The overall tie is far from over, Real Madrid has to travel to Paris in two weeks, but they take with them a 2 goal advantage & an important psychological victory that gives them a definite advantage & brings back "old ghosts" to PSG & their Coach Emery.
The match was exciting & a true European Champions match of intense entertainment between two very good squads. Real Madrid started strong & was suffering from their main "weakness" all this season, lack of GOAL. They had chances but did not convert; Ronaldo missing a clear opportunity after the ball was stopped by the face of the PSG goalkeeper.
PSG was dangerous with Neymar being very active & dangerous, & midfielder RABIOT doing damage to the point that he opened the scoring for PSG in the 33rd min.
Real Madrid managed to react in time with a dubious penalty after Kroos was "pulled back" in the goal square by a PSG defender. CRISTIANO RONALDO scored the penalty in the 45th min to equalize & continue his "love affair" with this tournament.
The 2º nd half was dominated by Paris St Germain, they created numerous opportunities & made Real Madrid goalie Navas work hard. The Spanish team was on the back foot & it looked that PSG would break through at any moment. Real Madrid Coach Zidane made some moves, Bale (for Benzema) & later brought on Lucas Vazquez & Asensio. The idea was to bring on fresh legs & attack the Dani Alves flank. Taking off Casemiro seemed risky but the gamble paid off for Zidane as Asensio literally turned the match around himself in 5 mins. From his participation & passes came the second CRISTIANO RONALDO goal in the 82nd min & then the "knock-out" goal from MARCELO in the 85th min. By the way, the Brazilian was magnificent tonight.
PSG did not know ( & still does not know) what happened. This will be deeply analyzed back in Paris by the team & the local media which will be "savage" with Coach Emery. The 450M€ plus season investment is at risk & the pressure is extreme for the return match. The end result is a fantastic night & result for REAL MADRID.
To finish some extra observations. Firstly, Karim Benzema is basically sentenced & has little arguments for continuing next season. His start from the kick off gave nothing to the team & it was like Madrid was playing with 10 men. Secondly, Isco should have never started in the initial team, Asensio should have as later proved. Isco is a good player but his obsessive tendency to dribble "to death" the plays & himself, slows down the team. As soon as Asensio took his place, Real Madrid was quicker, more vertical & two golden goals appeared.
Lastly, Paris St Germain is a very good team & will be dangerous. They were unlucky tonight as their chances just did not go in & they were "fizzed" in the end by fresher legs & minds. This tie isn't over for PSG at all, Real Madrid will need to be very awake & at their best level for the return leg, but PSG fly back to Paris with some "old ghosts". They were defeated by the current European Champions tonight 3 - 1.
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