Real Madrid vs. PSG Starting XI Prediction for the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16
LW Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr. was surprisingly poor in the first leg, completely stymied by a stellar Achraf Hakimi, who showed up his former employers having been embarrassed by them last season while with Inter Milan.
On Wednesday night, Vini will be facing a matured Hakimi who is quietly improving defensively. But no player has improved more in 2021/22 than Vinicius Jr., even though he did not show that same star power in the first leg.
Determined to be a superstar on the big stage, Vini’s love for the club and his own skill should carry him far. The Bernabeu will be cheering him on, and if Vini is confident and in the mood, he should be able to create and/or score some goals.
CF Karim Benzema
Real Madrid should not have allowed Karim Benzema to play in the first leg. He was horrible, because he was clearly not fit at all. Since then, Benzema has been back on the prowl, scoring the winner against Rayo that he created with a brilliant one-two with Vini Jr. And after two disallowed goals against La Real by marginal offside calls against himself and Rodrygo Goes, Benz scored his 20th of the LaLiga campaign from the spot.
Benzema is arguably the best striker in the world, and he knows how important he is to Real Madrid, especially against PSG. This is the kind of opponent Benz wants to do well against. He has not forgotten how he was snubbed by the awards lists in 2021. Games like this are a part of his legacy. More importantly, they are vital for Real to win as a club, and he is another player who loves the club with all his heart.
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RW Marco Asensio
Please do not get upset at me. This article is a prediction of what I believe Carlo Ancelotti will do. My colleague Parshva Shah crafted a lineup based on what Carletto *should* do.
Ancelotti trusts Marco Asensio 100 percent, which is more than what can be said for how the fanbase feels about the inconsistent forward. Asensio rested against Real Sociedad on the bench, but he received some minutes to stay sharp, coming on for Rodrygo Goes in the 76th minute. And with his first touch off the bench, the super-sub scored to make it 4-1.
Asensio is better off coming in as a substitute, but Ancelotti loves the goals he brings. So he will start Asensio, even though going with a four-man midfield, utilizing Isco, or starting Rodrygo would be a better strategy vs. PSG.