3 reasons why Real Madrid will come back and beat PSG in the Champions League Round of 16
1. Real Madrid’s Comeback DNA and the Bernabeu Factor
The final reason why I think that Real Madrid is making a comeback is that I believe in the club’s character. Real Madrid is a club that simply doesn’t give up which is why their history is full of famous European Comebacks.
And, I believe in this set of players and their Madridismo. Each one of them starting from Karim Benzema to the newest entrants like David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga have well-proven their commitment to the club and I can bet on these players to leave their hearts out on the pitch in the mid-week finding a way back and then ahead in this tie.
There are especially a few players I’d highlight here. Firstly, Fede Valverde is a player who lives and breathes for these season-defining games. More so, when these games are against Real Madrid’s fiercest rivals, a category PSG falls in after the whole drama surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to Real Madrid for a couple of seasons now.
Real Madrid’s utility man, Nacho Fernandez is another player who would die for this club if he could. Following Ferland Mendy’s suspension in the second leg, the road is wide open for Nacho to step up and boss the Parisians in front of 60,000 chanting home-crowd. And, how could I ever forget the Bernabeu?
PSG will be up against 11 Real Madrid players and 60,000 fans at the Bernabeu. Bernabeu is a demanding audience, they’ll take the lead and the players will have to catch up. The fans will compel the players to perform like they have so many times in key games. To keep it short, it is never easy to visit a sold-out Bernabeu, and this one is a Champions League knockout game, a decisive one at that.
Another key personnel is Carlo Ancelotti himself. He should very well know that another similar performance against PSG from the first leg could possibly mean curtains for his second stint as the manager of the club. As critical as I am always of Carlo Ancelotti, I’ll have to praise him for things that he has done right since that embarrassing loss to PSG. Firstly, he tried both Camavinga and Valverde and got an idea of their fit. He also gave Rodrygo his start for the same reason, I believe.
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I am sure Carletto is up to something. Or else what manager says that his team is in good shape when most of his key players are overrun, his key passer in midfield is out injured and one of his brightest young players is out with the flu? And to my surprise, the team did look in good shape against La Real. I am sure there is a game plan up his sleeve. If he says Real Madrid is going for the win then they are getting it. This is it, the biggest game of the season. Let’s get that win. Hala Madrid!