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#3: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid) vs Dayet Upamenaco (Leipzig)
Alvaro Morata was Los Colchoneros' top scorer in the La Liga this season and also leads the way in the Champions League.
Simeone's men were lacklustre in the final third and only scored 51 goals in the Spanish top flight, but to win against Nagelsmann's team, who like to press and score on counter-attacks, they will need Morata to step up.
Well, Morata will have to overcome the challenge of Leipzig's 21-year-old defender Dayet Upamenaco. The French international has grown leaps and bounds since his first season at the club in 2017 and is now the most important player in the Bundesliga club's three-man defence. Upamecano is calm in possession, makes timely tackles, and despite his young age, is strong for his opponents.
Morata has a lot of experience playing in the Champions League. Upamenaco is still pretty inexperienced in the competition, and that might prove to be his undoing in his battle with the Spanish striker.
#2: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid) vs Marcel Halstenberg (Leipzig)
Joao Felix may have failed to live up to the hype in his debut season at Atletico Madrid, but his sheer talent makes him one of the players to watch out for in the Champions League clash against Leipzig.
In the knockout stage of the competition, all it takes is a moment of brilliance in the ninety minutes to win the game. His ability to do so is what makes Felix so dangerous, but his lack of experience may prove to be his biggest hindrance in this regard.
In Thursday's fixture, the 20-year-old is likely to come up against Leipzig's Marcel Halstenberg, a left-back who has operated as a centre-back for the majority of the ongoing season.
As a natural full-back, Halstenberg is much more comfortable going forward the flanks and linking up with his attackers, but against Felix, he will have to exhibit his defensive side as well.
The Leipzig player might just come out on top of the Portuguese as he is strong in aerial duels and unlike most of the centre-halves Felix has faced, Halstenberg has the pace to keep up with the Portuguese sensation.
#1: Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid) vs Marcel Sabitzer (Leipzig)
Atletico Madrid and Leipzig have not been very prolific in the Champions League this season, which could make for a low-scoring encounter. And if that would be the case, it is in midfield where the game will be won.
Both the clubs have talented midfielders in their ranks: Koke and Saul Niguez for Atletico Madrid and Marcel Sabitzer, Kevin Kampl and Dani Olmo for Leipzig. Saul and Sabitzer have been the most influential midfielders for their clubs this season, and the duo could play a key role in the Champions League quarterfinal as well.
While Saul is a solid box-to-box midfielder, Sabitzer is an excellent attacking midfielder, and thus they are bound to engage in a potentially key battle in midfield on Thursday.
Saul has won a whopping 4.4 aerial duels per 90 in the Champions League this season and has made two tackles per game as well. He has the game to dominate Sabitzer who relies mostly on his quick feet to get past his marker.
Also Read: RB Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid prediction, preview, team news and more | UEFA Champions League 2019-20.
