Real Madrid vs PSG | Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st leg | Review

Real Madrid vs PSG was the match of round of 16 in the champions league. It was Ronaldo vs Neymar. Underperforming Real Madrid vs high flying PSG. Yesterday night the 90 minutes were as intense as it can be. One team was fighting to prove critics wrong, while one team was trying to finally leave a mark in Champions League. End result Real Madrid defeats PSG 3-1 in the first leg. The score would make you feel that it was an easy afternoon at Madrid office, but it was not. Madrid was fortunate and brave to win it 3-1. While PSG was a bit unlucky to lose with such a score. To do justice to this match i will be breaking down it into talking points.

Real Madrid vs PSG(3-1) X Taking Points

5) Ronaldo at it again

Cristiano Ronaldo simply is a man of moments. Even in a underperforming  season by his standards, he manages to make headlines. His calm and composed penalty , along with literally a knee tap in gave Madrid 2 goals. He might not be in the best of forms but is still sharp in scoring situations. He truly played like a striker against PSG. He was inside the box at the right times and tested PSG's defence. Like a true striker he did what he had to do and this is score goals. He was not able to get passed Dani Alves easily , but at the end he scored the goals that has given Madrid a great advantage.

4) Marcelo was magical

No praises are enough for Marcelo last night. He was a constant threat to PSG's defence. He kept on going even after an elbow injury and was rewarded with a goal at the end. It can be said to be his best performance of the season. When Marcelo is in this way Madrid looks dangerous.

3) Cavani-Neymar-Mbappe no MSN

This is one point, i think personally cost PSG. No one can say Cavani-Neymar-Mbappe are a lethal trio, but against Madrid it proved they are not as synced together as MSN was. During the match it was very clear Neymar wanted to score for himself rather than the team itself. He had many opportunity and on few occasions had chances to give Cavani the pass inside the box but did not do. Cavani did not do too much and was usually unseen in the match. While for Mbappe , he is just 19 years old and playing against Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu and this match is surely a great learning curve for him.

2) Unai Emery got it wrong

Putting it this way is much simple. Emery's decision not to play Thiago Silva in place of Presnel Kimpembe was beyond bad. He was lacking confidence and was tested by Madrid's pressing. Giovani Lo Celso was the worst player on the pitch and gave a penalty away.He was substituted in the 84th minute. At 1-1 with around 25 minutes left Emery surprisingly  substituted Cavani. It was not a good decision since they were playing against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu. Unai can blame the referee all he wants but the fact will be today his tactics were a major reason why PSG lost.

1) The tie is not over

The tie is surely not over. PSG has an away goal and just need to win 2-0 back at Paris and with Madrid's fluctuating defence that can happen. PSG know they had already bottled the round of 16 against Barcelona and would try to avoid it. The attacking threat they have they might just do it. Most important thing  is they will be back home with their supporters and that might play a big role. Madrid should celebrate this victory, but need not lose focus and think they have one it. It will be an interesting 2nd leg. 

I predicted a 2-2 draw for this match. Certainly i was wrong .

Check out the rest of my round of 16 prediction 

Check out my reason for these round of 16 predictions as well.