UEFA Champions League 2017/18: Juventus vs Real Madrid - 5 key player battles

The stage is set for a heavyweight battle between two European giants as Juventus and Real Madrid prepare to write another chapter in their famous Champions League rivalry. The two teams last met in the 2016/17 season final where Real Madrid emerged 4-1 victors on the night.

Revenge will be on Juventus' minds tomorrow for the first leg in Turin. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will be aiming to take some sort of advantage back to the Bernabeu for the second leg with a solid display at the Allianz Stadium. This is also Madrid's only hope of silverware this season.

Both sides have always had some of the top players in the world which has always made this fixture a treat for the spectators and tomorrow will be no different.

In this segment, we will take a look at the key player battles that will shape the game and will decide the outcome of this big quarterfinal encounter between Juventus and Real Madrid:

---

#5 Juan Cuadrado vs Marcelo

Marcelo will have to keep the wily Colombian in check

Juventus have received a huge boost in the form of Juan Cuadrado who has been passed fit to start against Real Madrid. This may not be music to the ears of Marcelo who will now have the job of marking the Colombian and keeping him under wraps.

Marcelo has been an integral member of this Real Madrid side but is known to overcommit at times and is found wanting in defensive transitions. Cuadrado will be looking to take advantage of this situation and catch the left back off guard to make use of his blistering pace.

Marcelo will have to be at his defensive best against the winger whose end product has improved in recent times. Cuadrado also has an impressive work rate and will be looking to track Marcelo's runs going forward. This will be an interesting duel to watch and will determine which team gets to dominate this side of the flank.

#4 Sami Khedira vs Isco

Isco is expected to start ahead of Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale

After a sensational hat-trick against Argentina and getting rested against Las Palmas on Saturday, Isco is expected to start against Juventus. He will play in the hole behind the two strikers and will look to find channels to move and space to find the right pass.

The man deployed to stop Isco from being at his creative best will be Juventus' Sami Khedira. Sitting in front of the backline, Khedira will be tasked with keeping a close eye on the Spaniard and giving him as less time on the ball as possible.

Real Madrid will heavily rely on Isco's work on the ball and Juventus will need to have Khedira at his destructive best to stop Isco from creating chances or getting to run forward with the ball.

#3 Gonzalo Higuain vs Sergio Ramos

Teammates to rivals

Former teammates will go head to head for the second time in as many weeks after fighting it out in the international friendly that went in Spain's way. Gonzalo Higuain will spearhead Juventus' attack against Real Madrid and up against him will be Madrid's captain Sergio Ramos.

Ramos has historically done well against the traditional no.9s of the game but cannot afford to take Higuain lightly. Despite the constant criticisms against the striker, Higuain usually finds his way among the goals and has done that this season as well.

Higuain has 5 European goals to his name this season - his best ever tally in Europe. Real Madrid will need to keep the striker in check and have to mark him with fine detailing to avoid him having a go at Keylor Navas.

#2 Paulo Dybala vs Casemiro

Paulo Dybala is Juventus', main man

Dybala is to Juventus what Cristiano Ronaldo is to Real Madrid. Make no mistake about it. With 21 goals to his name this season, the Argentine trequartista is having his best campaign in terms of productivity.

The man assigned to negate Dybala's influence will be Real Madrid's Casemiro. He has done the needful time and again for Madrid and Zidane will now again look to the defensive midfielder to man-mark Dybala and keep him in check.

Dybala's quick feet and his link-up play can trouble Real Madrid but if Casemiro plays up to his strengths then the Argentine will have a long night to endure. This player battle has all the looks of an exciting duel which can surely decide the final outcome of the first leg.

#1 Giorgio Chiellini vs Cristiano Ronaldo

THE player battle to look forward to

This battle can simply be described as an "immovable object meets an unstoppable force." Ronaldo and Chiellini both have been in terrific form in the Champions League this season. Ronaldo has scored in every European game till now whereas Chiellini produced a defensive masterclass against Spurs in the last game.

Ronaldo will play as a striker tomorrow and the duty of handling him will be given to the 33-year-old Italian warhorse. Chiellini will have to match Ronaldo's pace, his physicality and his aerial prowess. Chiellini struggled for a while against Kane in the round of 16 tie but will have to be switched on from the word go against the Portuguese hitman.

Ronaldo already has a fine record against the Bianconeri. He has scored 7 goals in 5 matches against the Turin side. Meanwhile, Juventus are solid at home and are unbeaten in their last 27 home European matches, greatly due to the rock solid defending of Chiellini.