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You'd be a brave human being to bet against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Los Blancos has won an astonishing Europe's premier competition an astonishing 4 times in the last 6 years, with their previous triumph - the 13th, overall - coming in the 2017-18 season. They seem to have a certain knack when it comes to European knockout fixtures of high intensity.
Since the club's talisman Cristiano Ronaldo departed to Juventus, the Spanish club's cutting edge seems to have diminished to an extent. Real Madrid was outplayed by Ajax last season and was dumped out of the competition in the round of 16. Zinedine Zidane's men will be looking to put their Ajax nightmare to bed, but they are up against a team of incredible quality.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City has always underperformed in the competition, but the talent and depth in their squad is there for all to see. Their English rivals Liverpool have fashioned a massive lead for themselves in the Premier League, and the Champions League is increasingly becoming Guardiola's best shot at prestigious silverware this season.
Real Madrid is not the only side in this fixture with a point to prove. Manchester City is sure to come at them with all guns blazing, and the Spaniards will have to be at their very best.
While several of Real Madrid's players have excelled this season, we take a look at 3 individuals who absolutely must show up if Los Blancos are to repeat their past European triumphs this season.
#3 Sergio Ramos
Crunch knockout games always require a leader to step up. More often than not, Sergio Ramos has happily taken up that mantle.
Real Madrid's charismatic captain has been some way off his brilliant best this season but has improved in recent games. While Ramos can be rash at times, he has always put his hand up in the past to drag Real Madrid through a difficult situation.
His stoppage-time equalizer against Atletico Madrid in the 2013-14 season effectively won his side the coveted 'La Decima'. History tells us that Sergio Ramos brings his best self to games like these.
This particular match-up will be no walk in the park. Ramos and his partner-in-crime Raphael Varane will be up against the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, and Bernardo Silva. A pacy and dynamic Manchester City attack is sure to cause more than a few problems, and Real Madrid will need their captain to be at the forefront of the battle.
Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers
#2 Federico Valverde
Real Madrid's defense may have their work cut out for them, but the midfield has an even bigger mountain to climb.
Manchester City is known to rely heavily on their midfield, combining silky passing and fluid positioning to completely negate the opposition's press. With Federico Valverde on the pitch, they may not find it very easy.
It may well be the case that Zidane decides to field the tried and tested trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos against Manchester City, but Federico Valverde has proved time and time again that he belongs on the pitch in the white of Real Madrid.
Primarily a box-to-box midfielder who can play either with Modric and Kroos or behind them, Valverde's ability to combine technical ability with tenacity has served him well in the top flight. Exemplary performances in both La Liga and the Champions League have convinced Zidane to make the 21-year-old Uruguayan a regular in his teams.
Manchester City's midfield, led by David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, might just be the toughest test of Valverde's career. There is no better stage than a Champions League knockout game to prove that you belong with the very best.
#1 Karim Benzema
Given his performances over the past few months, it is fairly obvious that Karim Benzema tops this list.
When Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid to go to Italy, he left a huge void to fill. While it is evident that his boots are far too big for the current crop at Real Madrid to fill, Benzema has made life for fans of Los Blancos more than just bearable.
The statistics speak for themselves. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, the Frenchman has been nothing short of prolific, scoring an incredible 44 goals and topping the club's scoring charts by a country mile.
Manchester City has not been in the best defensive form this season, and have leaked goals against lesser opposition on several occasions. Real Madrid is anything but a lesser opposition, and Karim Benzema will undoubtedly be licking his lips.
For Real Madrid to have a chance against a team as intimidating as Manchester City, it is crucial for Benzema to have a good day. Laporte, Stones, and Fernandinho will not particularly relish facing the striker in the red-hot form that he is currently in.
Irrespective of the outcome of this fixture, it is not farfetched to expect a few goals from Real Madrid's lethal No. 9.
