Real Madrid added another to their collection of European Remontadas as they completed a comeback led by Karim Benzema inside 18 minutes. And, just like that, a tie of 180 minutes was decided within 18 quality minutes from the men in white.
This was a statement victory and people may finally take Real Madrid as serious contenders moving ahead in the marquee competition. Here is my post-game analysis highlighting some stars and some flops in a performance that the world will remember for a long time.
Star: Sub, Rodrygo Goes
Real Madrid’s right-wing was absolutely ineffective in the first half, the reason was a usual one, Marco Asensio. He was a ghost in this game again. Rodrygo Goes came on for the right-winger at the hour mark as was expected. I was a hundred per cent sure about Asensio starting because of this ability to score out of nothing.
Rodrygo came on and changed the atmosphere on the right flank for Real Madrid. He looked full of pace and took on defenders. His defensive work rate impressed me and he added to Real Madrid’s press. He had a role to play in the winner and was responsible for recycling possession before giving the ball to Vinicius Jr., during the sequence of play which resulted in Benzema’s first-time shot to win the tie. It’s a good few steps forward for Rodrygo, I hope he doesn’t take a step back like he has done this season.
Star: Sub, Eduardo Camavinga
Scorer of the wonder goal in the weekend, Real Madrid’s 19-year old midfielder, Eduardo Camavinga should’ve started this game for Real Madrid. But, the Italian coach instead went for the returning veteran Toni Kroos. Camavinga came on as a positive change for Los Blancos and started pumping energy with his every touch of the ball.
His passing range was of great use to Real Madrid as was his pressing abilities. Together with Valverde, Real Madrid’s pressing game in the middle of the park was top-notch. Camavinga continues to be the match-changing sub for Real Madrid at the business end of the season, as I predicted him to be.
Star: CM Luka Modric
Luka Modric continues to surprise the world at the age of 36. I genuinely think he is 22 and just rumored to be 36, there’s no way a player can sprint the way he did, dusting defenders to place the perfect ball for Vinicius Jr. to chase, after 76 minutes of relentless pressing. This was a masterclass. And, after the one against Real Sociedad, it’s two in a row now.
Modric was even better in this one although he couldn’t run a repeat telecast of his wonder goal in the weekend. This time the shot flew just wide. But, this game was a complete performance. He was immense defensively with four tackles and two clearances. And, he was also immense going forward with a valuable assist, a beautiful pass to Vini Jr. in the buildup to the second goal, and three completed dribbles. Timeless!
Star: CBs Eder Militao and David Alaba
Putting one above the other among the two Real Madrid center-backs would be a sin. So, I am not doing that. I am instead, praising their partnership. Both Eder Militao and David Alaba sniffed out any and all danger inside the box for Los Blancos. While Militao outshines Alaba in terms of statistics, the ones who watched the game devotedly know how the Austrian kept things organized at the back.
Militao had a world-class performance with three tackles and three interceptions and I saw a little shadow of Sergio Ramos in him in this game. Alaba, on the other hand, brilliantly covered the far post during Kylian Mbappe’s goal. Alas, Courtois couldn’t do better there. Overall, this was yet another great performance for the pair. The chemistry is immaculate, so much so that the way they celebrated the winning goal was the same too.
Flop: RB Dani Carvajal
There is a reason why Dani Carvajal was a flop in this game and that reason isn’t Kylian Mbappe rather it was Marco Asensio. Carvajal was doing well with holding runs to trap Mbappe offside but he struggled in 1v1s. And, that was expected, to be honest. There was no support from Marco Asensio in the first half. But, in the second, things changed with Rodrygo’s introduction. He was much better defensively and much more physical.
Aside from losing the duel against Kylian Mbappe, Dani Carvajal was poor with his crossing and passing. He offered very little on the attacking end. Even if I could forgive him for the duel with Mbappe, I cannot let his sloppy attacking play go unnoticed. He was a flop in this game.
Flop: RW Marco Asensio
The worst player on the pitch and by quite some distance. Real Madrid’s starting right-winger, Marco Asensio was once again a ghost in a very important match. He offered absolutely nothing. His runs off the ball were horrible and couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities that fell to him. His pressing play and defensive work rate is next to none and that is why Kylian Mbappe was able to use his long strides to move up the pitch so many times in the first half.
But, I am happy that Asensio didn’t score a golazo this time. I think this performance should serve Carlo Ancelotti a lesson of why one shouldn’t start the team’s worst presser in a game that calls for press. Asensio might just be done at Real Madrid with another 0/10 performance. He needs to look away from Real Madrid and find a fit, he’s 26 now and is quickly approaching his footballing prime.
Star: LW Vinicius Junior
By the end of the 90 minutes, it was ‘Kylian Mbappe, who?’ attitude inside the Bernabeu. Only one winger took flight at the end and it was our star boy, Vinicius Junior. As the game went on, Vini kept becoming unguardable for the Parisians. He caught Achraf Hakimi out of position during breaks and levels ahead of PSG’s centre-backs, Kimpembe and Marquinhos.
He deservedly got his assist for the first goal. And, if it was my world, I’d have given him goal involvements in the second and the third goals too. He was smart to hold up the play, get better of three defenders marking him, and then pass the ball to Luka Modric, who got his assist on the second goal. In the third goal too, he was clinical in holding and carrying the ball forward. The footballing gods helped him with that extra bit of luck when Marquinhos’ clearance went straight to Benzema.
This was yet another important performance from the Brazilian who is truly enjoying his breakout season. This performance should give him a lot of confidence moving forward.
Star: CF Karim Benzema
And, for the man of the hour, Karim Benzema, I do not even know what to write or if my words ever do justice to what Karim Benzema did out there on the pitch on Wednesday night. Benzema scored an 18-minute hat-trick between 61-78 minutes and that was enough to knock PSG out of the Champions League.
Right from the get-go, there was fire in Benzema’s eyes. He was looking to score each time he got the ball. He had a screamingly close curling attempt at the 24-minute mark. He found himself at the end of crosses more regularly as the game went on and then finally, he scored three goals to see his team through to the quarterfinals of Europe’s biggest club competition.
This was a special performance, and with this Benzema broke quite a few records. First, he is now the third-highest goalscorer in Real Madrid’s history. With his three goals, his tally is now 309 goals for the club which is one better than Alfredo Di Stefano’s 308 goals. He is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (451) and Raul (323). And, he also set the record for the oldest player to get a Champions League hat-trick at 34 years 80 days old. King Karim.