Player Analysis: Charles De Ketelaere

Perhaps the biggest surprise package of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage was Club Brugge, who finished third in Group F with 8 points. The Belgian side came within one game of advancing to the Champions League knockout round, only to draw to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, and they will instead face off against Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League Round of 32.

After winning the Jupiler Pro League last season, Club Brugge have picked up where they have left off, currently sitting first in the league table -- seven points ahead of second-place Genk. The likes of Clinton Mata and Ruud Vormer have continued to play a leading role in the club's success, but one youngster who has emerged as a key performer this season is Charles De Ketelaere.

Born and raised in Brugge, De Ketelaere made his professional debut on September 25, 2019, playing the full 90 minutes in a Belgian Cup match against Francs Borains. He would make his second appearance a month later, starting in midfield in a 0-5 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Bit by bit, he became a vital performer under manager Philippe Clement, starting each of the club's final eight matches prior to lockdown.

This season, the 19-year-old has cemented a starting spot and established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in Belgium. His breakthrough performance came on October 20 at Gazprom Arena; after setting up Emmanuel Bonaventure's opening goal, he scored a goal in the 93rd minute to snatch all three points away from Zenit Saint Petersburg in the club's opening group stage match.