Cristiano Ronaldo will be key to Juventus making an assault on the Champions League and overcoming Atletico Madrid, according to midfielder Miralem Panic.
The Italian champions face Diego Simeone’s men at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday night in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
Prior to the contest, the Bosnian was keen to highlight the impact of Ronaldo, who returns to the city he once called home to face his old foes.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is very motivated in this competition and he has shown that for a long time,” Pjanic told reporters.
“He has always been present and decisive in this competition.
“The others always want to win, but he is so important and has shown that for us this year.
“When it comes to sharing freekicks, we’ll see what happens and let’s just hope that we can both score.
“If it is close I’ll do it and maybe if it is a little further, maybe he will, although we can both score.”
The former Roma man also played down suggestions that his side should be considered tournament favourites, which could see them return to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano to contest the final later in the year.
“The Champions League is a very complicated competition and if we see ourselves as favourites then we are wrong, it is just important to start well tomorrow,” he said.
“We know that the final is in this stadium, but there will be many obstacles like the one on Wednesday.
“They are a team who has achieved very good results, but an important cycle begins tomorrow for us because we want to return here.
“That is the objective that we have so we must try to excel.”