Bright start for Real as makeshift right-back Lucas Vazquez bursts into the box but Liverpool's captain for the night Georginio Wijnaldum clears.

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Erling Haaland is the story tonight - but will he be the story for the right reasons? The pressure is on him and everyone is watching the number nine of Borussia Dortmund. He certainly looks the part, but will he be able to play the part?

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It takes 90 seconds for Real Madrid's first chance as in-form Karim Benzema lashes one in from 25 yards but it's straight at Alisson, who scoops it up.

Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Real Madrid have only won 36% of their games in the Champions League without Sergio Ramos (5/14), compared to 72% with the Spaniard in the team (26/36).

They are without their first-choice centre-back partnership with Raphael Varane out with Covid.

We are under way in Madrid and Manchester.

Don Hutchison
Ex-Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Jurgen has dealt with personal battles along the way, players with Covid, injuries, he has had to look after his players, look after his family.

There are a couple of positives along the way. The form of Nat Phillips might save them an awful lot of money and his team have been fighting for form.

Like most teams, I think they want the season over with. Quarter-finals of the Champions League, you want fans in the stadium and hopefully next season you see a completely different picture.

That training ground reference is because Real Madrid have been playing at their B team's Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in the Covid era.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

More from former Liverpool striker John Aldridge, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live earlier.

Aldridge says Trent Alexander-Arnold's omission from the England squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in March could be positive motivation for the 22-year-old right-back.

"Trent just has to continue the form he showed against Arsenal at the weekend. It was just strange the way Gareth did it, with nothing being said. That's the one thing that Liverpool fans have been aggrieved about.

"But... as long as it gets the lad going. He's so talented, he can be one of the best in the world in that position. He probably is now but something has been amiss.

"And let's not forget, the lad had Covid, so we don't know how much that took out of him. He's only young, your form can dip. But I know as a player, you may need a kick up the backside sometimes, if you rest on your laurels. I'm not saying that was the case here but what Gareth has done, hopefully that has had the required result."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Alf-Ingve Berntsen, who coached Erling Braut Haaland at his first Norwegian club Bryne, has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the striker.

"The frst time I saw him play football was when he was seven. He was good from the start," he said.

"He still has the same playing style like he was 11 or 12. He's very smart in the box. He moves very smart, has a good technique. The technical and tactical and physical [element of his game] is highest level. And also he's mentally very strong. So the combination of these four are special with Erling.

"Most of his game can improve. If he enjoys his club now - or potentially a new club, I think he will just increase his progress. But he also has to avoid injuries - so you never know. But when you're 20, usually you get better at most parts of the game."

Borussia Dortmund's English midfielder Jude Bellingham is the second youngest player to start a Champions League quarter-final (17 years, 281 days), behind only Bojan in April 2008 for Barcelona vs Schalke (17 years, 217 days).

Will Unwin
BBC Sport

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One remarkable element of Manchester City's bid for an unprecedented quadruple this season is that, for the most part, it has been the brilliance of the team that has stood out, rather than any one individual.

Pep Guardiola's side could quite conceivably win all four competitions they are in and yet it is not a certainty one of their squad will claim the player of the year award, because the excellent displays by the likes of Ruben Dias, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden might split the vote.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, though, there can be no doubting the role Gundogan has played in taking City to within sight of what would be English football's greatest achievement.

For a player rejected by his hometown club aged eight because he was considered too small, his growing influence - 12 goals in 23 Premier League games - has been at the heart of the club's revival following a disappointing 2019-20.

He will once again be a central figure for City in the Champions League on Tuesday as he comes up against Borussia Dortmund, the team where he really made his name on the European stage.

Read more about Gundogan's rise here.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri: "We know their offensive side - they break and try to punish you on counter-attacks. We must control and not change the way of playing but to avoid counter-attacks. We have to control the game in our way and that will be good for us.

"His [Erling Braut Haaland's] performance is impressive – only 21 years old and he’s scoring lots of goals but we’re focusing on Dortmund the team. I remember facing Dortmund with Atletico and it was very tough. We have to be aware of their squad, they come forward and score goals."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge, who made 104 appearances for the Reds, has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about why Jurgen Klopp's side has struggled for form this season.

"The injuries, that goes without saying," Aldridge said. "Anyone is going to struggle with the amount of key injuries in key areas that Liverpool have had to deal with. And then performances of top players not being at the standard they should be.

"When you mention Anfield, to lose six games on the bounce, if you would've said that to anyone at any given time, in any given year, they would say 'no, that wouldn't happen' but it has.

"Jurgen and the squad have had a lot to deal with - even though they should have done a lot better.

"This game against Real Madrid has a huge bearing on the season. In any season it's massive to be in the Champions League quarter-finals but for this year, the way the season has panned out, it puts even more emphasis on the tie."

Image source, Reuters

Real Madrid are flying after a slow start to the season.

They are unbeaten in 11 games, winning nine of them, and are now within three points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

"In the end, we deserve trust," said boss Zinedine Zidane, who led Real to a hat-trick of Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018. "What is said, we can't change all of that. What we can do is our jobs every day.

"But through history, this team turns around the things that have been said. We never give up on things, never. While there is a chance we always fight.

"We have had difficult moments, now we are in a good moment, though it doesn't mean anything at the moment. We have to keep on fighting and compete."

Real Madrid defender Nacho: "Mane, Firmino, Salah and Jota are all in spectacular form and they're the best players on an individual level.

"Every Liverpool player will want to beat us and we want to beat them. It's true that we beat them in the Champions League final. We have the same desire to win this tie.

"I like the way Liverpool play together up front with three very good players."