Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid: Blancos Stars Who Must Shine Against FC Bayern

Real Madrid battles Bayern Munich in the first leg of the teams' Champions League semifinal matchup today. Since the Blancos start on the road, it's important they don't fall behind early and force themselves to play from behind against one of the world's elite squads.

Here are three players under pressure to lead Madrid to a positive result against FC Bayern. If they don't live up to expectations, today's result will likely doom their chances of claiming the coveted La Liga and Champions League double-title season.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Madrid's offense begins and ends with Ronaldo. Even though Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema are both talented strikers, their success wouldn't be possible without Ronaldo drawing so much attention from the defense. When he's in form, there isn't a back line that can stop him.

He's scored eight goals in as many UCL games this season because of his aggressiveness. He's taken 59 shots in those games, which averages out to more than seven per game, but that's what the team needs him to do. When he's constantly attacking, everybody else around him becomes a better player.

Nobody can deny Ronaldo's incredible talent level, but until he dethrones Barcelona, there will always be questions about his ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most. He can answer some of those with a strong showing today.

Sergio Ramos

Everybody knows about Ramos' defensive abilities. He plays lock-down defense at right back and can also move elsewhere along the back line when needed to provide some versatility. Often overlooked are his contributions on offense.

He has four goals and six assists across all competitions this season. Most importantly, he keeps the opposing defense and midfield honest because they must account for him streaking up the sideline to produce a scoring chance.

That opens up more space for players like Mesut Ozil and Kaka to work their magic. Keeping Bayern off the board will remain his top priority throughout the match, but whenever he gets a chance to move forward, he needs to take it.

Iker Casillas

Every goalkeeper left in the Champions League is under immense pressure. A single gaffe has the potential to become the difference between winning the trophy and going home. Luckily for Madrid, they couldn't ask for a better player between the pipes.

Casillas has racked up 12 clean sheets in 33 league games and hasn't allowed more than two goals since early December. With the Blancos' offense, that's usually more than enough to keep them in a game. That's all a team can ask from its keeper.

Mario Gomez, Arjen Robben and the rest of FC Bayern's stars will surely get their fair share of scoring opportunities, so Casillas must be ready for a tough challenge. But if there's any goalie in the world who can steal a game, it's him.