Can Deulofeu outshine Silva?

Etihad's 'Battle of the Spaniards' promises to be spicy. 

Tonight's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg between Everton and Manchester City is delicately poised and looks one to savour - Everton 2-1 to the good after their first leg win at Goodison Park.

The Sky Blues are a formidable force at the Etihad, while Everton currently look a more dangerous proposition away from home - so it's anyone's call. 

Man City have never lost at home against Everton in a cup comp. They've played 4 times, with the Etihad side winning 3 & drawing 1.

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 27, 2016

Man City's recent home record in the LC is superb. They've won 5 of their last 6, scoring 27 goals. Toffees to come unstuck? #playmaker

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 27, 2016

Tonight's all-or-nothing tie is likely to witness a cracking midfield duel between David Silva and his Spanish heir-apparent Gerard Deulofeu. 

Signed this summer from Barcelona, Deulofeu has been the Toffees' key man on their journey to the last four: scoring or assisting on five occasions thus far. 

Gerard Deulofeu goals/assists for Everton: League Cup: 3Gs/4As in 7 games. PL: 5Gs/10As in 46 games. Key man. #playmaker

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 27, 2016

Silva, though, is the benchmark for any aspiring creative midfielder on English shores, the elusive No10 consistently topping the Premier League assist charts since his arrival at City from Valencia in 2010/11. 

Interestingly, however, Silva has failed to replicate his scintillating league form in cup competitions and managed just one assist in nine appearances in the League Cup. 

David Silva assists for Man City (from 11/12): PL: 49 assists in 142 games. League Cup: 1 assist in 8 games. All about the PL.

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) January 27, 2016

That being said, Silva - now 30 - is very much the master to 21-year-old Deulofeu's apprentice, the latter's ambition of joining Silva in Spain's senior set-up boosted by a recent hat-trick captaining his country's U-21s back in November. 

With the stakes high and the scene set, Deulofeu has a perfect opportunity to lay down a marker tonight - and Everton's chances of progressing to Wembley perhaps hinge on whether he manages to outshine Silva. 

Deulofeu, speaking to the Express, is confident:

'The results in the Premier League are bad, but we are Everton and we have an amazing team. We go to the Etihad and to score because if I score it is an important thing.

'If I score then Manchester City will have to score two goals. Why not? We need to win this game and it is possible.'