t is the defending champions against the tournament favourites, the grand old aristocrats of European football against the new upstarts, old money against new money, Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain.

Rarely has there been such a hotly-anticipated showdown at the last-16 stage of the Champions League and with such star quality on display, it is really hard to split them.

But we'll do our best to rate the form of the two sets of players in our Champions League high court.

GOALKEEPER
Keylor Navas (Real Madrid)

Curiously for such big clubs, both goalkeepers may well be a point of weakness and both Real and PSG would probably like to upgrade them at some point soon.

Navas isn't having a great season - he has conceded 26 goals in 25 matches and spent eight matches on the sidelines with an abductor muscle injury.

Clean sheets have been difficult to come by - just seven so far this season - and Real haven't necessarily always outscored their opponent either. 6/10

Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain)

Areola has established himself as PSG's No 1 this season ahead of Kevin Trapp but the feeling remains that, at 24, he is far from the finished article.

Having said that, he doesn't concede too many goals and kept four clean sheets from six group stage matches.

Like Real, PSG will perhaps look to upgrade their keeper this summer. 6/10

Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain)

Areola has established himself as PSG's No 1 this season ahead of Kevin Trapp but the feeling remains that, at 24, he is far from the finished article.

Having said that, he doesn't concede too many goals and kept four clean sheets from six group stage matches.

Like Real, PSG will perhaps look to upgrade their keeper this summer. 6/10

Dani Alves

With three Champions League winners' medals in his collection from his time at Barcelona, there are few more experienced European campaigners than Alves.

Even at the age of 34, the Brazilian could still be counted as one of the best right-backs in world football and he was made for nights like this.

As a former Barcelona hero, he can expect a frosty reception at the Bernabeu but will thrive on such animosity. Will look to support the front men at every opportunity and they certainly work well in tandem. 8/10

CENTRE-BACK
Sergio Ramos

Not everyone's cup of tea as a character, but you can't argue with the Real captain's CV. A three-time European champion and one of the wiliest campaigners out there on the continental stage.

A true leader at the heart of Real's defence, Ramos is another who excels on nights such as this and at the age of 31, he'll feel he has another one or two Champions League medals still to win.

Mind you, this hasn't exactly been his finest season. He has been affected by injury and Real have sometimes struggled without his presence, hence their disappointing league position.

You wouldn't bet against him settling this tie with a header from a set-piece either. 8/10

Marquinhos

At 23, the Brazilian has matured into a fine centre-back and is practically an ever-present for PSG, especially in the Champions League.

Working seamlessly in tandem with Thiago Silva, they provide the rock-solid foundation upon which PSG's attacking players can express themselves.

Now in his fifth season with the Parisians, he will be itching to add the European medal that is missing from his collection. 7.5/10

CENTRE-BACK
Raphael Varane

At 24, it's fair to say Varane has become the defender we all hoped he would when he arrived at Real aged 18.

You don't often get such a young player with three Champions League winners' medals to his credit and the pace and control he brings to Real's defence compliments Ramos nicely.

Yet Varane has this week again been linked with a move away from the Bernabeu - possibly to Manchester United - in the summer so you wonder what the future holds for the Frenchman. 7.5/10

Thiago Silva

PSG's leadership also comes from the heart of defence in the form of Thiago Silva and he remains, at the age of 33, one of the best pound-for-pound defenders anywhere in the game.

Though injuries have started to take an increasing toll, he continues to play a prominent role especially in PSG's European fixtures.

His authority will be absolutely crucial in this tie, as will his experience of such big occasions. A European winners medal continues to elude him, but he'll never have a better chance to win one. 8/10

LEFT-BACK
Marcelo

Such a fun player to watch, especially in helter-skelter matches such as this. The all-action Brazilian will one moment be charging forward as Real attack, the next haring back to rob Kylian Mbappe of the ball.

Like many of those around him, Marcelo isn't enjoying the best form this season but his pedigree in European competition is superb.

Having nicely stoked the fires ahead of this match by saying Neymar will one day play alongside him for Real, he now needs to let his feet do the talking. 8.5/10

Layvin Kurzawa

The left-back position has been an interesting one for PSG this season, with Kurzawa and Yuri Berchiche scrapping for Unai Emery's favour.

In Europe, it's Kurzawa that has got the nod, playing every minute of the Champions League campaign so far and he will probably start in the Bernabeu.

For some, this position is a weak link for PSG when Kurzawa is occupying it. In the defeat to Lyon last month, for example, he scored with a cracking volley but was defensively suspect. 7/10

MIDFIELD
Casemiro

Is he the world's best holding midfielder? There's a stong case to be made. Casemiro has become the rock upon which a lot of Real's recent success has been based.

It's in matches such as this the Brazilian should truly come into his own as he stops the supply lines to PSG's dangerous frontmen and takes pressure off the defence, while also linking to those further forward.

One worry for Zidane is that Casemiro gets done for pace early on and picks up a yellow card. He has served a suspension for yellow card accumulation in the league already this season. 8/10

Marco Verratti

His future at PSG hasn't always been certain - he turned down Barcelona in the summer - but the Italian midfielder has certainly held his own on the European stage this season.

Two goals and two assists in six group stage starts underlined his worth in these kind of contests and his sharp eye for a pass will be integral to PSG's chances.

Now 25, Verratti could well be entering his prime. It's certainly the case that his stock continues to rise. 7.5/10

MIDFIELD
Toni Kroos

Real's midfield metronome and the fulcrum on which defence turns into attack for the reigning European champions.

The German is pretty much an ever-present in Zidane's team and it won't take long for him to exert his influence at the Bernabeu with one of those effortless cross-field passes.

His drive from the central midfield position and vast experience of such high-pressure European nights could make all the different. 8.5/10




MIDFIELD
Toni Kroos

Real's midfield metronome and the fulcrum on which defence turns into attack for the reigning European champions.

The German is pretty much an ever-present in Zidane's team and it won't take long for him to exert his influence at the Bernabeu with one of those effortless cross-field passes.

His drive from the central midfield position and vast experience of such high-pressure European nights could make all the different. 8.5/10




MIDFIELD
Luka Modric

The Croatian may be 32 now but he remains as pleasing on the eye as ever and important to Real's midfield alongside Kroos.

Modric starts pretty much every game and keeps Real moving forward with his excellent range of passing.

If Real are to rediscover their spark in what has been a disappointing season, they'll need Modric to be fully firing. 8/10

Adrien Rabiot

Rabiot has developed into a fine midfielder and you can't imagine the PSG side without him now.

He's going to be kept busy by Real, that's for sure, and his duty to stamp out their attacks before they have chance to inflict any damage is vital.

Rabiot won't ever get as many headlines as the likes of Neymar and Mbappe, but his unheralded role is often just as significant. 7.5/10



FORWARD
Gareth Bale

On without further ado to the most interesting part of the field - two attacking line-ups just oozing with world class players.

Welsh star Bale might not always get the respect he deserves from the Bernabeu season but he's been excellent again in a relatively lean year for Real Madrid.

Despite yet another injury-plagued campaign, he has been one of their most consistent and reliable performers both at home and abroad.

Nine goals and six assists attest to that and his bursts of acceleration and eye for goal could possibly swing this tie their way. 9/10



FORWARD
Gareth Bale

On without further ado to the most interesting part of the field - two attacking line-ups just oozing with world class players.

Welsh star Bale might not always get the respect he deserves from the Bernabeu season but he's been excellent again in a relatively lean year for Real Madrid.

Despite yet another injury-plagued campaign, he has been one of their most consistent and reliable performers both at home and abroad.

Nine goals and six assists attest to that and his bursts of acceleration and eye for goal could possibly swing this tie their way. 9/10



FORWARD

Karim Benzema

A really average season for Benzema and you have to feel that Real won't be indulging him for too much longer.

He remains part of their forward line but a return of only six goals from an admittedly injury-affected season is a massive drop in standards from recent campaigns.

Mind you, if ever there is a chance for redemption, this is it and Benzema will be eager to show his big game edge hasn't been lost. 8/10

FORWARD
Cristiano Ronaldo

What can you say that hasn't already been said? It's been a really sub-par season by Ronaldo's stratospheric standards yet he has scored 23 goals in all competitions.

Nine of those came in six Champions League group games and there have been signs of late that things are starting to click again - he comes into this contest having scored a hat-trick at the weekend.

Ronaldo has been in so many of these blockbuster contests and usually he seizes the occasion and shapes it to his own ends. My night, my pitch, my victory.

Is he still the best player in the world? Maybe not. But there aren't many others you'd want in your corner on nights like this. 10/10