The UEFA Champions League is back this week with mouth-watering games across a spectrum of decently successful teams. Leicester City – England’s sole representative in the competition – take on last year’s finalists in Atletico Madrid, while Barcelona takes on Italian champion, Juventus, in a rematch of the 2015 final.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have the crowning fixture as they prepare to take on former manager Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich, and lastly, we have the game of who has the better youngsters when Borussia Dortmund take on AS Monaco.
And while all of these matches are truly incredible prospects for football fans, there are a few players that could decide who the title goes to this time around. Here’s looking at eight of the most pivotal players – one for each team – still remaining in this season’s UEFA Champions League:
#1 AS Monaco – Radamel Falcao
Given his past two years of professional football, it was almost impossible to predict just how Radamel Falcao would perform this season. But the Colombian has answered his critics and has gotten back to his very best with his performances this season.
Falcao has scored 25 goals in 33 appearances for Leonardo Jardim's side in all competitions and will once again have the say in who goes through in the UEFA Champions League when his side take on Thomas Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund.
The Colombian is 31 and is firing on all cylinders, his importance to the principality club is unmatched.
#2 Atletico Madrid – Diego Godin
This was a close call between Antoine Griezmann and the Uruguayan centre-back, Diego Godin, but the 31-year-old has a new kind of threat to deal with, taking on the Premier League defending champions.
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are all back in the kind of form that saw them win the English title last season and for any defender worth two cents, that could mean trouble. Yes, it's Atletico Madrid and they have their whole midfield as makeshift centre-backs, but the threat of the pacey Englishman and the crafty Algerian is a new challenge for the Uruguayan.
And having yet to receive a single red card this season, he's got to be careful of the quick Vardy who seemingly knows the best way to get defenders sent off.
#3 Barcelona – Neymar
His 97th-minute goal against Juventus is somewhat a reminder of what could come of this insane football match this year. The two heavyweights take on each other once again and the one player the Turin club ought to look out for the most is Brazilian sensation, Neymar.
With Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez likely to occupy a more central position, it's going to be up to the Brazilian to create the magic from the left-hand side. He has 24 assists in all competitions this season and should everything go to plan for the Catalans, that number could rise by the end of this matchday week.
Juventus have to be extra-careful with Neymar's theatrics and dealing with that makes the whole contest that much tastier.
#4 Bayern Munich – Robert Lewandowski
Given Real Madrid's problems at the back this season, it's safe to assume Robert Lewandowski is a little more relaxed when compared to his teammates. The Polish striker only has to deal with Sergio Ramos – and the partnering centre-back – knowing very well the other man that deep isn't one of Pepe and Raphael Varane, who are both out with injuries.
Lewandowski has been his usual self this season, scoring 38 goals in 40 appearances – including two against his former side Borussia Dortmund on the weekend. With the kind of support cast that even Barcelona can't rival, it looks like it's all building up to his game.
#5 Borussia Dortmund – Sokratis
Easily the most combative defender in the Bundesliga and amongst the best in Europe is Borussia Dortmund’s Sokratis. The Greek international is a supreme fighter and one who can single-handedly hold a defence in place.
Against an increasingly improved mercurial forward line that AS Monaco boast of, he’s got to be at the top of his game for him to have a genuine say in who’s to go through in the fixture.
Handling a live-wire in Kylian Mbappe and an extremely astute one in Radamel Falcao cannot be an easy task, but he’s proven time and again that he can be the one who makes the difference – barring when his side takes on Bayern Munich in the league, of course.
#6 Juventus – Paulo Dybala
With Gonzalo Higuain surely to be the one who occupies the interest of the centre-backs in the fixture, 23-year-old Paulo Dybala has the opportunity to become the kind of player who could very well stamp his name in history as the one who ousted FC Barcelona from the competition.
Given the kind of season he’s having with his 14 goals and 8 assists, Barcelona will have to come up with a specific plan to deal with the Argentine. Often deployed behind Higuain in a free-flowing role, contributing to attack from all angles, it’ll be interesting to see how Luis Enrique handles him.
#7 Leicester City – Riyad Mahrez
With Atletico Madrid likely to sit back and enforce a high defensive line owing to Jame Vardy’s pace, it’s going to be up to Leicester City’s most creative player in trying to make an impact in his biggest game yet.
Riyad Mahrez didn’t start the season like he wanted to but has since found his form since the turn of the year and that’s great news for the Foxes at a time when they need to be at their best – more so than they have ever before.
With more on the ball, Mahrez will need to make all the right moves to try and help his team score goals. Should that happen, it’s safe to say the game could be a lot more open-ended than most assume.
#8 Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo
This big a game, this large a stage, there’s only one man in this Real Madrid squad who can make the difference and it’s still Cristiano Ronaldo. Having to choose between Sergio Ramos and the Portuguese legend was a tough one but against the Bavarians, the former Manchester United man takes the crown.
With Bayern Munich likely to bombard constantly, it’s going to be up to Ronaldo to create something out of the few chances they’re going to get this match. He’ll have to deal with Philipp Lahm, Javi Martinez and likely Arturo Vidal meaning he’s got a real battle up his sleeve.
But if there’s anything who can create a chance out of thin air, it’s Ronaldo and this is the time where he starts to shine once again.
