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UEFA Champions League returns for round of 16 action on Tuesday night as PSG host Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes. This will be the second meeting at this stage of the competition, after they clashed in the 2017-18 edition.
The two sides are strong favorites for the title this season. Real Madrid enjoyed a near-flawless run in the group stage, suffering just one loss as they topped Group D. PSG also suffered one loss but dropped points twice to finish second behind Manchester City in Group A.
PSG and Real Madrid are at the top of the standings in Ligue 1 and La Liga respectively. The French side have recorded four wins in a row in the league while Madrid played out a goalless draw at Villarreal in their previous outing.
In the 10 meetings between the two sides, Los Blancos hold a narrow advantage, leading 4-3 in wins while three games have ended in a draw. When the two sides last met in the round of 16, Real Madrid recorded wins in both legs. This time, the two games are expected to be closely contested.
With the two sides set to square off in this high-profile encounter on Tuesday night, we take a look at the five players who could make a difference.
#5 Marco Verratti - PSG
Marco Verratti is one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment. His short-range passing and ability to cover the ground in the middle of the pitch make him a great asset to PSG.
The player has scored two goals and picked up an assist in his last four games across all competitions for PSG. He has maintained a 88% pass accuracy in the competition and also averages 2.3 tackles per 90.
While his contributions on the pitch are rarely reflected on the scoresheet, he remains one of the most reliable players for Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine manager will be hoping to get the best out of his midfielder here.
#4 Vinicius Junior - Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior has finally enjoyed a breakthrough season with Real Madrid since his move to Madrid in 2018. The player has scored 12 goals in La Liga and two more in the Champions League.
He has five assists in the league and three in continental competition. He is on a five-game goalscoring drought at the moment but if anyone is to find the back of the net against PSG, he could be the one for Real Madrid.
12 of his 15 goals this season across all competitions have come in away games, so he will fancy his chances of finding the back of the net against PSG here.
#3 Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Karim Benzema has stepped up for Real Madrid time and again and will be expected to do so once again against PSG. The Frenchman has been one of the most consistent strikers of his generation and is the fourth-highest goalscorer for the capital club.
He has scored five goals in the competition thus far and also has an assist to his name. He is facing a race against time for match fitness and his potential absence might have an adverse impact on the morale of the team.
The four-time Champions League winner is a great creator and finisher of goals and his experience will be valuable for Real Madrid in this fixture.
#2 Kylian Mbappe - PSG
Kylian Mbappe has been linked to Real Madrid for the better part of the ongoing season. But as things stand he will go up against the La Liga side in the competition and is expected to be the standout player here.
He has 12 goals in Ligue 1 for PSG and four in the Champions League as well. Apart from being a prolific goalscorer he has also helped set up goals for the Parisians.
He has nine assists in Ligue 1 and four in the Champions League. In his three outings against the club, he is yet to taste victory and has scored just one goal.
#1 Lionel Messi - PSG
PSG drawing Real Madrid in the round of 16 fixture is a huge fixture on its own but Lionel Messi's return against his old foes adds another dimension to the game. Messi is the leading goal-scorer in the history of El Clasico with 26 goals, so it's clear that he loved scoring against them.
With Sergio Ramos out injured, Messi's reunion with Los Blancos will be the biggest event of the game. Messi has scored five goals in five Champions League games this season and will be hoping to find the back of the net here for PSG.
He has regained some form in recent outings with PSG and has three goals and four assists in these last seven appearances for the club. He has gone up against the visiting side just two times in the Champions League in the semi-finals of the 2010-11 campaign.
He scored twice at the Santiago Bernabeu as Barcelona progressed to the final 2-1 on aggregate.
