When Paris Saint-Germain were founded in 1970, Real Madrid had already won six European Cups. Some 48 years later, the French capital has combined with Qatari money to challenge the kings of the continent's premier club competition in a huge last-16 tie.

Via the massive injection of oil cash into PSG's coffers, the Ligue 1 leaders have become one of the favourites for the 2017/18 Champions League and take on a Los Blancos side with the world's most expensive player in their ranks.

It can be said that PSG's rise alongside Manchester City's is the sign of the tide turning in European football, as the modern super-rich clubs take on the old patriarchy, each lining up to be the first true kingslayer.

Real's Affinity

However Real have won as many European Cups in the age of colour television as they did in black and white, with six coming before 1966 and six more since 1998.

After the golden age of Alfredo Di Stefano in the late 1950s, the current run of three titles in four years is unprecedented for the modern era. Some may point out that the current season's domestic failures will dent their European form, but that is to underestimate Real Madrid.

Plenty of times throughout their history, Los Merengues have triumphed on the continent having relinquished the opportunities closer to home. It is a club founded on the idea of idolising this very competition.

Fortunately for coach Zinedine Zidane, he can bring out a 4-3-3 with minimal disruption and Cristiano Ronaldo can take up his place among the BBC frontline with the confidence of a man who is the Champions League top scorer for this season and all-time.

Neymar's Stage

At the other end of the pitch is a man who dreams of replicating, and surpassing, Ronaldo: Neymar.

The most expensive player in history, he left Barcelona to escape Lionel Messi's shadow and is now the absolute leader in Paris, on red-hot form and with the weight of the club on his shoulders exactly like he must have wanted.

Madrid's crown is on the line with the first leg kicking off at 20:45 CET at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, in a match which represents traditional powerhouses versus modern oil giants, that with 12 European Cups versus that with none, and that of the king versus the would-be kingslayer.

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