Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has lavished praise on Juventus stopper Gianluigi Buffon ahead of their meeting in the Champions League semi-finals.

Casillas's side will travel to Turin for the first leg of their last-four clash on Tuesday evening.

When questioned on his fellow goalkeeper, Casillas branded Buffon 'a reference for a generation'.

"What do you want me to say about Buffon? He was a reference for my generation and remains so for the next," Casillas told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"For people like me, who dreamed of being a goalkeeper, he represented a huge shop window that we could come to and be seen next to him."

Casillas and Buffon are two of the most successful goalkeepers in the history of European football.