A combined XI for Real Madrid vs. PSG: Did Lionel Messi or Vinicius Jr. make the front three?
Left Midfielder – Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
In my viewpoint, Luka Modric was the only Real Madrid player who had a fair game in the first leg, as the rest of the team suffered to make an impact, which Modric was also involved in, the Croatian was actively carrying the ball forth and finding the wide players just when the opportunity arose.
There is no one PSG player who might challenge Modric for the position of a central midfielder, but if we push really hard, Danilo Pereira, who rose to prominence following a successful period with Portugal, may get somewhat close.
Modric’s dependability, even as he ages, is indeed very applaudable. There hasn’t been a game that the Ballon d’Or winner hasn’t started yet, with the exception of a few where Carlo Ancelotti generously gave him a day off, but even in those cases, the team found it difficult to find the player’s tempo and control over the game – he has simply been incredibly decisive for Real Madrid, not just this season, but it has been the case over several years now.
Holding Midfielder – Marco Verratti (PSG)
PSG’s greatest player on the night was Marco Verratti, not Mbappe, Messi, or Neymar. Since winning the Euro Cup, the Italian has been on fire, and his quality was on full show against Real Madrid. PSG dominated the visitors from every facet, and Verratti played a major role in assisting and being committed in all of those progressions – he was easily everywhere.
Casemiro, on the other hand, was mostly silent, save for his normal tactical tackles and mind games, which are clearly insufficient to replace Verratti in this joint XI. Things might change in the second leg, but Verratti remains a safe bet for the time being.
Right Midfielder – Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
One of the principal factors Real Madrid supporters resent Ancelotti is his rigidity and underuse of the youthful talents at his disposal. Valverde is one such star who has had almost little chance to demonstrate why he is capable of contending on the grandest stage.
The Uruguayan youngster came in in the last minutes of the game against PSG and made an immediate impression. Making forward runs, launching penetrating passes, and disturbing the Parisian defence, everything was almost perfect from his end, and had the player been introduced a little sooner, Real Madrid may have taken the lead.
Except for playtime, everything is going swimmingly for Valverde, and rumours of his being considered by Ancelotti for a starting spot midweek indicate that the coach has noticed what the youth brings to the table.
When contrasting the time he played for and other PSG players in the same position, there is no way the former can be surpassed.