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Real Madrid are set to take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday night. The game is set to be a nail-biter as several high-profile names grace the pitch to try and get their team into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Real Madrid vs PSG could be one of the best games of the 2021-22 season
The 13-time European champions will be aiming for a crucial first-leg win but, given the strength in depth of the opposition, they are bound to have a tough night.
Moreover, several familiar foes are set to face off yet again. Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. could return to haunt Real Madrid after performing admirably against Los Blancos during their time at Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a move to the Spanish capital but nothing is official just yet and the Frenchman could be Los Blancos' bane.
Ex-captain Sergio Ramos could give the La Liga leaders a reminder of his abilities after they let him go in the summer, although he remains a huge injury doubt for this fixture.
PSG boast arguably the most stacked squad in world football, meaning Carlo Ancelotti will need his own star players to step up to the challenge. On that note, we take a look at five players that could prove key for Real Madrid in their UCL tie against PSG.
#5 David Alaba
David Alaba is shaping up to be one of the best summer transfer window signings in Real Madrid's recent history. The Austrian left Bayern Munich after 10 years and decided to join Los Blancos last summer and has been commendable since arriving at the club.
Ancelotti might have had reservations about returning to manage Real Madrid given their high-profile departures last summer, but Alaba has provided him with a strong defensive hold.
The 29-year-old can play in multiple positions but has been deployed as a centre-back more often than not. That role has suited him as he is fast enough to stop most attackers and uses his intelligence in one-on-one situations. Moreover, given his experience, Alaba could prove pivotal in stopping the front three of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe.
#4 Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois arrived at Real Madrid in 2018 with the hope of winning the Champions League, after failing to do so with Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. He has since won the La Liga trophy but European glory has evaded him.
The shot-stopper has been brilliant and has rarely put a foot wrong over the last couple of years. He makes good use of his height, especially when the opposition hurl crosses or get into one-on-one situations with him. His ball distribution could use some work but it is nowhere near the worst in the league or in Europe.
And while he has faced the best in the business over the years, Courtois shall be facing a whole different animal in PSG. The French team have several different goal-scorers and Courtois will need to be alert at all times.
#3 Luka Modric
Luka Modric has been one of the most consistent players at Real Madrid over the last decade or so. The central midfielder arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and cemented his place as one of the best in the world in his position.
Playing alongside Casemiro and Toni Kroos, Modric is the ball-progressor and playmaker among the midfield trio. The Croatian international might be 36 but he still has his wits about him. He can quickly change pace and get away from opponents but also control the tempo of the game through his slick passing skills.
The Spanish outfit are bound to keep most of the ball in the tie against PSG, since the French giants are more of a counter-attacking side. So the onus will be on the Croat to use the ball astutely when in possession.
The Ligue 1 club are a dangerous side in transition and Modric will need to be careful while retaining the ball in order to avoid getting his side into danger. Protection of the backline and creativity going forward will be in the hands of the lively playmaker.
#2 Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is the talisman Real Madrid will be relying on in the Champions League this season, as they have since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018. The French international is currently one of the most lethal marksmen in world football.
Although a recent injury makes him a doubt for the tie against PSG, he apparently trained with the team on Sunday. If not in the starting XI, Benzema might come off the bench to make a difference in the all-important tie. While the first-leg might not decide the tie, one must not understate the value of being in the driving seat going into the second-leg.
Benzema is aware of the shaky PSG defense and will be more than happy to exploit it. The Parisians are not the worst at the back but there are chinks in their armor that the Real Madrid ace could target. His 24 goals and nine assists in 28 appearances across all competitions show how dangerous he could be if fit enough to start on Tuesday.
Regardless, Benzema will be focusing on getting match-fit before plotting how to score goals past the best team in Ligue 1 this season.
#1 Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior has come into his own at Real Madrid this season and has been one of the best wingers in Europe's top-five leagues. PSG may have their own Brazilian sensation in the form of Neymar but the Spanish club also have a genius out on the left side.
The South American star has developed into a fine attacker and is now one of the first names on Real Madrid's team sheet. But more importantly, he has turned into the player most fans thought Eden Hazard would be when the Belgian arrived for a £100million fee in 2019.
Vinicius is fast, direct and can now comfortably score without any hesitation, which was one of his major flaws in his early days at the club. The winger has scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists in 32 appearances. With Achraf Hakimi a more attack-minded full-back, the Real Madrid ace will be keen to exploit the empty spaces behind the PSG right-back.
PSG will be keen to get their hands on the Champions League trophy this season, a competition they are yet to win despite spending handsomely over the years. Vinicius could be the one to stop them from doing so as he looks to win his first European honor.
