Real Madrid vs Juventus: 3 Key Battles that will decide the Champions League tie

The majority of football fans are pretty much in agreement. Real Madrid have more than just one foot in the Champions League semi-finals.

A 3-0 win against Juventus in Turin - three crucial away goals - would make them clear favourites to go through. But stranger things have happened in Europe. Just ask PSG who still have scars of that night at the Camp Nou.

Both sides have crucial players suspended. And if Massimiliano Allegri is to get the better of Zinedine Zidane - in what is arguably Gianluigi Buffon's most important European encounter - there are a few individual key battles that his side will have to win to overturn the deficit.

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#1 Gonzalo Higuain vs Raphael Varane

Gonzalo Higuain vs Raphael Varane

Real Madrid are without Sergio Ramos after the Spanish centre-back was suspended for picking up a yellow card in the first leg in Turin. Who takes his place is up for debate. Either Jesus Vallejo or Nacho Fernandez will make the starting lineup with match fitness being key.

But there is no doubt that Raphael Varane will marshall the defensive line on Wednesday night in the Real skipper's absence. And with Paulo Dybala also suspended following his red card, the onus is on Gonzalo Higuain to lead Juve's attack.

Higuain hasn't been in the best form in Serie A this season but he has managed to score 5 goals in the Champions League in 8 starts this season which includes three goals against a highly-fancied Tottenham Hotspur.

Nothing went right in Turin but the Santiago Bernabeu is Higuain's old hunting ground. And with the possible support out wide from Douglas Costa and the possible presence of Mario Mandzukic, Varane will have his hands full to keep Higuain from taking shots on goal.

#2 Miralem Pjanic vs Toni Kroos

Miralem Pjanic vs Toni Kroos - who will win the battle in midfield?

Miralem Pjanic wasn't available for the first leg of the quarter-final due to suspension and Juventus certainly missed his services in midfield. Allegri had to pair Sami Khedira with Rodrigo Bentancur - a 20-year-old with little experience and a player who has barely been used this season.

When Bentancur was booked, his impact on the game was vastly reduced as he played with caution. As a result, Khedira was forced to deal with Real's illustrious midfield all by himself.

With Pjanic back in the starting lineup (and possible Blaise Matuidi), Allegri will hope he can use him to block all the passing channels and also use his ability on set-pieces - especially with free-kicks.

On the other hand, Zidane will hope Toni Kroos continues where he left off in Turin. He was easily the second-best player after Cristiano Ronaldo and even managed to test Buffon with a long-range effort that nearly shattered the crossbar.

Pjanic and Kroos will most likely face off in midfield when they operate in the same area of the pitch. The winner of this battle could decide which side wins the midfield battle.

#3 Cristiano Ronaldo vs Medhi Benatia

How do you block that?

Another player Juventus desperately missed in the first leg of the quarter-final was Medhi Benatia. The 30-year-old centre-back's absence prompted Allegri to start 36-year-old Andrea Barzagli who simply could not contend with Cristiano Ronaldo in the box.

The Portuguese forward scored twice on the night - the first that came from quick movement in the box while the second was a bicycle kick that was one of the greatest goals of his career.

With Giorgio Chiellini possibly kept busy by Karim Benzema, it will be up to Benatia to keep Ronaldo in check. That is easier said than done and he will need the help of both Mattia De Sciglio and possibly Sami Khedira to reduce the space available for Ronaldo to operate.

But ultimately, Benatia will be the one to deal with Ronaldo when he does attempt shots on goal. He will have to close him down when he is in the box and possibly mark him on set pieces too unless Chiellini is tasked with marking him.