African stars to look out for in the Champions League tonight

Edouard Mendy has breathed new life into Chelsea's defensive efforts.

He heads up a handful of players from the continent who we will be keeping a close eye on tonight in Champions League matchday 4 action.

🕰 Rennes vs Chelsea

It's been a stunning start to life in between the sticks for Senegal's Edouard Mendy. His countryman Alfred Gomis will stand guard in the Rennes goal, with Malian right back Hamari Traoré and Morocco's Nayef Aguerd in his back four.

Aguerd has come up with crucial goals from set-pieces on recent weeks for the French side so he's worth watching in dead-ball situations, especially as far as Mendy is concerned. Outstanding teenage talent Eduardo Camavinga is back for the hosts and that could mean that Mendy is busier than he had initially planned tonight.

🇸🇳 Edouard Mendy’s Chelsea career so far:

🏟️ 9 games
🎯 18 shots on target faced
🧤 16 saves
📉 89% save ratio
🗒 7 clean sheets

🧱 The Great Wall of Senegal. pic.twitter.com/S9ngVKbbBg

— Futaa.com (@Futaacom) November 24, 2020

🕰 Dortmund vs Brugge

Senegalese duo Youssouph Badji and Krépin Diatta will give Borussia Dortmund plenty to think about in wide areas with their power and guile, and Super Eagles attacker Emmanuel Dennis is always a threat for the Belgians as he proved last season by scoring in Real Madrid's Bernabéu. Large stages don't scare the 23-year-old, that's for sure. Ivorian centre-back Simon Deli should take his place in the Brugge side too.

🕰 Juventus vs Ferencváros

Ivorian striker Franck Boli has two goals in three Champions League appearances this term, including his stoppage-time strike in the reverse fixture when the Hungarian side went down 4-1 at home.

🕰 Man United vs İstanbul Başakşehir

Senegalese journeyman Demba Ba was the beneficiary of some comical defending when he latched onto a ball over the top to score on the counter directly from United corner. Başakşehir isn't likely to have much of the ball tonight so Ba will have to be at his clinical best if the visitors are to claim anything from Old Trafford.

🕰 PSG vs RB Leipzig

This is a clash in the French capital that promises plenty of goalmouth action with neither team looking reliable in defence and both having to cope with key absentees. PSG midfield duo Marco Verrratti and Ander Herrera are both major doubts, meaning that they are likely to field a trio of Marquinhos, Leandro Paredes and Rafinha in the centre of the park.

Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann deploys a completely different team shape but he, too, will have a central midfield trio. Attack-minded duo Marcel Sabitzer and Christopher Nkunku won't be tracking back much, leaving Malian holding player Amadou Haidara with plenty of dirty work to do. The 22-year-old is highly-rated around Europe though, and this is the sort of game where he can enhance his growing reputation.

It should be a thriller in Paris.

🖊 EDITOR'S NOTE: Emmanuel Dennis will miss Brugge's visit to Borussia Dortmund for disciplinary reasons.