UEFA Champions League 2018-19: 5 key battles that will light up the Round of 16 games

Lionel Messi has made his impact each and every time that he started in the Champions League. He won Player of the Week awards in all of his starts.

#3 Joshua Kimmich vs Andy Robertson (Bayern Munich vs Liverpool)

The best young left-back in Europe currently: Andy Robertson

This is one of the more anticipated clashes in the Round-of-16 stages and here is one of the better face-offs that we will witness in the stage -- Andy Robertson vs Joshua Kimmich, both great young full-backs, who play on the opposite sides of the pitch. Robertson is a left-back, Kimmich is a right-back, thus naturally, both will be toe-to-toe for the majority of the game.

Both the players have staked claims to being the best young players in their position. Kimmich was amazing last season for Bayern and people feel that it is unfair that he missed out on FIFA Team of the Year. Andy Robertson could be the best young full-back in the world right now. Both players are great attackers and also fine defenders.

A look at their stats from the current season:

Joshua Kimmich vs Andy Robertson: League stats 2018/19

Even though from the stats it seems that Kimmich is better in everything, it should be kept in mind that Robertson plays in the Premier League, where all teams are vicious in attacks, unlike Bundesliga where Bayern dominate over every opponent. Robertson has to deal with more lethal pace and creativity. But it is only fair that Kimmich is put in the same bracket as him because he has insane stats for a full-back.

Both players have enough pace to distort opposition and also good crossing ability. The flanks at Allianz Arena will be set on fire when these two take the pitch.

Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee