4 players to watch out for as Real Madrid take on AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League resumed yesterday, with a whopping 16 clubs opening the tournament and getting football fans entertained with their incredible displays. The likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid all claimed important victories yesterday and they will be looking forward to making a mark in the tournament this season.

LaLiga giants Real Madrid won the prestigious trophy last season, defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final to make it 3 triumphs in a row, and they will begin their mission to defend the trophy when they face Roma at the Santiago Bernabeu this evening.

For the first time in almost a decade, Los Blancos will kick-start a European campaign in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo who left for Juventus this summer, and the match against Roma will give us suggestions of how they could cope in Europe's elite tournament without the Portuguese.

Having said that, lets take a look at 4 incredible superstars to keep an eye on during the encounter this evening.

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#4 Steven Nzonzi

Nzonzi will be keen for a reunion with Real Madrid

Before joining Roma in the Serie A this summer, French midfielder Stephen Nzonzi plied his trade in LaLiga where he represented Sevilla FC between 2015 and 2018, and made a name for himself with spectacular performances during his time in the Spanish top flight.

In the UEFA Champions League encounter between Roma and Real Madrid today, the 29-year-old will get the opportunity to reignite his rivalry with the Spanish giants, having faced them in a couple of intense games while he was still playing in LaLiga.

Nzonzi will be a real force in the middle of the pitch, with his fantastic work-rate and amazing tackling. He will also offer a lot of threat in attack, using his incredible height effectively during set pieces.

#3 Karim Benzema

The striker has finally hit impressive form

French International Karim Benzema is gradually reviving his career this season having failed to reach his peak in each of the past few campaigns and falling under intense scrutiny for his mediocre performances during those years.

Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo who left for Juventus this summer, the striker has realised that he needs to step up and take up more goal-scoring responsibilities, and he has impressed so far, bagging an incredible 4 goals for Real Madrid in 4 LaLiga appearances.

The UEFA Champions League represents another huge opportunity for Benzema to prove his amazing abilities once again. Whether he would be able to transfer his decent form into the European tournament remains to be seen, but with his spectacular record in front of goal so far this term, he is one of the few players that Roma must be wary of when they clash in the Champions League this evening.

Stats via transfermarkt

#2 Edin Dzeko

The Serbian will offer a lot of threat to the Los Blancos defense this evening

Another superstar to keep an eye on when Real Madrid and Roma lock horns in their UEFA Champions League opener at the Santiago Bernabeu this evening is Bosnian International Edin Dzeko.

The Roma superstar has been one of the top attackers on the continent for the past few years, producing spectacular displays in the tournament during the previous campaign and bagging an impressive 8 goals and 5 assists to push the Italian giants into the semi-finals.

Dzeko is a decent striker with an incredible work rate and unbelievable finishing skills, capable of beating opposition defenders with his amazing physicality as well as sending the ball onto the back of the net on a consistent basis.

#1 Gareth Bale

All eyes will be on Bale to step up for Real Madrid in Cristiano Ronaldo's absence

The match against Roma represents a huge test for Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale as football fans wait to see if he could really step up for the European Champions in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo who departed the Bernabeu this summer.

Bale is a highly talented superstar with plenty of skills and incredible pace, highly efficient at counter attacks, and very strong in the air - making him a sure bet to give the Roma defenders plenty of work to do today.

Having started the LaLiga campaign in electrifying form - bagging an amazing 3 goals and 2 assists for the Spanish side so far this season, all eyes will be on the Welsh International to continue with his impressive form in the Champions League this evening.