Madrid lay on late Ronaldo knees-up
CRISTIANO Ronaldo put Real Madrid in control of their glamour tie against Paris Saint-Germain last night with a pop-up penalty and a bobbling rebound off his knee.
When Real won a first-half spot kick, Ronaldo put his standing foot down with such force that the ball lifted off the spot before he sent it past PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
The goal cancelled out Adrien Rabiot’s opener and, seven minutes from time, Ronaldo got the last touch after Marco Asensio’s cross flew at him via Areola as he made it 101 Champions League goals for Real.
Ronaldo won his private duel with Neymar, who was one third brilliance and two thirds petulance. Marcelo added Real’s third late on and PSG have a mountain to climb now in the second leg.
‘This is a very important victory, these Champions League games are nights you always want to remember and we showed exactly how you need to play,’ said Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos afterwards.
‘We showed lots of personality and proved that despite all the speculation about us you can never presume Madrid are dead.’
Real manager Zinedine Zidane left Gareth Bale on the bench, preferring Isco.
This was a slap in the face. There was no sign of Bale warming up with the other substitutes before kick-off and it seems there is now a rift between him and Zidane that will put every big club in Europe on alert.
It was also, perhaps, a further indication that Zidane accepts the club is already searching for his replacement.
If Real have sounded out Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino, why not do things his way?
The plan was to smother PSG and keep the ball by utilising that extra man in midfield. It worked from the first kick.
Madrid flew into tackles and, when one caught Neymar, he went down theatrically, staying on the turf long enough to rile a boisterous Bernabeu crowd.
Ronaldo then pulled his first shot just wide.
Yuri Berchiche had PSG’s first shot from Neymar’s pass.
The Brazilian was taking some of his protests to referee Gianluca Rocchi too far and he was soon yellow-carded.
Ronaldo ran on to Marcelo’s diagonal pass and only an Areola save with his face prevented Madrid from taking the lead.
PSG seemed to be sinking and Neymar’s response was to change his boots on the touchline.
He had slipped in the area and the bright orange numbers were tossed aside. In the new footwear, he glided past three Real defenders in the area but instead of playing in Edinson Cavani, who was perfectly positioned, he shot wide.
Madrid remained on top but they went behind on 33 minutes. Kylian Mbappe raced down the right and crossed towards Cavani and Neymar. The latter tried to flick the ball back for the onrushing Rabiot and, with some help from Nacho’s clearance, the ball reached the midfielder, who finished.
After so much pressure, Madrid were stunned to be behind, but there was help at hand. PSG’s inexperienced midfielder Giovani Lo Celso had struggled throughout the first half and when he put a hand on Toni Kroos’s right shoulder, the German fell over. Referee Rocchi pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo stepped up and found the corner. The ball lifted slightly as he put his standing foot down and he appeared to hit the ball on the half-volley.
Both defences looked fragile and there was far greater abandon after the restart.
Neymar risked a second yellow with more complaints to Rocchi. Ramos risked conceding a penalty when he blocked Rabiot’s shot with an arm.
Karim Benzema then fired into the side-netting and was whistled by Real supporters for not crossing. On 67 minutes he was replaced by Bale. With the game stretched, it looked a ready-made situation for him.
Instead, it was another substitute, Asensio, who turned the tie Real’s way.
PSG surged forward in search of a winner, only to be caught out at the back. Asensio raced to the byeline to cross from the left, and in the pinball that followed, Ronaldo converted with a knee.
PSG were shaken, unable to deal with Asensio, and he crossed again for Marcelo to score the goal his performance deserved. REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Navas; Nacho, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro (Lucas 79), Isco (Asensio 79), Kroos; Benzema (Bale 68), Ronaldo. Subs not used: Casilla, Hernandez, Hakimi, Kovacic. Booked: Isco, Nacho. PSG (4-3-3): Areola; Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Yuri Berchiche; Verratti, Lo Celso (Draxler 84), Rabiot; Mbappe, Cavani (Meunier 66), Neymar. Subs not used: Trapp, Thiago Silva, Di Maria, Diarra, Pastore. Booked: Neymar, Lo Celso, Rabiot, Meunier. Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy). Attendance: 78,158.