When PSG meet Real Madrid under the lights of the Bernabeu, there will be no shortage of sideshows.
Dani Alves’ first over the top challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos’ first welcome-to-the-game lunge at Neymar will get things going and both sides will want their big names to make the difference.
But what of the tactical battles behind the personalities? Sportsmail unpacks six key areas where the game could be won or lost…
When PSG meet Real Madrid under the Bernabeu lights, there will be no shortage of sideshows
Sportsmail unpacks six key areas where the round of 16 first leg could be won or lost
PSG will hope Kylian Mbappe can exploit the space behind Real left back Marcelo
Mbappe in the space behind Marcelo
So much has been said about Neymar that PSG’s other huge summer signing has been over-looked, and it would be no surprise if he stole the show.
Mbappe is the first player in Champions League history to reach 10 goals before the age of 19. PSG coach Unai Emery will want him one on one with Marcelo, or even better alone in the space that Marcelo is supposed to occupy. That will pull Ramos out of position and into one of those careless challenges that can lead to penalties, free-kicks and cards.
Toni Kroos has a big part to play in making sure Marcelo has some protection. Ronaldo is not going to be doing much back-tracking so the German will have to cover his team-mate.
The absence of holding midfielder Thiago Motta is a major blow to PSG’s chances
The absence of Thiago Motta
PSG’s holding midfielder is a big loss and the solutions to cover his absence are not great. Lassana Diarra once reigned supreme at the Bernabeu but that was back when Jose Mourinho was the manager. He has only just arrived at the club, is 32-years-old and has only played two full competitive games since August.
The other option for Emery is to play the 21-year-old former Rosario midfielder Giovani Lo Celso but he has no experience in this type of arena or in this type of game. It’s also not his proper position. His qualities are more suited to being one of the lateral midfielders in the three.
Madrid need to expose this soft-spot but it might not be until Isco is introduced from the bench that they are able to do so.
Angel Di Maria could start for PSG against his former club on his 30th birthday
Late energy from birthday boy Angel Di Maria
There is even a chance that Emery will somehow find a way of starting with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man on his 30th birthday.
Few PSG players have been on better form of late. If he does take his place on the bench then his late energy could be vital against a team that have faded badly in games all season.
In early January, one analysis of Madrid matches concluded they would be top if not for the second half of games. Carlo Ancelotti is an invited guest at the match. He made great use of Di Maria’s engine playing him in a midfield three during his reign. That is where he could shine again.
With Layvin Kurzawa bursting from the back for PSG, there could be space for Gareth Bale
Bale v Kurzawa
PSG’s French full-back runs more in Champions League matches than anyone else in this team.
Those 10k slogs occasionally take him out of the picture defensively and that could be food and drink to Gareth who ought to be fresh from his very gentle comeback from injury.
He has not played a full 90 minutes since his return in December – all with one eye on being at physical peak for the most important game of the season. This will be one of the head-to-heads that could really decide the match.
Edinson Cavani has never scored at the Bernabeu, but is eager to break his duck
Stopping the counter attacks, and Cavani
Madrid have twice conceded from attacking corners in recent weeks. One minute they are camped in the opposition’s penalty area waiting for Kroos or Modric to deliver a pin-point set-piece and the next they are back pedalling in vain as the opposition punish their naivety.
Sometimes the opposition fails to finish but there will be no such luck with PSG’s front three. Cavani is desperate to score what will be his first goal at the Bernabeu and he might relish playing against Varane and Ramos who have been so taken apart this season by lesser lights in La Liga.
Ramos remains rash at times and Varane veers from the levels he reached under Jose Mourinho when he first broke through to looking lost in a defence that will at least benefit from having the more defensive Nacho at right-back, replacing the suspended Dani Carvajal.
Real will hope their fans on Wednesday night are a little more fearsome than this
The atmosphere
Captain Ramos has already roused the masses to congregate on the corner of the stadium two hours before kick-off, so they are there to welcome the two team buses, inspiring Madrid and intimidating PSG.
There is also talk of Madrid choosing to kick into the South end of the stadium in the first half where their nosiest fans are – it goes against the tradition at most clubs but there is a history of some of Madrid’s greatest European nights coming when they kick into that end in the first period.
The big problem for Zidane and company is that all this might cause some players to get too wound-up; the team might forget that one of the priorities tonight is not to concede. A cagey approach might actually favour Madrid in terms of setting the second-leg up – but the atmosphere around this game simply will not allow it.