Mitch Freeley

Match Report

Real Madrid sealed their progression to the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 2-1 (5-2 on aggregate) victory over PSG on Wednesday evening. 

The Parisian fans were in full voice throughout the contest, it's just a shame that their side didn't reward them with a place in the last eight of the Champions League. The opening exchanges were scrappy, to say the least as both sides got to grips with the ferocious atmosphere in the Parc des Princes.

Eventually, both sides settled and had had a chance each to take the lead towards the end of the first half. First up Karim Benzema spurned a one on one opportunity, missing his shot from a tight angle. Whilst minutes later, teenage sensation Kylian Mbappé blazed his shot over, again from an acute angle. The first half ended 0-0. 

The second half, saw the PSG return in full voice. Making plenty of noise and adding to the atmosphere of this top of the table European clash. Although some of those fans turned silent as Real Madrid took the lead. Dani Alves was caught with the ball and Asensio picks his pocket. A wonder pass from the Spaniard found Vázquez who crossed to the back-post. Ronaldo was on hand to nod the ball into the back of the net, and give Los Blancos a foothold in the quarters. 

PSG streamed ahead and just lacked that cutting edge, that decisive pass in the final third. Time and time again, Real cleared the ball. The complexion of the tie changed minutes later when  Marco Verratti picked up his second yellow card of the night and his marching orders for pointlessly arguing with the referee. 

Despite being down to ten men, PSG found a scrappy equalizer on the 70th minute, as the ball rebounded off Edison Cavani from a corner and into the net. The spaces opened up for Real in the final twenty minutes of the half, with Asensio causing plenty of trouble on the left wing. The Spaniard clipped the post, as Real pushed to kill off the tie.

With ten minutes to play, Casemiro put the tie beyond doubt putting Real 2-1 up on the night & 5-2 on aggregate. Ronaldo knocked the ball to the midfielder, his shot knocked off Marquinhos and bounced into the back of the net.  Real Madrid are still on course for their third straight Champions League title and will be looking forward to the draw. As for PSG, the future of Unai Emery is now in the balance after he failed to guide his side to the latter stages of the Champions League. 

Live Updates

Second Half

90+4- Full time! Real Madrid wins 2-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate. A header from Ronaldo & a strike from Casemiro gave Los Blancos the victory.

90+3 PSG fans are going out with a bang, even if their side won't be progressing. Plenty of flares and noise right till the end in the Parc des Princes.

89- Sub Isco with a fine shot. Well saved by Areola

88- Pastore attempts something like a cross. It sails out for a corner. It's been a frustrating night if your a PSG fan. 

85- Sub for PSG- Mbappé is replaced by Lassana Diarra who used to play for Real Madrid. 

83- That was naughty from Cavani. A crunching tackle on Casemiro. Yellow card. 

81-  Asensio who has been superb tonight is substituted. Isco (You know the guy with the hair) comes on. 

79- Goal Madrid! 2-1 on the night and 5-2 on Aggregate for Los Blancos. PSG fail to get rid of the ball. Ronaldo passes back to Casemiro, and thanks to a deflection the ball finds it's way into the back of the net. GAME OVER. 

78- PSG needs two more goals to force extra time. It doesn't seem too likely, especially when Real are keeping the ball so well. 

75- More substitute fun. One for PSG, Draxler comes on for Di Maria. Whilst Gareth Bale replaces Karim Benzema, who is roundly jeered by the PSG fans. 

72- Toni Kroos has joined us as a substitute. Kovacic wanders off. 

70- Goal! PSG are level on the night. A corner is whipped in and after a spot of pinball it knocks off Cavani who doesn't know much about it and into the net. 4-2 on aggregate now. Hello late come-back! 

68- Post! Asensio (The best player on the pitch in my humble opinion) cracks the upright with a curling effort. 

65- RED CARD- The Parisians are down to ten men! Verratti gets his marching orders after picking up his second yellow for arguing with the referee. It was going to be hard with 11 men on the pitch. Now it seems impossible for PSG. 

63- PSG is piling forward in search of a goal, and are giving Real plenty of opportunity to score a second. For now, they are holding on, Asensio is getting plenty of joy on the left wing. 

60- A drilled cross flies towards the feet of Cavani, who looks like he's about to score. Suddenly, a mass of white shirts blocks the striker's path. Navas gathers the ball. 

58- Thiago Motta, who was pretty quiet tonight is taken off. Pastore takes his place. 

55- PSG needs three goals to force extra time. Immediately the Parisians go on the front foot, with Di Maria & Mbappe causing trouble down the wings. It's a shame they can't get their crossing sorted. 

51- GOAL! Madrid go 1-0 up! Alves is caught with the ball and Asensio picks his pocket. A wonder pass finds Vázquez who crosses to the back-post. Ronaldo is on hand to nod the ball into the back of the net. Surely that is the tie now. 

49- First chance of the half for Madrid. Marcelo whips in a cross which lands on the head of Ronaldo, his effort skims just wide.  

46- PSG win the first corner of the half. The PSG fans are in full voice and the flares have come out. Club Captain Thiago Silva urges them to quiet down. He's respectfully ignored. 

Peep! Real Madrid get us back underway! 

Some half-time reading for you. Spurs take on Juventus tomorrow evening, in the pick of the Champions League action. This Preview should get you in the mood. 

First Half

45+1 Peep! The first half is over. Benzema & Mbappe with two big chances to give their sides the lead. Hopefully, the tie will spring to life in the second half. 

.@KMbappe is in acres of space and backs himself despite @ECavaniOfficial screaming for it! #beINUCL #PSGRMA pic.twitter.com/PrPQLp0fAW — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 6, 2018

43- Mbappe is sent clear down the right. With more than a hint of offside. The officials don't flag, and the striker has a shot from a tight angle. Straight into the hands of Navas. 

41- PSG hit back with a fine passing move. Ending with Di Maria squaring it to Cavani. Fortunately for Madrid, keeper Kaylor Navas dives to gather the ball and snuff out any trouble. 

37- Madrid should have taken the lead. Easily the best chance of the game.  Benzema gets played through and is one on one with  Areola. From a tight angle, the French striker misplaces his shot and it rebounds off the keeper for a corner. That was close! 

31-Yellow card for Kovacic! The Madrid midfielder cynically tackles Di Maria who was speeding down the right wing. 

27- PSG plays the ball around well. It's causing Madrid plenty of problems. The ball falls to Mbappe who attempts a cross-come-shot. Goal kick. 

23- Real Madrid has started to enjoy a little more possession in the last few minutes. Not that it's quieting down the PSG crowd. They are in full voice. 

19- Yellow card for Verratti. The diminutive Italian picks up the first yellow of the match for a rash challenge on Casemiro

.@AreolaOfficiel's quick reactions stop @PSG_inside going a goal down in this 2nd leg! #beINUCL #PSGRMA pic.twitter.com/1xu2UhxOXh — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 6, 2018

17- Close for Real! Asensio crosses the ball and picks out Sergio Ramos who guides the ball towards the goal, Areola does well to palm the shot away. 

14- Chance for PSG! Mbappe troubles on the wing and looks to square it to Cavani. Sergio Ramos is on hand to block the cross. 

9- A long-distance looping shot from Asensio from the left wing. Which is easily saved by Areola

7- Madrid hit back on the break thanks to a driving run from Casemiro. He flicks the ball to Ronaldo, however, his attempted shot is blocked. This game is warming up nicely. 

4- It's been a scrappy start so far. PSG string together the first attack of note- Di Maria plays through Yuri Berchiche but the ball is just long. 

2- A fog from all the flares has engulfed the Parc des Princes. This is some atmosphere. Let's hope both teams can deliver. 

PEEP! Edison Cavani gets us underway! Let's go!  

Everything seems to be on the line for PSG tonight, and the atmosphere in the stands is matching it. If the Parisians get an early goal, this tie has the potential to be a cracker. 

Preamble

The players are in the tunnel and the Parc des Princes is rocking. We are minutes away from Kick-off. A little reminder, you can watch the action live on beIN SPORTS CONNECT if you don't fancy some live update action. 

Ronaldo has scored in every round of the Champions League so far this season. Can CR7 find the back of the net in Paris? I'm confident it's going to happen... 

The current PSG squad will be hoping to emulate the side from 1993 who won 4-1 against Madrid in a UEFA Cup quarter-final.

Too big a deficit for @PSG_inside to overcome?
All you have to do is turn the clock back 25 years. #beINUCL #PSGRMA pic.twitter.com/YdG21odqUU — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 6, 2018   Some of the heroes from 1993 are at the Parc tonight 🙌

🔴🔵 #ICICESTPARIS pic.twitter.com/7lvOeqLh24 — ENSEMBLE ON VA LE FAIRE ! (@PSG_English) March 6, 2018

In other news, the players are warming up. Madrid stopper Keylor Navas will need to be at his best to deny Cavani & Co tonight. 

💪⚽️ #RMUCL
👐 @NavasKeylor pic.twitter.com/ntvxNa8QGQ — Real Madrid C.F.🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@realmadriden) March 6, 2018

Tonight is a huge one for PSG! Unai Emery, who could potentially his job depending on the result is "backing on the magic of Paris" which sounds suitably vague. 

📷💬 @UnaiEmery_

🔴🔵 #PSGREAL pic.twitter.com/EyqOWOIjwi — ENSEMBLE ON VA LE FAIRE ! (@PSG_English) March 6, 2018

Now for PSG! Mbappe shakes off an injury to start. Thiago Motta anchors the midfield. It's do or die for the Parisians! 

Le onze de départ 🆚 le Real Madrid ! 👊#PSGREAL

🔴🔵 #ICICESTPARIS pic.twitter.com/f0K7HByiRG — ENSEMBLE ON VA LE FAIRE ! (@PSG_inside) March 6, 2018

TEAM NEWS! Real Madrid reveal their team before the match! That is some bench. Modric, Kroos don't start and are joined by Bale. Some useful subs to come on! 

📝This is our starting XI for tonight's Champions League match against @PSG_English! Let's do this, lads! #HALAMADRID!#APorLa13 pic.twitter.com/0YCYsNetEX — Real Madrid C.F.🇺🇸🇬🇧 (@realmadriden) March 6, 2018

Good evening! Welcome to the live updates for Paris Saint Germaine against Real Madrid. It certainly promises to be a cracker, with PSG chasing down a 3-1 first-leg deficit. As ever, you can watch all the action live on beIN SPORTS CONNECT. 

Preview

Paris Saint Germain face an uphill battle in their quest to progress to the quarterfinals of the Champions League when they welcome Real Madrid to the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening. Madrid head into the second leg with a 3-1 lead, whilst PSG will be without star man Neymar who has been ruled out with a hairline fracture in his right foot. As ever you can watch all of the action live & exclusively on beIN SPORTS CONNECT.

The Parisians will, of course, be without their mercurial number ten who has been ruled out for the next three months, after picking up the injury in a routine 3-0 win over rivals Marseille. However, Emery has plenty of quality options to cover for the absence of Neymar and is likely to turn to Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria to play on the left side of the front three. Di Maria warmed up for Tuesday’s game by scoring the opener as Paris defeated Troyes 2-0 over the weekend. 

Emery may also elect to go with Lassana Diarra or Thiago Motta in midfield, two experienced players who would add solidity in the centre of the park, especially with PSG looking to cut down  Madrid’s lead. 

In another boost, Kylian Mbappe has returned to training, after picking up an ankle knock in the 3-0 Coupe de France win over Marseille meaning that bar Neymar Emery has a fully fit side to choose from. Something that the Spanish coach admits will be important if PSG is to overhaul the 3-1 deficit. "The 11 starters and the substitutes will all be important against Real. Everybody will need to chip in."

Key Information

Location- Parc des Princes, Paris
Kick-off- 22:45 Mecca
Watch online- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Channel-11 HD

 
 As for Real Madrid, they warmed up with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Getafe. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a brace on his return to the side and will be fully expected to start in Paris. Zidane’s side is well off the pace in La Liga and the Champions League represents their only realistic chance of silverware.

 Thankfully for Los Blancos fans, Madrid have been supreme in the Champions League in the last two seasons and will be confident that they can keep hold of their first-leg advantage.

 In team news, both Luca Modric and Toni Kroos have returned to training after shaking off injuries before the match and are likely to be available for selection on Tuesday evening. Zidane has a fully fit side to choose from, and will likely keep the same team who did so well in the first leg in Madrid. 

After an uncharacteristically slow start to the season in front of goal, Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored in each of his five starts for Los Blancos. More crucially he has scored in every game in the Champions League this season which is a new record in the competition. Madrid certainly have the pedigree to progress and overcome PSG.  Madrid has reached the semi-finals in each of the past seven Champions League campaigns, a record run in the history of the competition.

It certainly promises to be a fascinating contest when PSG take on Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening. You can watch all the action on HD 11.