Five Key Battles: Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid Champions League preview
One club is drenched in rich European history, the other is simply drenched in cash. Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid is a Champions League clash befitting a final, with the personnel on show, but instead one neutrals are treated to in the round of 16 stage. Real Madrid were already on six European titles before PSG were even formed in 1970. The Spanish side are now on 13, while PSG are desperately looking to claim their first.
Despite the money PSG have thrown at it, they have only reached one final over the last decade. They followed up final defeat to Bayern Munich in 2019/20 with a semi-final exit to Manchester City last season. Real Madrid also bowed out of that stage last term. Los Blancos were knocked out by eventual champions Chelsea. Now both teams are out to avoid an embarrassing early exit. What makes Tuesday's meeting at the Parce des Princes so mouthwatering is not just what it means in the present, but also what comes from the past and the implications in the future.
Facing Madrid has extra meaning to the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Angel Di Maria, Keylar Navas, Achraf Hakimi, Neymar, Leo Messi and Sergio Ramos, though the latter is injured. While Madrid are already planning for next season and hope to have PSG striker Kylian Mbappe in their ranks. Ahead of such a big Champions League tie, we have picked out five huge match-ups to watch out for in Paris
Leo Messi's move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last summer sent shockwaves through football. Watching Messi at times this season and you'd be forgiven for thinking the Argentine was still getting the grips with life in Paris. Everyone expected Messi to walk the French league, but it really hasn't gone that way. After an extremely slow start, things have at least improved of late. Messi only managed four direct goal contributions across his first 10 appearances for PSG, but has 10 in his last 10 for the French side. The fact he still only has two goals in 14 league appearances is still remarkable. It's not been for a lack of effort on his part. Messi has fired off 51 attempts in that time and has been denied by the frame of the goal the joint-most times in Europe's top 5 leagues this season (7). Aside from all the obvious commercial benefits of having Messi, the 34-year-old was signed by PSG not to win trophies in France but to take them over the last hurdle and win the Champions League. However, he has more yellow cards (2) than goals or assists (0) across his last seven matches against Madrid. He's also not won the Champions League himself since 2015.
Cristiano Ronaldo's departure in 2018 helped Karim Benzema emerge as the main man for Real Madrid and Leo Messi's exit from Spain has seen the France international become the best player in La Liga. The 34-year-old has played a direct hand in 24 goals in 21 league appearances and in six goals in as many appearances in the Champions League this season. Benzema is expected to start on Tuesday night but he won't be completely fit. He has missed their last three matches through injury and was only able to take part in aspects of training on Sunday. In their last two of those matches, Madrid have only scored once from 41 attempts on goal. Madrid really need Benzema to be firing if they are to match PSG's attacking options.
With so much industry required in Paris Saint-Germain midfield to compensate for Neymar, Mbappe and Messi in attack, Marco Verratti is vital in knitting it all together. Verratti ranks third in Europe for most passes per game (83.7) and with a pass success rate in excess of 90%. Injury problems have unfortunately plagued Verratti's career but having the 29-year-old fit and ready is a huge plus for Pochettino heading into Tuesday's match. Verratti is expected to be in the thick of the action as PSG wrestle for control in midfield against Madrid’s old guard of Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos. Expect Verratti to get stuck in, as always, as the Italy international has been booked in nine of his 13 league starts this season.
While Madrid pulled the plug on contract talks with Sergio Ramos over his demands last season, Luka Modric has been a pleasure to deal with by contrast. The Croatian midfielder is happy to go year-by-year and that mindset has kept the veteran hungry and determined on the pitch. This season has shown Modric is still one of the best midfielders in Europe despite the fact he turns 37 later this year. He already has more assists in La Liga this term (4 in 17 apps) than the whole of last season (3 in 35) and the amount of dribbles per game completed has barely changed over the last decade. There have been calls for Federico Valverde to start in Madrid’s midfield but it would be a surprise if Carlo Ancelotti moved away from this tried and tested formula.
Achraf Hakimi vs Dani Carvajal
Achraf Hakimi has already made more appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this season (27) than he did during his entire career at Real Madrid (17). Despite emerging as one of the best full-backs in the world on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Hakimi was never get a fair ride at Madrid. Rather than blood him back into the side in 2020, Madrid cashed in. Hakimi went to Inter where he unsurprisingly excelled under Antonio Conte for one season before being snapped up by PSG. Madrid had the right to match PSG’s offer but opted against it. The 23-year-old, who was one of the best players at the Africa Cup of Nations this year, has six goal contributions in 20 league appearances for PSG this season, already matching Dani Carvajal’s best ever return in a single La Liga campaign for Real Madrid.
The decision was a no-brainer at the time. Carvajal was playing at a high level, whereas Hakimi was also at a high level and had many suitors. Selling Hakimi was the most lucrative option of the two and Madrid needed the money. While a profitable move off the pitch, it hasn’t proved as savvy on it. Injuries have limited Carvajal to just 22 starts from a possible 62 in La Liga sine Hakimi’s departure. Madrid have instead been forced to utilise players like Lucas Vazquez and Federico Valverde at right-back as cover. A solid performance against PSG would at least remind everyone why Madrid decided to keep him over Hakimi.
Neymar will also make his return from injury in this fixture. Constant injuries have really stained Neymar’s time at PSG and made his blockbuster move from Barcelona a big disappointment. Sidelined since the end of November, Neymar may only make the bench on Tuesday but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing for PSG. Neymar hasn’t exactly played sparkling football this season and Pochettino has often struggled to get the balance right in attack with the Brazilian alongside Mbappe and Messi. Neymar has actually been booked as many times (3) as he has scored goals across his 14 appearances in league and European competition this season. His performances in Europe have left a lot to be desired as well, with centre-back Thiago Silva managing as many shots as Neymar (6) in the group stage this season. PSG fans are still waiting for their front three to catch light this season but getting them all on the pitch at once would be a start.
Burned by Barcelona's capture of Neymar back in 2013, Madrid have made a conscious effort to ensure history doesn't repeat itself. They have raided Brazil regularly since then for its top talent and have spent more than £100m to land the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Reinier in the last four years. Prior to this season there were little to no suggestions they would get a serious return on their investments, albeit still very early days, but the former has exploded into form this season beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Vinicius has always been hugely exciting on the ball but a lack of end product had always let him down. Not this season, however. The 21-year-old has played a direct hand in 17 goals in 22 league appearances this season (12 goals, five assists) and is the top WhoScored rated player in La Liga (7.68 rating). Moreover, the Brazilian has one fewer goal contribution in the Champions League this season (5 in 6 apps) then he managed in 35 league appearances last season (6).
Gigi Donnarumma vs Thibaut Courtois
Life in Paris, as has been the case for many of PSG's new signings this season, hasn't been plain sailing for Gigi Donnarumma. The talented 22-year-old has endured a stop-start career since playing a pivotal role in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph last summer. Donnarumma was named the best player at Euro 2020, becoming the first goalkeeper since Germany Oliver Kahn in 2002 to claim such award at a FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championships. Since then, however, he has shared responsibilities in goal with ex-Madrid shot-stopper Keylor Navas and been limited to just 13 appearances of a possible 30 across league and European competition. Donnarumma should at least get the nod on Tuesday after Navas started in goal at the weekend. Donnarumma was excellent in the group stage of the Champions League and no goalkeeper left in the competition is averaging more saves per game than the Italian (5).
Thibaut Courtois was not even in the conversation for one of the best goalkeepers in the world at FIFA’s Best Awards ceremony last month, to the surprise of many that watch Madrid on a regular basis. Courtois didn’t even make the top three with Edouard Mendy picking up the award followed by Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer. The Belgium international hasn’t committed a single error leading to an opposition goal in 30 appearances across league and European competition this season. Madrid need to be perfect at the back up against Neymar, Mbappe and Messi. The latter has never scored against Madrid in five appearances when Courtois has started.
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