Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: 5 key battles to watch out for

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo vs Diego Godin

Real Madrid CF v Club Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Second Leg

To say that Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't had the best of seasons, so far, is an understatement. Real Madrid's most important player has missed more chances than he has created this season, and has an uncharacteristically dismal shot conversion percentage.

While it would be unfair to blame all of Real Madrid's failings this season on their talisman, Ronaldo has done himself no favours by bottling several simple and important chances this season.

If the Portuguese plays in his preferred centre-forward role, he is likely to come up against a feisty Diego Godin. As Messi could well testify, the aggressive Uruguayan simply doesn't give in, and is the heart and soul of the Atletico Madrid defence.

Made of a similar mould as Carles Puyol, Godin has proven that while positioning and technique are important, football is still a game of the heart.

At the end of the day, however, Godin is up against one of the two best players in the world. Ronaldo has several critics to prove wrong, and is his most dangerous when he is wounded.

Godin is the ideal match for Ronaldo, and will be at his best in what is a match of great significance. This battle is one of mind as well as soul, and should be the most intriguing of them all.

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Stats updated up to 16/11/2017