Real Madrid vs PSG preview

February 13, 2018
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

Arguably two of the most likely candidates for the coveted title square off in the last 16 stage, with the first leg taking place at Santiago Bernabeu.

Considering that both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to prove their title credentials on Wednesday evening, we should witness a great game of football in Madrid.

Real Madrid have experienced all sorts of problems this season and many believe this team is now well past their prime.

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema struggling up front, los Blancos have been punching well below their weight and they currently occupy fourth place in the La Liga standings.

A huge 17-point gap behind leaders Barcelona is enough to suggest Real Madrid are already out of the title chase in La Liga, while they were also eliminated from Copa del Rey.

It is, therefore, ease to see why another Champions League title would mean the world to Zinedine Zidane and his men, but defeating star-studded PSG side will be no easy task.

Having won just two of last six matches at home (D1 L3), Real Madrid will have to show considerable improvement if they want to create an advantage ahead of the return leg.

There are no major selection worries for Zinedine Zidane, although right-back Dani Carvajal is banned and Jesus Vallejo is injured.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Navas – Nacho, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo – Kroos, Casemiro, Modric – Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

Paris Saint-Germain have already established domination on domestic stage, but they haven’t quite managed to live up to the billing in Europe’s elite competition.

The Saints were stopped in the quarter-finals on several occasions, and they are desperate to mount a serious title challenge this time out.

PSG head into the Real Madrid game high on confidence, having won 14 of last 15 matches in all competitions and they are priced at 1.73 (8/11) to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Head coach Unai Emery managed to rest several star players in the 1-0 triumph over Toulouse that saw January recruit Lassana Diarra stake a claim for a starting berth.

The good news is that full-back Layvin Kurzawa appears to have recovered from a thigh problem, but Thiago Motta is lacking match fitness.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Areola – Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Yuri – Verratti, Diarra, Rabiot – Mbappe, Cavani, Neymar.

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