4 key battles to watch out for in Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

On Wednesday night, Real Madrid welcome visitors Borussia Dortmund for their 1st leg Champions league quarter final clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. Last year the German outfit knocked them out at the semi final stage with Real Madrid falling inches short. Dortmund have several key figures missing through injury. With both teams heading into this tie with wins last week in their domestic leagues, we take a look at 4 key areas where the game will be won or lost.

#1 Sergio Ramos and Pepe vs Aubameyang and Reus

Robert Lewandowski will not feature due to the suspension he picked up in the last match against Zenit. With their main man sidelined it will be up to the speedy duo of Marco Reus and Aubameyang to take on the striking duties against the formidable defensive duo of Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

Although considered to be a world class defender, Ramos isn't a model of composure on the pitch as the Spaniard is known to lose his head and has gotten sent off on numerous occasions. Pepe has been in good form since regaining his starting place under Ancelotti but we all know that he too can lose his head when under pressure

Reus comes into this match fresh from a hat trick against Stuttgart and the German's ability to find the net will certainly be a concern for the Real defense.

#2 Ronaldo vs Lucas Piszczek

Cristiano Ronaldo needs no introduction. The 2014 Ballon D'Or winner has continued his hot scoring form in the competition. With 13 goals already this season he is the top scorer. Posing a threat to any opponent's defense, it is difficult to keep him quiet over a period of 90 minutes.

Yet Dortmund managed to keep him quiet over the two legs last year. Lucas Piszczek and his compatriot Jakub Blaszczykowski nullified Ronaldo's threat to counter attack through the right flank by tracking back and doubling up time and again.

But with Blaszczykowski out for the season through injury, Lucas Piszczek may have to increase his defensive responsiblities and particularly watch out for when he goes forward in attack. Reus or Aubameyang might have to track back and fill the void and keep the shape when they get behind the ball.

#3 Di Maria vs Sebastian Kehl

One of the biggest positives under the new manager Carlo Ancelotti has been the rebirth of Di Maria. Initially after a series of inconsistent performances and with the high profile transfer of Bale, the Argentinian was booed by the Bernabeu faithful. But since Ancelotti moved to more of a 4-3-3, Di Maria has cemented his place in the team and has been an integral part of Real Madrid's good run of form this season.

His ability to dribble past players and find those precise passes drifting around the box will be an area of concern for the Dortmund midfield. In the absence of Sven Bender, it will be up to the club's veteran Sebastian Kehl to keep a watch and track Di Maria's movements so as to stop his runs going forward and block those spaces in midfield.

#4 BBC vs the Dortmund defense

Finally it comes down to the question of stopping the new holy trinity of football in the form of Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo. The trio has scored over 70 goals this season which is a frightening stat for any opposition. They swept aside Dortmund's city rivals Schalke in the round of 16 with each of them registering a brace at the Gelsenkirchen stadium.

With regular center back Neven Subotic out for the whole season, the defensive frailties of Dortmund have been exposed time and time again. Kevin Grosskreutz will feature at left back as a replacement for the new absentee Marcel Schmelzer. It will up to him to track back Bale's powerful bursts through the right flank. Both Sokratis and Matt Hummels will be giving their all to keep BBC at bay and give themselves a chance to go back to the Signal Iduna Park with a favourable result.