The Real Champs
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Three things to watch for ahead of Juventus vs. Real Madrid

By Sachin Bhat

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates with Karim Benzema after scoring his teamÕs second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Getafe at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates with Karim Benzema after scoring his teamÕs second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Getafe at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 3, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid’s title credentials will be put through a flinty wringer as they travel to Turin to take on Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Los Blancos are drinking in the last chance saloon that is the Champions League. But standing in their way are the mighty Juventus, who have revenge on their minds. Let’s delve into some of the key talking points ahead of the crunch encounter.

Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane (L) heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid on March 6, 2018, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. / AFP PHOTO / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT (Photo credit should read GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane (L) heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid on March 6, 2018, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. / AFP PHOTO / GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT (Photo credit should read GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images) /

Real Madrid cannot afford to be complacent

They maybe two-time defending champions. They may have comprehensively brushed the Bianconeris aside in the finals last year. But Real Madrid, even with all their supremacy in the Champions League, cannot afford to be complacent given their own fair share of travails this season.

The Big Ol’ Ears is the peg Blancos are hanging onto. They must muster every ounce of expertise and experience to surmount the Juventus-shaped challenge. But the victory over PSG in the previous round may have left the door ajar for some complacency.

Real Madrid have surely added more wind to their sails with those victories. But what Zinedine Zidane and co. must comprehend is the fact that the Turin side are a starkly different proposition from Les Parisiens. And expect, they come across as genuine contenders for the trophy.

The swift and clinical way in which they dispatched Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of last 16 is a testament to their abilities to turn the tables by the drop of a hat.

The Merengues have had issues with the defense all season, while the midfield have shown tendencies to switch off midway too. Add to the mix a piece of history which suggests Real’s defeat to Juventus in every knockout tie before the finals, and the former would have one extra reason to enter the tie cautiously.

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