Top 5 players to watch out for in the UEFA Champions League Final

After a grueling 7-month period of Champions League matches, we now have two teams standing, ready to fight for glory. The final of the UEFA Champions League will be played on the 24th of May in Lisbon, Portugal between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, in what is being termed as the Spanish Affair.Atletico Madrid was recently crowned as the La Liga Champions, warding off the challenge from Barcelona in their final league match. Atletico Madrid has been in great form this season, no doubt, but Real Madrid will be no pushovers, their goal difference(+28 in 9 matches) in the Champions Leaguealone should be enough to spring fear in their opponents.Football is a team game, however there are players who will anchor the team and make a difference to the outcome. Lets take a look at the Top 5 players to watch out for in the final:

#5 ngel Di Mara

When two heavy-weights go head to head, the core battle is usually fought in the mid-field. Di Maria has been phenomenal for Real Madrid as a mid-fielder. He had a great start to the Champions League, scoring a brace against FC Copenhagen and providing key assists against Galatasaray in the group stage matches. Real Madrid will rely on him to win the mid-field battles and keep Atletico Madrid’s Tiago in check.

Angel Di Maria was quoted saying, ahead of the final:

"I think a 'Spanish final' shows the development of Spanish football, the power which it has in the last years," the Argentina international told reporters Monday. "It is going to be a nice and tough final against Atletico Madrid, and we will try our best."

Di Maria’s Champions League performance this season:

Goals: 3; Appearences: 10; Man of the Match Awards: 2

#4 Joo Miranda

The 29-year old, Brazilian, Central Defender has been Mr. Consistent for Atletico Madrid with hardly any lapses in defence, a brilliant interceptor, his role could be crucial in the final. He was the player of the match against Chelsea in the second leg which paved the way for Atletico to reach the final. Before the match the confident Miranda had stated:

"With all due respect to the great manager Mourinho is, we need to make him feel as uncomfortable as possible. I don't see why we have to be afraid of Chelsea if we didn't fear Real Madrid.”[when the Portuguese was in charge of Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013].

Can Ronaldo get past the Brazilian Rock is the big question? Miranda’s Champion’s league performace has been solid: Goals: 2; Appearences: 12; Man of the Match Awards: 1

#3 Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale is here to stay, in Real Madrid for a long time as he is growing in the moulds of Cristiano Ronaldo. Clinical finishing, blistering pace, pin-point passing, you name it Bale has it. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will form a formidable attacking pair for Real Madrid, alternating as winger and forward,if things go right for the dynamic duo, goals will rain in Lisbon.

Gareth Bale must be thrilled to be in the final of the Champions League, but there is pressure on him to perform as he has confessed before the final:

"I was told all about what the Champions League means to the club from the moment I signed. There is always expectation at Real but it intensifies whenever the Champions League is mentioned. Everyone who comes to Real Madrid wants to win the Champions League."

"Now we have a great opportunity to do just that. We can't get carried away by just being in the final. We are expected to win and we must make sure we deliver."

He has been in good form in the Champions League playing second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo:

Goals: 5; Appearences: 11;Man of the Match Awards: Nil

#2 Ral Garca

He may have been overshadowed by his team-mate Diego Costa, but Raul Garcia has been brilliant all round, providing key assists, winning tackles and scoring goals in the Champions League. The 27-year old Spanish International may enter the field as the main striker, if Diego Costa skips the final due to injury.

Raul Garcia has earned praise from manager Diego Simeone who stated that he is an example to be followed:

“We put on the Atleti shirt and the motivation comes with it. That’s what I expect. Looking at it from the point of view of my players, I see it as an opportunity. I don’t like to single players out, but Raúl García is a real example. He scores in friendlies, in the Champions League, Copa del Rey, La Liga… He does his talking on the pitch and he’s an example to his team-mates. He’s an example to follow.”

His performance in the Champions League has been splendid:

Goals: 4; Appearences: 11; Man of the Match Awards: 3

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Playing in front of your home crowd is never easy, and with expectations high, Cristiano Ronaldo might feel the pressure, but if he is able to take it in his stride,and motivate himself, we could be lucky to witness the “Real” Cristiano Ronaldo.

He started off his Champions League season in style by scoring a hat-trick against Galatasaray in Istanbul and then scoring a brace against Copenhagen FC and Juventus. After a draw against Juventus in the second leg and beating Copenhagen 2-0 in the second leg, Real Madrid ended on top of the table in Group B.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s most awaited moment came when he lifted the Ballon d’Or at the FIFA awards ceremony in Switzerland, on January 14th 2014. The below quotes made after accepting the award, show the emotional side of Ronaldo:

"I want to thank all those who had faith in me and I want to speak again about Eusebio and Madiba (Nelson Mandela) and to pay tribute to them one last time."

"Each time is different. But I would say that this second Ballon d'Or is more emotional, because my mother and my son (who joined him on stage) are here."

The award didn’t stop him, as he went on to score 7 more in the remaining Champions league matches to end up with a staggering performace: Goals: 16; Appearences: 10; Man of the Match Awards: 4