Fernando Torres Vs Nemanja Vidic & Three More Of The Best Battles Of The Champions League Quarter-Finals

3. SERGIO RAMOS vs GARETH BALE

	vs

HEAD-TO-HEAD

24	AGE	21
Spanish	NATIONALITY	Welsh
RB	POSITION	LW
	CASTROL RANKING
Quarter-finals (2011)	CL BEST	None
	FORM

WHAT TO EXPECT

Gareth Bale's form in the Champions League made him one of the most talked-about players in the world. The Welsh youngster was brilliant against Inter, scoring a hat-trick at San Siro and providing two glorious assists in a crucial meeting in London, leading some analysts to declare Maicon's career as finished. His part in the last 16 tie versus Milan was minimal due to injury, but now he is fully fit to take on the toughest warrior of them all, Sergio Ramos.

Ramos is fast enough to compete with Bale's lightning speed, and physical enough to make the Welshman a little cautious on his mazy runs. However, the Spaniard is still not the smartest player tactically, and Tottenham can use Bale's ability to find space behind the defender.

Verdict: If Tottenham can surprise Real, their hopes lie with Bale and van der Vaart. Fitness will be crucial for the Welshman, and it remains a bit doubtful he can be back to his autumn form in time for the quarter-finals.

2. LIONEL MESSI vs DMYTRO CHYGRYNSKIY

	vs

HEAD-TO-HEAD

23	AGE	24
Argentinian	NATIONALITY	Ukrainian
CF	POSITION	CB
	CASTROL RANKING
Winner (2006, 2009)	CL BEST	Semi-finalist (2010)
	FORM

WHAT TO EXPECT

Signing Dmytro Chygrynskiy for €25 million is seen as Pep Guardiola worst transfer decision at the Camp Nou, even taking the Zlatan Ibrahimovic disaster into account. Sold at a loss of €10 million back to Ukraine after a single season on the bench in Barcelona, Chygrynskiy is back to his best, guiding a solid Shakhtar defence to their biggest achievement in the Champions League. Now he has to stop his former team-mates, and especially Lionel Messi, who is averaging a goal per game in Europe this season, and enjoys an even better record in all competitions.

While it might be extremely difficult for any defender to stop the best forward in the world, there might be hope for Shakhtar that their star defender can bring some inside knowledge. Dynamo Kyiv thrashed Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou in their best Champions League game in 1997, and Chygrynkiy's job will be to prevent the Catalans from getting the reverse result in the first leg.

Verdict: Chygrynskiy will be eager to prove Pep wrong for not giving him enough chances, but it really depends on Messi. On his day, the Argentinian is unstoppable.

1. FERNANDO TORRES vs NEMANJA VIDIC

	vs

HEAD-TO-HEAD

27	AGE	29
Spanish	NATIONALITY	Serbian
CF	POSITION	CB
	CASTROL RANKING
Semi-finalist (2008)	CL BEST	Winner (2008)
	FORM

WHAT TO EXPECT

Fernando Torres has so far failed to justify the monstrous €50 million fee Roman Abramovich agreed to pay for him, but there is one Manchester United player who hates to see the Spaniard. Incredibly, Nemanja Vidic has been sent off four times in the last three seasons when facing Torres' sides.

It all started on September 13, 2008 when Vidic saw red in a 2-1 defeat at Anfield. Then came the Torres' finest performance against United on March 14, 2009 when he tore the Red Devils apart at Old Trafford, a match in which the Serbian was sent off again. The sequence continued last season, when Vidic opted for an early shower in injury time once more, in a 2-0 defeat. Torres' move to Stamford Bridge changed nothing in that regard - Vidic received his marching orders for a second booking, and Chelsea won the Spaniard's first encounter with United when wearing blue.

The 27-year-old World Cup winner is struggling for form, while Vidic is struggling for fitness, and he won't be delighted to face an old foe when returning from injury.

Verdict: On current form, Torres can only hope the referee keeps his record straight and sends Vidic off.

Which battles are you most looking forward to? Any we have missed out? Post your suggestions in the comments section and we'll add the best of them below.