Real Madrid: 5 players who must shine in the first leg vs. Liverpool

Real Madrid will face Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals this Tuesday night at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, having just won their last four matches. Los Blancos are undefeated since the start of February, which spans 11 total matches across the Champions League and La Liga.

But the Reds will be tough opponents for the Royal Whites. They may be struggling in the Premier League, but they are the defending champions and won this very competition two seasons ago.

Here are five players on Real Madrid who must shine in order for Los Blancos to get off to an ideal start in the quarterfinals before their weekend, title-impact tilt vs. Barcelona.

LW Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior vs. Trent Alexander-Arnold will be one of the most interesting one-on-one matchups to watch this week. The Brazilian left winger has been in good form recently. After scoring against Real Sociedad to kick off March, the 20-year-old played reasonably well against Elche and Celta Vigo and dazzled in his last Champions League night vs. Atalanta.

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While Vini’s finishing is still very much a work in progress, his ability to change games with his dribbling and work rate is not. He is already an impact player for Los Blancos and has been decisive in big games before, such as late last season in wins over Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Alexander-Arnold is a world-class right back, but that does not mean he is a world-class defender. There is an opportunity for Vinicius to burn him and take advantage of Liverpool’s young center backs. Perhaps he can coax Ozan Kabak into giving up a penalty as Atalanta did weeks ago.

CB Raphael Varane

Every Champions League night is a test for Raphael Varane, but that is doubly the case whenever Sergio Ramos is unavailable. And much like the first leg of the last round, Ramos is out with an injury, leaving Varane without his partner. Nacho Fernandez has become a solid rock at the back in his own right, but there is no replacing Ramos.

So Varane must be adept and calculating against the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, who know a thing or two about finding space and making clutch goals happen. Tracking the running of Mane will be of particular importance to Varane.

Real Madrid, Luka Modric (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) /

CM Luka Modric

Croatia needed Luka Modric to play during the international break, so the world-class midfielder has had few chances for rest. Toni Kroos’ speedy recovery from injury enabled him to come off the bench to spell Modric for a few minutes at the end of a 2-0 win over Eibar, but the No. 10 hasn’t had much rest this season.

He will go up against an industrious Liverpool midfield, buoyed by top offseason acquisition Thiago, who is rounding into his own again. Modric bossed Liverpool the last time these two teams played in the 2018 Champions League Final, and he is fully capable of providing a similar masterclass at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano this Tuesday.

CF Karim Benzema

When a goal needs to be scored, you can count on Karim Benzema to deliver the goods. The French striker has scored in seven straight games for Real Madrid, easily cleaning up the La Liga Player of the Month award for March and then proving the honors correct that same day by starting his April with another goal.

Whether it is the Champions League or La Liga, Benzema is ready to score goals. He is one of the most prolific scorers in the history of this ultimate competition, but it is a fact overshadowed by the years he spent feeding the No. 1 guy, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benzema is now the main lion on the prowl in Real’s attack, and he is ready to keep the streak going. In order for Real to ensure a first-leg victory and a big boost before their trip to Anfield, Benz may have to score. Real Madrid do not rely on a single player more than Benz.

Real Madrid, Lucas Vazquez (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

RB Lucas Vazquez

Finally, we come to one of the pivotal figures of the match, even if he is not even close to being the biggest name on the pitch. Marcelo, Ferland Mendy, and the red-hot Marco Asensio were all considered here, but I think Lucas Vazquez is in the biggest spot with Dani Carvajal out again.

Vazquez fights as hard as any player for Real Madrid. His fight helped lift Los Blancos to massive victories over Barcelona and Borussia Monchengladbach this season, with both wins being particular morale boosts for the Royal Whites.

On Tuesday, he must duel with Sadio Mane, who is one of the best left wingers in the world, especially when it comes to his savvy, work rate, and unselfishness. He has a lot of the traits we admire in Vazquez, but he’s also more skilled.

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Vazquez will have to play out of his mind. But he has played out of his mind on multiple occasions this season. He even made some big plays against Atalanta in the last Champions League fixture. Real Madrid’s fate in the quarterfinals rests in the hands of a lot of players, and Vazquez ranks higher on that list than most.

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