PSG FACE DAUNTING TASK
With Paris-saint Germain trailing 3-1 from the first-leg, the Paris club will need a miracle to overturn the deficit against Real Madrid in the return-leg on Tuesday. HT looks at the talking points from the Round of 16 fixture:
DO-OR-DIE
After having spent millions of euros on the acquisitions of Neymar (€222 million from Barcelona) and Kylian Mbappe (on a loan deal from Monaco with an €180m option to buy this summer), PSG will be under added pressure to justify their spending spree. For the past five seasons, the Parisian side has remained on the cusp of the last four. Their highly talented recruits were expected to lead them all the way this season, but with Neymar ruled out, Unai Emery’s men have their backs against the wall.
TIME TO SHINE
PSG may have created ample opportunities in their defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu but their finishing touch eluded them. If they are to progress, Edison Cavani and Mbappe will have to change that this time. Winger Angel Di Maria, who has come into scintillating form of late, having scored seven in six games across all competitions, will be expected to lead the Parisian’s charge against his former club on Tuesday. If their front-men can combine well, PSG may just manage to pull off the coup against the defending champions.
RON’S RETURN
Real will be boosted by the fact that talisman Cristiano Ronaldo seems to have found his scoring boots after a rather slow start. The Portuguese has scored 14 goals in 10 games since 2018 began. A hat-trick against Real Sociedad has been followed up by braces versus Deportivo La Coruna, Valencia, Alaves, Getafe, and of course PSG. With PSG pressing high looking to overturn the two-goal deficit, Ronaldo will certainly be Real’s biggest threat on the counter given his recent outings.
LAST HOPE
For Real, who are already out of the title race in the Spanish League after falling 15 points behind leaders Barcelona, and were also knocked out of the Copa Del Ray, the Champions League is their last shot at winning the silverware. The game will also in some sense be critical for Zinedine Zidane and his future at the club. Expectations at the Spanish club are always very high, and a trophy less season could spell the end of the Frenchman’s reign.