The most anticipated matchup in the last-16 of the Champions League is undoubtedly the clash between Manchester United and Real Madrid, with Cristiano Ronaldo the man that everyone will have their eye on.
Ronaldo will face his former club for the first time since making a record breaking move to the Bernabeu in 2009
United are flying high in the English Premier League at the moment, nine points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City, while Real are out of title contention in La Liga, with Barcelona streets ahead.
However, the former United favorite believes Real have the better team and are capable of toppling United when the two teams meet on Feb. 13 for the first leg at the Bernabeu, before taking on each other in the crucial second leg at Old Trafford on March 5.
"I believe things will go well," Ronaldo told the official UEFA Champions League magazine. "In my opinion Read Madrid have a better team, but we have to show that on the pitch because United are a very united team and always have been in recent years.
"They're a team that always do well, every year they're at the top and therefore a team we respect a lot. It will be an extremely difficult match, especially in Manchester."
Emotions will be something that Ronaldo will need to keep in check, especially in the second leg when he returns to the ground he enjoyed six successful years playing.
"I actually said beforehand that I believed we would draw Manchester United," he said. "I've wanted to face them for some time. I have great memories from my time there.
"It will be a match in which I will feel a lot. I was there for six years. I have a lot of friends there, people I will see with great pleasure, it will be a match with a lot of emotions."
Ronaldo has always had a soft spot for Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Portuguese superstar crediting the United manager for turning him into the world beater that he has become.
"He taught me the basis of football," Ronaldo added. "I arrived in Manchester when I was only 18. He managed my career in the best possible way and for me he is one of the most important people in football.
"I still have an excellent relationship with him and it will be nice to see him again."
