On Tuesday, Champions League football resumes, and fans of the competition will get to see title holders Real Madrid clash with city rivals Atletico Madrid in a repeat of last season's final.
Los Blancos triumphed over Los Rojiblancos the last time these two sides met in a European tournament, but the trip to the Vicente Calderon Stadium will in no way be a guaranteed win for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Having clinched La Liga last term, Simeone's team have gotten the better of Real Madrid this campaign. The final at Lisbon was their last defeat at the hands of Les Merengues. The 10-time Champions League winners have failed to beat Atletico once in their last six encounters this season.
Real Madrid will be looking to grab an advantage before the 2nd leg tie at Santiago Bernabeu, on April 22nd, but for that to happen, their players must be firing at all four cylinders. One man who all eyes and expectations will be on is Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese ace has been in fine form as of late, shaking off a run of low-key performances in 2015 to retake top spot in La Liga goalscoring chart. However, there is a huge difference between scoring seven goals in his last three matches and getting past Atletico Madrid's defensive unit.
Koke and Co. have not conceded a single goal in their last three home matches against Real Madrid, with all three of those clashes ending in victory for the home side. Breaking down their back line, consisting of renowned defenders Diego Godin, Miranda, and Juanfran, will prove a difficult task for Ronaldo and Co..
Boasting Liga BBVA's third-best defense, intricate play and defense splitting passes looks to be the way to crack open the reigning Liga BBVA champions' defense, and here is where the three-time Ballon d'Or winner will come in handy. Combining his intelligent, timely runs, his ability to outpace any defender, and having a knack for being in the right place at the right time, Ronaldo could be Los Rojiblancos' worst nightmare.
However, this plan will require a finesse playmaker and a lethal finisher, and while Ronaldo can be either of the two for Real Madrid, he can't accomplish both at the same time. Accompanied by Atletico's tactical awareness and unmatched discipline, defense splitting passes and counter-attacks may be on the minimum.
Should this occur, Cristiano's shooting accuracy and strength will tip the scale in Real Madrid's favor. Whilst Ancelotti side have a deep affection for the passing game, they never back down from taking a shot from outside the box, and Ronaldo should utilize his shooting to test the goalkeeper should Atletico's defense frustrate Los Blancos' attack.
Remember, it was him who scored this wonderful free-kick goal against Thibaut Courtois, a far more capable and talented custodian than Miguel Angel Moya and Jan Oblak.
Lastly, though this may sound crazy and unheard of for Ronaldo and all the fans that adore him, the Portugal captain should take a step back and let Benzema and Bale take control of Tuesday's game. The more influential figure of BBC, Simeone has found a way of nullifying the former Manchester United man, as shown by his stats in his last game at the Vicente Calderon.
Ronaldo vs Atletico at Vicente Calderon Stadium
For Ancelotti to build their attack around the 30-year-old could spell disaster for the team. The aforementioned strategy may, however, prove to be decisive for the good of the team, and whilst Ronaldo won't be hailed for his individual talents and feat, he will be saluted for being an unselfish team player.
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