Real Madrid need James Rodriguez to be brilliant again vs. PSG

James Rodriguez has long been admired by Real Madrid fans, and he could be in line for another big-game performance this week.

Real Madrid head into Wednesday’s Champions League opener against PSG with just three active midfielders on the squad. Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, and Casemiro are the only healthy midfielders right now, as the likes of Isco, Luka Modric, and Fede Valverde have suffered recent injuries.

James stole the show against Levante by creating a handful of chances for his teammates, including the assist for Karim Benzema’s second. A long-time fan favorite, James showed his world-class quality in the 3-2 win, and it can be argued that Real wouldn’t have won without his vital contributions in midfield.

Kroos and Casemiro will have tough jobs against PSG, but perhaps nobody is more critical to Real’s success in the Champions League opener than James. He’ll be facing a defense that has done a wonderful job of controlling games. Behind Idrissa Gueye and Marco Verratti’s world-class work in midfield, PSG have hoarded well over 60% of the possession this season, and with both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar out for this game, the midfield battle will be even more crucial.

Since Real have just three midfielders active for this game, all three of these experienced players will need to live up to their world-class talent. At the end of the day, this is just one game in the Champions League group stages, but it may be Real’s most crucial as an away game against a PSG team that is always itching to prove the world that they can compete at the highest level.

James Rodriguez looks like the biggest X-Factor for either team in this game, specifically because he’s so adept at coming up with the crucial play to break the game open. Given that PSG are missing their three best attackers (Edinson Cavani is also out), they might elect to play a grittier game, relying on the steel in midfield from Verratti, Gueye, and Marquinhos.

If that’s the case, James will need to come up with moments of magic in the final third to feed the likes of Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale. It will be James who will feel the most constrained due to the compactness that PSG’s midfield will provide, and that puts the onus on the No. 10 to be at his creative best.

Undoubtedly, James performed at his highest level against Levante and was the 1b to Karim Benzema’s 1a as Real’s Man of the Match. He may need a similar performance against PSG, who will be looking to play the role of spoilers at home without three of the world’s best attackers.

The stage is James’s to shine, and after watching his performance last week, there’s no doubt that the attacking midfielder is ready to deliver again.