The Real Champs
Fansided

The 3 biggest keys to victory for Real Madrid vs. PSG in the second leg

By Manas Pratim Sharma

Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, PSG, Kylian Mbappe (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, PSG, Kylian Mbappe (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) /

2. Maintain the press from the game against La Real

Carlo Ancelotti has switched the Press ON and OFF at times this season. While they were embarrassingly overrun in the midfield at Paris in the first leg, this time around things could be different. Especially after we saw that reassuring Press doing its job so well against Real Sociedad. Real Madrid was winning the ball in key areas higher up the pitch and La Real could never find a way through to Thibaut Courtois who didn’t have much to do other than facing an expert penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.

Against PSG, Real Madrid should continue with the same game plan. Another major issue I’d like to address on the same note is to avoid starting Toni Kroos if he isn’t totally fit to play. Real should learn from their past mistakes like starting Sergio Ramos against Chelsea last season and Karim Benzema against PSG in the first leg. Moreover, he wouldn’t have the legs to press the opposition relentlessly for 90 mins plus maybe another 30.

Starting Fede Valverde in Kroos’s place should be the right decision in my opinion. He is a brilliant presser and alongside the youthfulness of Eduardo Camavinga who is expected to replace the suspended Carlos Casemiro, Real Madrid can play their pressing game to perfection. Cama and Luka Modric will have to play in transition as the pivot and the holding player at times because the young Frenchman will offer much more pace and energy than the aging maestro.

This would help Real Madrid make ball retrievals in good positions on the pitch. They can then look to launch attacks straight away as PSG would be expected to leave spaces at the back. Something that would suit the passing range of our talented midfielders. I am sure about this being an open game because a one-goal lead isn’t something PSG can step on to defend. Nor are they the sort of team that can drop in a total defensive performance away from home riding on just one goal. Both teams will go for it and I think with the home-turf angle added, it should favor Los Blancos. That should be the game plan to win the midfield battle.

Home/Analysis