Real Madrid: 3 key matchups to watch against PSG

The much-awaited Champions League is back after the monotonous International break, and Real Madrid face PSG at home in their very first game.

Real Madrid are running thin on midfielders, but PSG also have their own injury issues as their star-studded front three is not available for the game. Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani have failed to recover in time from their injuries, and Neymar is still suspended due to his reaction during the last year’s Round of 16 game against Manchester United.

Additionally, Los Blancos have their own suspension issues, as both Sergio Ramos and Nacho are not available for the game, and Marcelo recently got injured. Real is set to start both Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy on Wednesday, and it’s going to be a big test for them. Big battles are still up on the cards despite all the injuries, and it would be a treat to watch Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Eden Hazard playing together for the first time.

1. Keylor Navas vs Karim Benzema

PSG have finally signed a world-class goalkeeper who can make a difference in the big games. PSG had decent goalkeepers before like Alphonse Areola and Kevin Trapp, but Keylor is a big upgrade for them. Buffon last season wasn’t a big success either for them.

Karim Benzema is in red-hot form since the start of the year and has 19 league goals already in 2019, just two behind Lionel Messi and Mbappe. Keylor will be looking to prove a point against his former club and would like to demonstrate he still has the ability to perform in big games and be a starter.

This battle will help decide the game, as Real Madrid have been overly-dependent on Benzema for getting the goals. If PSG is able to keep him quiet, it could turn the odds in their favour. Keylor looks in great touch as he made crucial saves in his last game which they won 1-0 thanks to a wonder goal from Neymar during injury time. This matchup can be best described as an immovable object meeting an unstoppable force.

2. Angel Di Maria vs Ferland Mendy

Angel Di Maria left the club on bad terms after having the best season of his life and being one of the most instrumental players in the La Decima run.

With Cavani, Mbappe and Neymar all missing the game, Di Maria is PSG’s most dangerous attacker right now, and he is one of the toughest player to play against. Di Maria is a workhorse and is the type of attacker that managers love to have in their team. He will track back and help out the defenders and can hurt you badly in the attack.

Ferland Mendy will be having an uphill task of keeping Di Maria at bay. Given Mendy’s defensive abilities, it won’t be easy for Di Maria either. Mendy kept Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal at bay the whole game and forced their manager into an early substitution of the forward. Mendy may not be as good as Marcelo at attack – arguably nobody can be – but he is much more reliable defensively as compared to the Brazilian. He has the speed and the energy to keep up with fast-paced wingers and has great awareness of his positioning, too.

3. Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale vs PSG’s defence

We will finally get to witness the strongest front three for Madrid on paper with Hazard likely making a full debut. The Bale, Benzema, and Hazard trio will be a treat for the fans to watch, and James Rodriguez playing with this front three adds an icing on the cake. We clearly witnessed what Hazard is capable of in his cameo against Levante. He almost assisted with his first play for the club and was a constant threat throughout.

Gareth Bale is in a great run of form and will look to continue that after serving his one game ban in the league. He scored two great goals in the last game to help Real get a point out of a horrible display against the Yellow Submarine. The PSG fullbacks have an uphill task and won’t be allowed to maraud forward with same freedom as they do in Ligue 1. This is going to be a really exciting matchup and would have been more exciting if both sides had full squads available.