United at Camp Nou, which completely opens up opportunities for the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez to score goals from this magnetism to Messi. 
             In fact, Dembele and Messi have combined for 7 goals this season, including 3 in the Champions League and the two long-time South American pals Messi and Suarez have combined for 9 this campaign, but with Ousmane's added pace and finishing touch against a  United team entering the tie already needing a goal, Lionel Messi's 3 (really 4) Champions League assists could skyrocket as Barca hit a United team starved of possession on the counter attack.

Messi isn't even sorry about blasting this keeper's nuts apart

9
NICOLAS PEPE (Lille)

-12 assists overall
-UDGC: 2

        The Ivorian has become a chameleon of talent in Ligue 1 this season, improving upon his glistening campaigns in recent seasons with a fanciful 2018/19.
        But this time, this cat is serious: with 2 assists and a goal against PSG in a 5-1 drubbing of the "champions in waiting" being a Twitter shocker, but something that's not all too surprising at the same time.
        A) PSG are the biggest bottlers in world football.
        B) Lille have a good structure of talent throughout their team, especially with Pepe, Jonathan Ikone and Jonathan Bamba, plus they've got the bizarre center back Jose Fonte, the long-time Premier League hero and villain from Portugal, fanning the 2006 World Cup / Euro 2004 flames of hatred between the two countries. Fonte has played fantastically this campaign and has provided the backbone to a wonderful bevy of attacking talent up top, led by this man Pepe.
         He was on the outside of our last list, but now with his second multi-assist match in Ligue 1 and against PSG, Pepe must be included.
         Pepe began his creative assault on PSG
 with a free kick assist taken with much gusto from the left wing (headed in by Gabriel a substitute center back, on at half time), floating the ball and bending it around the hapless figure of Presnel Kimpembe.
        And to follow, the Ivorian sent in yet another cross to put the Parisians to the sword, this time dealt with by the aforementioned Jose Fonte, the Portugal international always more than ok to pitch in with a few goals.
          This was after Nicolas Pepe had broken through the PSG midfield and defense like a runaway freight train and was fed a perfect through ball down the middle of the pitch (for one of Jonathan Ikone's two assists and 3 created goals), a chance he easily dispatched through a helpless, emasculated Alphonse Areola with his adept left foot.
          The Ivory Coast star continues to rise, and realistically, who knows how good he can be...but his ceiling is getting higher by the match, and pulling down the pants of a few World Cup winners at PSG, in the process, is something that definitely raises one's profile. 


8
RYAN FRASER (Bournemouth)

-13 assists overall
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 77
 -PER 90: 2.2 (EPL)

        Fraser went off against Brighton, with 1 deliciously chipped finish over the keeper, from outside of the box, while slipping and falling over on his arse to his right, for his 10th goal in all competitions. 
         However, Bournemouth and Fraser weren't finished: Callum Wilson and Fraser combined again when Fraser sent in a cross that wasn't meant for Wilson, but the tall, lanky young Englishman saw it as his own and picked it out of the air with his boots and then proceeded to pick Brighton's center backs apart with another smart finish. 
         Fraser even issued his 2nd assist to David Brooks on a nice give and go at the top of the box, with Brooks rushing in on goal and finishing even as a defender ran into the back of him and the goalkeeper narrowed the angle. Fraser's through ball  was quick enough that Brooks could make his decision fast and go with it...Fraser always makes the finish easier for his Bournemouth colleagues. 
       Despite Whoscored.com innocuously refusing to award the Brooks goal as a Fraser assist, we will do so here because there is absolutely no reason at all that the assist shouldn't be given to Mr. Fraser, which would then make him tied with Hazard at 1st on the EPL Assists Table. 
            Whatever deflection Brooks let happen in the split second before he blasted it into goal (obviously never losing complete possession) doesn't matter, the assist should be given to the passer, thus being the Scotland international Ryan Fraser. 
            Come on, root for the underdog and the nerds on this one!
            Fraser returns home to the list where he's belonged 99.9% of this season!


7
JADON SANCHO (Dortmund)

-15 assists
-3 goals & 4 assists in his last 8 matches
-Key Passes:
 -TOTAL: 71 
 -PER 90: 2.6 (BUND), 2.1 (UCL)

        With the aforementioned stat, his 3 goals & 4 assists in 8 matches, we've seen Jadon Sancho glisten at one moment and then find himself in a drought, usually due to Dortmund playing horribly as a team, something that tends to have an affect on a teenager, let alone any player.
         But Sancho returned to his greatness, punching in 2 goals with a poacher-like mentality to get his club back into the Bundesliga race, a race they've now maybe lost too much ground to Bayern in, though these 2 goals from Sancho give Dortmund a fighter's chance.
         He was arriving at the back post for a terrific Mario Gotze ball and smashed in a low, deflected shot that helped Dortmund off to an early, goal-happy start.   
        Their savagery continued again only minutes later, this time Sancho's shot deflected again in the center of the box, wrong-footing the keeper and knocking in from close range, although the Mainz keeper most likely had no chance at stopping the English teen's swept effort into the corner, anyway. 
         Sancho was also creating, posting 4 key passes in a return to his best form, setting up Reus right before half time with a laser sculpted pass square across the box to the Dortmund captain, the perfect weight for Reus to run on to with a quick touch, sending the defender yards back in his hesitation and freeing Reus up for the perfect shot, which he hit nicely, only for a  Mainz defender to sniff it out in what basically amounts to a block off of the line, as that shot, and that move set up by Sancho had the entire Mainz back line, including their keeper, befuddled and driven mad. 

                 Sancho continues to drive fans, opponents and his own teammates  completely nuts with his astounding season. 
                 The journey continues...

6
KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG)

-15 assists overall
-Key passes
 -TOTAL: 65
 -PER 90: 1.9 (LIGUE1) , 2.1 (UCL)

        Mbappe's PSG had a nightmare outing against Lille: the Champions League is gone, Neymar is still injured and has no interest in playing, Cavani is barely playing...all withstanding, they were still going to be crowned Ligue 1 champions with a victory over Lille today.
            Instead, Lille put on a show that embarrassed Tuchel's PSG, including the slapstick hi jinks of Thomas Meunier's soap opera reaction to the own goal he caused due to Jonathan Ikone's inaccurate cross smacking violently into the bafoonish looking Belgian's hulking legs (the 2nd bad own goal from a Belgian defender lately).
         But to respond?
         In PSG's only act of defiance the entire match, and long before both of these players should've been sent off, Mbappe went on a ridiculous run down the right wing, cutting inside and flipping the ball over his own body, collecting it on its way down as he shifted backwards, his body parallel to the goal...which made the next part even more difficult. 
         Mbappe then smacks a filthy first time cross (on the volley and right through the traffic of Lille players) clear to the back post towards a perfectly timed run by Juan Bernat, waiting to beat the offside trap and he does with precision (something that helped him score 4 goals in the Champions League this season, 2 of them assisted by Mbappe).
       Bernat's finish was great, though it was the run and the execution of the cross, on the volley by Kylian Mbappe that blew my brains out. The run before it bamboozled the Lille defense into hesitation and caution, something which gave the 20 year old just a bit of space to carve the cross out from under his feet.
         He also set up a perfect chance to Moussa Diaby, only the young Frenchman waited too long to shoot the ball and instead had to opt for a blocked pass across the face of goal, ignoring Mbappe's run in behind as well. It shows how mature Mbappe is for his age, although he still did things that stunned us in the opposite:
         Besides having a lazy offside that cost his team and himself a goal, in the final seconds of the match vs Lille, the World Cup winner smashed into Thiago Mendes's crotch / inner thigh with his boot, grinding on flesh before retreating and raising his hands in calm, quiet protest. 
         It was a creepy thing for such an esteemed footballer to do, and it made me wonder (when he was only shown a yellow card) if it were any other player, wouldn't they be sent off? The rest of the match is a blur of Nicolas Pepe's talents and Jonathan Ikone having a career day as PSG sank further to their campaign's second, or third rock bottom. 
          

5
JOSHUA KIMMICH (Bayern)

-15 assists overall
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 91
 -PER 90: 2.1 (BUND), 2.3 (UCL)
-UDGC:10
-Assisted Thiago Alcantara, Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka in hitting the post

      Kimmich assists yet again for the second time in three matches, finding Kingsley Coman in the box and the French winger fantastically guided the German's pass with an arrowed shot into the roof of the far corner. 
    It was a wondrous move, and it all started from typical and impossible to stop interplay between Gnabry and Kimmich up the right wing, this time the Arsenal youth product setting Joshua Kimmich loose on a run just outside the box and the Bayern right back produced a cutback of skillful perfection.
    Kimmich is an artist on the wings with his illustrious cutbacks as we saw this weekend, or his manic and frenzied crossing that retains and gains accuracy, something Trent Alexander-Arnold is trying to initiate at Liverpool with great success.
     This is one reason why his "long established" / always gonna happen, just a matter of when" move from right back to midfield hasn't happened yet. 
       It's not that World Cup winner Javi Martinez or even absent World Cup winner Corentin Tolisso are better alongside Thiago Alcantara, it's been the loss of Kimmich's match-altering / momentous crosses and cutbacks from the right wing that's kept him at right back. The Bayern youth academy graduate can always be found running into space for a perfectly executed and weighted cross or pass into the box.
          Sure, the German has had dry spells recently and his absence in the creativity department for Bayern Munich in the 2nd leg against Liverpool was critical as Bayern fell 3-1 at home, though altogether he's been so good it's hard to understand how he isn't averaging 2 assists or more per match,  his attacking output is simply more dangerous out wide and the right wing is perfectly tailored for his abilities: an area that's giving a great possessor of the ball even more space, giving him distance away from defenders to pass from his dominant foot (his right), always just outside of the left back's reach. 
         Lionel Messi was quoted at some point in 2019 saying that he would "love to play with Joshua Kimmich at Barcelona", quite the affirmation of the young, determined German's all-encompassing goal creating proclivities.


4 CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (Tottenham)

-16 assists overall
(4 assists, 1 goal in last 4 matches)
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 91
 -PER 90: 2.6 (UCL), 2.2 (EPL)

         Eriksen was the hub of attack for Spurs as predicted, yet there were plenty to go around as Tottenham easily dispatched Huddersfield 4-0, with the Dane grabbing his 11th Premier League assist in the win and creating 6 chances. 
        It was the perfect way for Spurs to go into the 2nd leg against Manchester City, danger looming and a potential storm on the horizon without Harry Kane  at the Etihad. 
        But this squad showed their depth today, with Fernando Llorente getting an assist and hitting the post, Moussa Sissoko, Eriksen and Son all finishing off moves to Lucas Moura's first hat trick in European competition, with the Danish captain launching an off the ground cross / pass from the right hip into the path of Moura outside of the box and in between a crowd of Huddersfield players, the Brazilian doing the rest with pace and power before scoring with aplomb.
         Spurs have shown they can use Moura's speed from Eriksen lobs in behind to destroy opponents all season, especially after Kane went off in the 1st leg vs City. Now with a hat trick to aid his confidence, Moura will be looking to Eriksen to supply him at the Etihad and the Brazilian will hope his woeful finishing days are far behind him.
         If Eriksen assists in Manchester, Spurs have a 98% chance of getting through, but if he can be stunted and forced into uncomfortable scenarios, City will surely outscore Spurs, right?
       

3
DUSAN TADIC (Ajax)

-18 assists overall
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 123
 -PER 90: 3.0 (UCL), 3.1 (ERED)

       Tadic keeps producing goals and assists, such as his unselfish shot into the feet of Klaas-Jan Huuntelaar (the Methuselah of Dutch strikers) to finish off his hat trick, and the Dutchman thanked him by firing into the near post, giving Tadic his 18th assist which now ties him with Lionel Messi at #1 in the European assists table. 
      The Serbian attacking mid is responsible for more than stats will ever show, as he's routinely set up Ziyech, Neres and others who've seen their efforts ricochet off of the bar, but still the 30 year old keeps scoring goals and setting up chances in Eredivisie and the Champions League like they're his own personal playgrounds. 
       Look for him to grab an assist or a goal against Juventus and for the Serbian World Cup star to lead Ajax through to the semifinals of the Champions League.

2
LEROY SANE (Man City)

-17 assists overall
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 71
 -PER 90: 2.5 (UCL), 2.2 (EPL)
-UDGC: 6
-Assisted Phil Foden & Gabriel Jesus in hitting the post this season

        Sane has been relegated to the bench lately in a weird way by Pep Guardiola, his manager showing distrust towards his young winger in the biggest of matches, even when Sane's contributions have beaten Liverpool, destroyed Schalke in both legs while Leroy was directly responsible for half of the 10 goals scored against his former club, and the winger has combined with Raheem Sterling for 9 goals, which begs the question: Why only 5 minutes vs Spurs?
         ...it has been bizarre.
        Though we hope Pep Guardiola will learn his lesson and start Sane vs Spurs, as Sane dictated terms against Crystal Palace, hitting the outside of the post with a shot, and blasting in a pass straight to the feet of Raheem Sterling,  a rocketed pass through intense traffic for the Englishman to finish off, and Sterling made up for an earlier miss in the match with a kiss into the net, making this the 5th goal the German has assisted to Sterling. 
        Leroy Sane has been either in the top 5, 1st as he was two lists ago, or completely off of the list as he's been relegated to 5 minute cameos or not used at all.
       We're glad to see him return to his starting spot at left wing for Manchester City and believe he should be there for the 2nd leg against Spurs without question.


1
HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax)

-16 assists overall
-UDGC: 10 
-2 assists, 9 key passes vs Excelsior
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 138
 -PER 90: 3.8 (ERED), 1.8 (UCL)

          Hakim Ziyech resumes his plethora of goal creating exploits again this weekend, laying off two assists and creating an outrageous 9 chances in the 6-2 beatdown of Excelsior. Once all-world midfielder and future Barcelona star Frenkie De Jong went off with an apparent hamstring injury, Ajax opened the floodgates in anger and the Moroccan was at the helm.
          The first assist was from a Lasse Schone over the top ball to a streaking Ziyech down the left of the box. The Ajax #22 killed the ball with a filthy touch and then squared it across the face of goal for Klaas-Jan Huuntelaar to tap into the net.
          Such special play from a phenomenal player.
          His 2nd assist came in the last minutes as Kasper Dolberg ran on as a substitute and Hakim took a quick free kick, spying the Danish international sprinting across the box and picked him out with a beautiful off the ground lob that Dolberg took off of his chest and throttled home.
              Ziyech's only getting better by the match, as he shoots in high volumes and accuracy, passes with danger and class, tackles and wins possession in advantageous areas and creates a plethora of goalscoring chances. He simply deserves the top spot after his glorious displays in the Champions League and the Dutch leagues to complement his sterling European cup play.
              Look for him to continue his reign against Juventus as the Dutch champions look to take down Ronaldo and co. with or without Frenkie De Jong. 




BEST OF THE REST / REST OF THE BEST

EDEN HAZARD (Chelsea)

Hazard was unlucky, but mostly bested by Salah's wonder strike and the better play of Liverpool, but if it weren't for that damn post, Hazard still would've had a goal.

-12 assists overall
 (all in the EPL, now tied at 1st with Eriksen)
-Key Passes
 -TOTAL: 114
 -PER 90: 3.0 (EPL), 5.5 (EUROPA)
-Hit the post and had 0 key passes vs Liverpool


ANTOINE GRIEZMANN (Atletico)

He could be in the list, but he's barely not because he wastes some big openings going forward for Atletico, but his stock on our lists is rising by the match. Griezmann seems to have a point to prove. Does he want Barcelona football?

-11 assists overall
(2 goals & 2 assists in his last 4 matches)

            Griezmann scored his 20th goal of the campaign from a stunning free kick, bending it around the Celta Vigo keeper as if he were a statue, diving in denial, in anger and unable to do anything but watch the zooming wonder hit the upper 90 of his net, a truly remarkable goal from an ever-evolving player.
            The French talisman is a force people do not understand, he's someone they don't get...but I do...Griezmann's playing with house money...he was never supposed to be this good, he was never expected to be scoring goals in Champions League finals, World Cup finals, winning the World Cup for France, scoring a bunch of goals in Euro 2016 and narrowly missing out on that trophy...having the gaul, no the security within himself to reject Barcelona...that's not coached, that's not something money can buy... 
            Those are innate qualities within the man himself that creates the player we aren't shocked or stunned to see still doing it at the highest of levels, anymore, no...we expect the best from Antoine Griezmann because that's the bar he has set. Sure, he was a late bloomer, finally debuting for the French senior internationals at 25, but he's made good on each and every season of his career, making every moment count. You get the feeling from Griezmann that he's totally in the moment, playing for right then...we don't see him ghost away in matches anymore. 
         And as he assists his new striking partner Alvaro Morata with a wonderful through ball that split the Celta Vigo defense wide open, we wonder how much else does Griezmann have to offer? 
           What can't this guy do?
           He can hustle, he will possess the ball, he likes to pass, he will tackle, he can shoot from close range, he can shoot from distance, he can take expert and precise corners and free kicks, he can create assists with the best of them and then bury the ball in the back of the net before anyone has woken up.
           An under-appreciated talent, still.

RAHEEM STERLING (Man City)

Raheem is...well...happy scoring goals.

-13 assists overall
-none in his last 5 matches for Man City
-2 goals vs Crystal Palace
(21 goals on the season)
(Sterling had 23 goals & 13 assists in total last season, the same number of assists and only 2 more goals compared to his current campaign)
-Assisted Kyle Walker, who's shot hit the post vs Fulham, the 2nd chance he's assisted that's hit the post
-UDGC: 7
-Key Passes:
 -TOTAL: 92
 -PER 90: 2.9 (UCL) , 2.3

DRIES MERTENS (Napoli)

Mertens will make it to our top 10 with a good showing against Arsenal in the 2nd leg of the Europa League quarterfinals.

-12 assists overall
-Key Passes:
 -TOTAL: 88
 -PER 90: 2.8 (SERIEA), 2.2 (UCL, 3.1 (EUROPA)


PABLO SARABIA (Sevilla)

Oh shit..he's obviously pissed with me...yeah this one is hard to explain...Sarabia has been damn good. Sorry chum, others have produced more overall, but keep on keepin on.

-12 assists overall
-Key Passes:
 -TOTAL: 82
 -PER 90: 2.4 (LALIGA), 2.0 (EUROPA)

TRENT 
ALEXANER-ARNOLD (Liverpool)

Alexander-Arnold could have 10 assists if a few of his Liverpool teammates would've buried his close-range chances he set up on the doorstep of Chelsea's goal

-8 assists
-UDGC: 3
-created 2 big chances vs Chelsea that should've been goals, both coming from his awesome crossing ability 


CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LEADERS IN KEY PASSES:
1. KIERAN TRIPPIER (Spurs) 3.3 
2. LIONEL MESI (Barca) 3.1
3. DUSAN TADIC (Ajax) 3.0
4a.LEONARDO SPINAZZOLA(Juve) 3.0
4b.CAREL EITING (Ajax) 3.0
5. LUIS SUAREZ (Barca) 2.9

MOST CHANCES CREATED 
(all comps)
1. HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax): 138
2. MEMPHIS DEPAY (Lyon): 128 
3. WILLIAN (Chelsea): 125 
4. DUSAN TADIC (Ajax): 123
5. LIONEL MESSI (Barca): 119

MOST UDGC (all comps)
1.HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax): 10
2a.MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool):9
3b.ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI(Mun):9
3c.JOSHUA KIMMICH (Mun):9
4. SERGE GNABRY (Mun): 7
5. LIONEL MESSI (Barca): 7

MOST ASSISTS (all comps):
1a. LIONEL MESSI (Barca):      18
1b. DUSAN TADIC (Ajax):        18
2.   LEROY SANE (City):          17
3a.CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (Spurs):16
3b.HAKIM ZIYECH (Ajax):         16
4a.KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG):         15
4b.JOSHUA KIMMICH (Bayern):  15
4c.JADON SANCHO (Dortmund):15
5. MEMPHIS DEPAY (Lyon):        14