Real Madrid's near collapse highlights Sergio Ramos' importance Champions League - Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus They suffered without their captain

Cristiano Ronaldo is often described as Real Madrid's most important player, but Wednesday night showed just how vital Sergio Ramos is when it comes to making Los Blancos function.

He is the character of the team and his absence - due to a yellow card accumulation suspension - against Juventus provoked Real Madrid's near collapse.

Marcelo was the one who actually wore the captain's armband and Ronaldo tried to motivate the troops on a couple of occasions, but nobody leads quite like Ramos.

There's a reason he is captain for both club and country.

For Ramos, Wednesday's match was tough to watch from the stands, aware that he couldn't run down and sort things out on the pitch.

He started the evening smiling, but was as nervous as everyone in the second half and he couldn't bear the final minutes and went down to the dressing room before the end, watching the late drama from the tunnel.