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The stage is all set for the UEFA Champions League 2018-19 Round of 16 as the draw for the same was held in Nyon yesterday at the UEFA headquarters.
Amongst the others, are four absolutely mouth-watering clashes. Atletico Madrid face Juventus as Cristiano Ronaldo would be making a return to Spain against his former city rivals. Manchester United take on Paris Saint-Germain which will be a clash of two giant European midfield dynamos.
Tottenham host Dortmund in a fixture where both the clubs try to create a much bigger and exciting identity in European football and emulate their domestic league form at the continental stage.
And in the clash of the round, Liverpool take on Bayern Munich which will be a bigger test for the Bavarians as this Liverpool side have been totally unstoppable this season.
The fixtures bring about some key head to head player battles which fans would be craving for, since the draw yesterday evening. Let's look at our top 5 picks for the best player battles which will be on display in this Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League:
#1 Diego Godin v Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo would have never thought he would face his former city rivals Atletico Madrid so soon after his big money transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus earlier this season. But fate had other plans as Atletico Madrid were drawn against Juventus in the Round of 16.
When it comes to containing a beast like Cristiano, there are very few defenders in the world who would boast of achieving the feat. One of them is Uruguayan and Atletico Madrid captain Diego Godin.
Both Cristiano and Godin might be masters of their technicalities but as there is only one winner when it comes to the Champions League, we are in for an epic battle between the two heavyweights.
#2 Paul Pogba v Marco Verratti
Back to 2015, if anyone would talk about the top 5 best upcoming midfielders, there is no doubt Paul Pogba and Marco Verratti would be in the list.
It is 2018 and even if Pogba and Verratti aren't at their magical best, both of them are the talisman of their own teams. Pogba being the ideal modern generation box-to-box midfielder, and Verratti being the perfect playmaker for his Parisian team-mates.
Not just about these two midfield icons, it would also be a battle of the philosophies the clubs carry currently, with a non-firing United taking on an attack-minded PSG. On current form, this looks a non-contest, but with Mourinho, in the dugout, anything is possible (especially after their win in Turin).
It would be interesting to see who prevails over another - the Frenchman or the Italian.
#3 Robert Lewandowski v Virgil Van Dijk
Probably the most explosive player battle in the Round of 16 this season would be Robert Lewandowski going head to head against Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk.
Despite the Dutch centre-back missing the first leg at Anfield, it will be crucial for him and his teammates to contain Lewa at the Allianz Arena, if Liverpool are to qualify to the quarterfinals.
The two tall figures will be the key to the aerial battles on both ends of the pitch. Lewandowski is not having the best seasons at Bayern this year, but this does not mean that the Polish striker can be doubted about his goal-scoring abilities.
His counterpart Van Dijk has become the best centre back in the Premier League this season and if Liverpool manages to clinch the league title, it would be a fairytale ending for the Merseyside club.
One of the key factors about the battle will be the fact that Bayern Munchen is undergoing a serious panic in the Bundesliga with Dortmund looking like the runaway leaders, and Bayern will be desperate to find form in the Champions League.
On the other hand, Liverpool will be looking to continue their best run in all the competitions after a long time.
#4 Paco Alcacer v Hugo Lloris
Paco Alcacer might be one of the few transfer business mistakes FC Barcelona have made in the last decade or so. The Spanish striker has been prolific for German table-toppers Borussia Dortmund this season, especially after coming off the bench during the late moments of the game.
The Spanish striker would come under the heavy spotlight when he goes head to head against recent World Champion and Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Lloris is emulating his form from a successful World Cup campaign with France as he leads Spurs who are currently placed third in the Premier League.
Alcacer was dropped by FC Barcelona from their future plans and this created an opportunity for Dortmund to bring him to Signal Iduna Park to strengthen their young and ambitious squad.
Alcacer's finesse versus Lloris' reflexes is something which will be tested in the fixture.
#5 Mohamed Salah v Manuel Neuer
The biggest player battle which takes the first spot on our list today is undoubtedly - Manuel Neuer versus Mohamed Salah.
Mo' Salah as he is fondly known all around the footballing world, has had a phenomenal time since the beginning of the last season and proving the fact that he is not a one season wonder.
Meanwhile, Manuel Neuer has been the world's best goalkeeper for a long time now, having just shaded it over his rivals David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois.
With Germany having a very bad World Cup this year and Bayern struggling in the Bundesliga, Neuer would be desperate to create some positive headlines in the Champions League Round of 16.
If Mohamed Salah performs brilliantly against the mighty Bavarians, especially at the Allianz Arena, that will be a big statement by him as a response to him not being considered in the FIFA Best World XI earlier this year.
The first leg of the round of 16 stages will be played from February 12-20, and the second legs will be played from March 5-13.
