Anyone witnessing the Champions League round of 16 encounter at the Parc des princes on 15th February would have found it hard to believe that the team playing in whites are 13 times European Champions and the current La Liga leaders. Not only that, they possess a multitude of superstars capable of winning matches on their own. Such was the dismalness and timidity that emanated out of Real Madrid‘s 1-0 loss to PSG.
Real Madrid was brutally outclassed against PSG. Kylian Mbappe ran the show scoring a late winner in the 94th minute to put the tie in PSG’s favor. Real Madrid looked all out of sorts unable to get out of their half. Midfield was outrun, the defense overwhelmed and the attack isolated.
Yet the scoreline is just 1-0 whereas, in reality, it felt like a mauling akin to a 3-0 or 4-0 loss. We return to the Santiago Bernabeu with our heads dropped but alive nonetheless. This is Real Madrid, and the players will have the opportunity to defend the badge.
Here are three things that must happen for a Real Madrid comeback in the second leg.
1. Stop Kylian Mbappe!
Well, it is as simple as that. Kylian Mbappe was a thorn in the bush for the Real Madrid defense especially poor old Dani Carvajal. In my match preview, I mentioned Mbappe vs Carvajal as a decisive match-up, and it proved to be that case.
Mbappe was too hot to handle for Carvajal on his own as he received little help from Asensio. If not for Militao’s timely interventions the scoreline could have been much worse. Real Madrid must contain Mbappe to have any hope of a comeback.
Carvajal alone will not handle Mbappe’s explosiveness. Whoever plays on the right-wing must offer solid support. With Casemiro missing the game, there are a lot of probable lineups that Carlo can go for. Valverde is expected to start in the midfield. However, Ancelotti can also deploy Camavinga as a no.6 and leave the right-wing to Valverde in place of Asensio, who can also slot into the midfield to suffocate Veratti co.
In any case, whoever plays on the right-wing will have to be vigilant. Real Madrid cannot afford to give Mbappe space to run which he had ample in the first leg. Neither can they press half-heartedly that will allow PSG to break on a counter which makes Mbappe all the more devastating.
In a nutshell, it will be a challenge that defines the outcome of the tie. Some Real Madrid fans have found consolation in the defeat. They resigned to the fact that they lost the match to a player who will soon be theirs. Trust me there will be no better way to show Mbappe what he is missing by going hard at him and scripting a comeback to win the tie.
2. Benzema-Vinicius must get back in form
Before the game against Alaves, Real Madrid had scored just one goal in four matches. With Benzema out injured and Vinicius looking less energetic than before, the Real Madrid attack looked toothless. Against PSG, neither of the two forwards could muster a shot on goal and had a night to forget.
Goals against Alaves should give them much-needed confidence before the PSG second leg. They cannot afford to have an off game. Perhaps it won’t be the worst idea to give Vinicius a rest in one of the league games. January’s hectic domestic schedule combined with a trip to South America seems to have taken a toll on Vini.
Vini-Benzema is paramount to Real Madrid’s offensive output. Along with Asensio they now have scored 50 goals combined this season, the first time a trident has achieved this for Real Madrid since 2017-18. However, Asensio has been quite inconsistent and you cannot expect him to score at the crucial junctures on a big European night.
Vinicius’s strengths are explosiveness and the ability to thwart defenses with his searing pace. He was not able to showcase any of those skills in the first leg. It is fair to say he lost his battle against Hakimi. However, Hakimi is not a traditional wing-back who will always be defensively sound. In the first leg, it was more of a collective failure on part of Real Madrid that they failed to get out of their half. If the midfield can win the ball in good areas, Vini can run circles around Hakimi.
On the other hand, Real Madrid hopes that Benzema is in peak physical shape. There is not even an iota of doubt that he will be a threat to the PSG defense if fully fit. Marquinhos and Kimpembe were successfully able to isolate Benzema which is a rare sight. But Benzema would not give them another chance this time around. Real Madrid’s captain will be itching to salvage the tie.
3. Santiago Bernabeu must recreate the magic
The Santiago Bernabeu can be a daunting stadium for the opposition players. In the words of Jorge Valdano, playing here induces a sense of ‘stage fright’ unlike anywhere else. Bernabeu’s history is replete with incredible ‘Remontadas’, exquisite matches, and magical nights. Real Madrid would be hoping for one such night in the second leg fixture vs PSG.
In recent years, there have been teams who have breached the fortress in the Champions League. Ajax in 2019 and Manchester City in 2020 dominated Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Los Blancos cannot allow that to happen again this season.
Playing at the Bernabeu can be unnerving for not only the rival players, but the Real Madrid players as well. The fans are so demanding that they will whistle their players to egg them on. They are not used to seeing their side struggling to break down the opposition and play an attractive brand of football.
The Bernabeu is an intangible factor whenever Real Madrid is in the Champions League. In the second leg, the players have to leverage the energy of the crowd to put pressure on the opposition. Win the ball back quickly, go hard at PSG and unsettle the opposition. They simply cannot afford PSG to dictate the pace of the game. The likes of Kroos and Modric have to showcase their magic and allow the youngsters Valverde and Vinicius to run at the opposition.
Real Madrid cannot afford to have a game similar to the one in the second leg. Most fans want the team to show courage and belief even in the face of defeat. PSG must be made aware that they are playing away from home in front of the Real Madrid fans. They must feel the pressure of a collective energy in the stadium. We will all be hoping for another magical night at the Santiago Bernabeu.