Ronaldo at double to rescue Real and eclipse Neymar
Real Madrid certainly wobbled but, having fallen repeatedly this season in domestic competition, they ultimately again stood tall here on their favourite Champions League stage.
A sub-plot of Cristiano Ronaldo 2, Neymar 0 was also another blow for the old guard against the emerging challenge of Paris St-germain and effectively the difference in a wider 3-1 scoreline.
Yet it is still only half-time in the tie and, while Madrid’s late flurry certainly gives them a crucial advantage and prompted unwanted PSG reminders of an even more spectacular collapse in Barcelona last season, there was enough here to suggest that an upset remains feasible.
“The scoreline does not reflect what was seen on the pitch,” said PSG manager Unai Emery, who also made the unconvincing claim that referee Gianluca Rocchi had favoured Madrid.
His team had earlier taken the lead and, with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar both wasting excellent chances, had their finishing to blame for not leaving with more than a solitary away goal.
Credit was also due to Zinedine Zidane who, with his very future in doubt amid a 17-point La Liga gap to Barcelona, changed the game with the attacking substitutions of Gareth Bale and most crucially Marco Asensio.
An unprecedented hat-trick of Champions League titles remains possible even amid further signs that Real’s most recent period of European dominance is drawing to a close while Ronaldo, even at 33, is clearly not yet ready to hand over the Ballon d’or to Neymar.
Ronaldo’s goals maintained a record of scoring in every European game so for this season and also ensured that he became the first player to reach the individual tally of 100 for one club.
“The club has 12 Champions Leagues and there is a reason for that – the players know what is on the line,” said Zidane, who had earlier sprung something of a surprise in opting initially for Isco rather than Bale in an attempt to dominate midfield.
Isco’s industry off the ball ensured that it initially worked and, while the match always had an open, end-to-end feel, PSG did well to soak up Real’s early attempts to establish their authority.
Neymar initially appeared isolated but a wonderful ball from Marco Verratti provided a first opportunity for him to run into space and, while he wasted the chance, Madrid’s vulnerability to the counter-attack became clear. PSG were constantly looking to release Neymar and, while he was warned over a handball and then booked for a rash challenge on Nacho, PSG’S threat was increasingly evident from across football’s most expensive front-line. They took the lead after 33 minutes when Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas failed to collect Mbappe’s cross and, following a deft back-heel from Neymar, the ball fell for Adrien Rabiot to calmly finish.
Edinson Cavani then soon had the chance of PSG’S second away goal but Casemiro scrambled back in support of his defenders to make a crucial block. The flurry of PSG pressure also provoked more urgency in Madrid and they did then respond impressively.
First Ronaldo squandered a clear sight of goal by shooting over and then Karim Benzema forced a brilliant diving save from Alphonse Areola. Real played the ball short from the resulting corner, with Toni Kroos drawing a challenge from Giovani Lo Celso that prompted no hesitation in referee Rocchi’s award of a penalty. Ronaldo stepped up and, while goalkeeper Areola did dive the right way, the sheer force of his shot ensured a 20th goal in his past 12 Champions League matches.
PSG began the second half with added assurance in possession and it was now Madrid being forced to absorb pressure and play on the counter-attack. Neymar’s influence was also growing and he soon identified Mbappe in space inside Madrid’s penalty area, only for the France striker’s low shot to prompt a wonderful reaction save of Navas.
Verratti also had an excellent chance after breaking forward from midfield but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Then there was then a moment of considerable controversy. Neymar was sprinting forward but went down theatrically when it appeared that he could not reach the ball. Rocchi signalled that there had been no foul and appeared to be striding purposefully towards Neymar with an intent to brandish a yellow card. The suspicion was that he then realised Neymar had already been booked and, amid the prospect of not just ending the Brazilian’s night but also ensuring that he would be suspended for the second leg, decided against any further action. One possible mitigation was that Kroos and Luka Modric had also gone unpunished for comparable theatrics, although Rocchi may just have wished he had taken firmer action minutes later when an attempted Neymar pass smashed straight into his face.
Play had to be stopped for Rocchi himself to receive treatment but frequent chances continued to be created by both teams when the game resumed. Bale had replaced Benzema and soon sprinted in be-