Is this the moment Paulo Dybala arrived on the world scene?

Argentine forward lights up Turin with magnificent performance

Many were expecting a fantastic clash on Tuesday night as Juventus hosted Barcelona in a repeat of the 2015 Champions League Final – and it didn’t disappoint.

Punters still had Barca’s historic comeback against PSG fresh in the memory and money was being put down for Luis Enrique’s men to snatch a vital first leg win in northern Italy, but it wasn’t to go the way some were anticipating.

Lionel Messi naturally attracted lots of first and anytime goal scorer bets, but it was another diminutive Argentine striker who stole the limelight.

Big money move

Paulo Dybala was brought to Serie A by Palermo in 2012 at the tender age of 19 and was branded the “new Sergio Aguero” by Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini. 21 goals in 89 appearances during his three years with the Sicilian club earned him a big money move in 2015.

Juventus were the club to come knocking and laid out a whopping €32m to get their man. He took over the number 21 shirt, previously vacated by Italian legend Andrea Pirlo that summer, and hasn’t looked back since.

He’s forced his way into the Juventus starting XI and showed he’s made of the right stuff, notching 16 goals in 35 appearances for the Old Lady this season. He’s also bagged 4 in his 6 Champions League appearances, including that brace on Tuesday, showing he clearly has what it takes to make it at the top.

Changing of the guard?