If there is any chance of Real Madrid winning a title this season, now would be the time. Let’s take a look at three keys that Los Blancos possess to unlock PSG in the first-leg of the Round of 16.
The Champions League draw for the Round of 16 took place in December of 2017 and on that day one of the most anticipated matches of the season was announced. Real Madrid versus Paris Saint-Germain is not just two juggernaut clubs in Europe going head to head. This match can make or break the season for both clubs.
Real Madrid came off their most winning year ever in 2017 but their campaign did not start off in the right direction. Their summer transfer window resulted in the selling of numerous players and no one to replace those who left. This resulted in a stale start to the season and a squad that has struggled. Madrid sits in fourth place 17 points off the league leaders.
On the other hand, there is PSG, a club who it seems had the exact opposite summer to Real Madrid. A few players left the club but President Nasser Al-Khelaifi had no qualms about opening up the bank to sign some big names. The Parisians most notable signings were a loan deal for Kylian Mbappe from Monaco and the signing of Neymar Jr. from Barcelona.
Last year PSG had demolished Barcelona 4-0 in the first-leg of the Round of 16 but fell apart in the second leg to be knocked out of the competition. Having dominated the domestic league cups, the European title is the true desire of PSG.
For both clubs, this match, as well as the second-leg, is the deciding factor for many reasons at either club. Whichever club loses will face a heap of criticism from fans and news outlets. Real Madrid can go from the club with the most Champions League titles, the first team to win the competition back to back in the modern era, to zero. PSG will be berated for spending hundreds of millions of dollars only to fail again on their journey to European dominance if they lose.
The stakes are clear, the time is set, the line-ups will be out in a matter of hours. The whistle will blow and the football world will be watching this Goliath versus Goliath match. With all that taken into consideration here are three reasons why Madrid will come out on top.