78min: Silly from the Real Madrid captain. Javier Pastore had control of the ball but had his back to goal. Ramos, rather than waiting for Pastore to get side on, clips the PSG player. Brych shows no hesitation and books the Spain international.
73min: What a chance that was. Benzema again manages to get behind the PSG defence. Marquinhos does well to get back but the striker should still do better after advancing into the PSG penalty area. Instead of playing a simple pass he goes for goal but his right-footed effort goes wide of Areola’s goal. That could have been game over.
The ball comes off Cavani and somehow trickles into the Real Madrid goal. Thiago Silva’s header bounced off the forward and Ramos wasn’t able to get to the ball before it crossed Navas’ line. One goal back but there is still plenty to do if they want to take this to extra-time. Two more goals from PSG without reply would be enough.
Oh dear. Any hope PSG had seems to have gone now. Verratti receives a second yellow card. He ran over to referee Brych after he was tackled. Brych wasn’t happy with his actions and produces a second yellow card. All over now for PSG.
PSG fans continue to back their side in the second half
55min: PSG, even more so now, are trying to get forward quickly but they don’t have the players capable of controlling the ball and playing with an element of calm. So often their play has been rushed and Real Madrid aren’t having to do much at all to win the ball back. PSG very poor in possession all night and it appears as though there is now no way back for them.
Even though Real Madrid haven’t taken full advantage as they so often have done in the past, this has been a poor defensive display by PSG. Marquinhos and Thiago Silva. Unsurprisingly they get punished just minutes into the second half. Lucas Vasquez plays an excellent ball to the far post and Ronaldo heads down into the ground and the PSG goal. Dani Alves’ mistake must also be highlighted. He allowed Vasquez too much room to get round him.
46min: Similar to the first half, PSG have started quickly. The fans continue to cheer their side on. Although maybe too much… firecrackers have been set off as well as flares and referee Brych stops the game for a few seconds.
Steven Gerrard, live on BT Sport, believes Real Madrid will have been content with how they have played so far. Second half seconds awa
Steven Gerrard, live on BT Sport, believes Real Madrid will have been content with how they have played so far. Second half seconds awa
A disappointing first half from PSG. It took them until the 41st minute to get close to Real Madrid’s goal and when they did they weren’t clinical enough to make the most of it. Real Madrid appearing very comfortable if a little complacent at times. Zidane won’t be overly happy, though. Ramos has been the only defender to appear entirely convinced with what he’s meant to be doing
Pre Match Reports
Real Madrid are in pole position to move into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League as they travel to Paris Saint-Germain for the second leg of their last-16 tie.
The current European champions hold a two-goal advantage after coming from behind to win the first leg at the Bernabeu, but will have to be wary of complacency.
PSG are runaway leaders in the French top flight and with an attack boasting the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani will have every chance of staging a comeback at the Parc des Princes.
In the view of Guillem Balague the tie is still in the balance.
Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert believes PSG will have enough chances to hurt Real, who have been struggling for form in La Liga.
Team news
Paris St-Germain v Real Madrid (1-3 first leg)
Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani both return for Paris St-Germain after missing their last match – a 2-0 Ligue 1 win at Troyes on Saturday.
Boss Unai Emery makes seven changes from his starting line-up to that game, with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, captain Thiago Silva, midfielder Adrien Rabiot and forward Angel di Maria the four to keep their places.
Paris St-Germain: Areola, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Yuri, Verratti, Thiago Motta, Rabiot, Di Maria, Cavani, Mbappe. Substitutes: Trapp, Kimpembe, Meunier, Lo Celso, Diarra, Draxler, Pastore.
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Gareth Bale drops to the bench as Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane makes five changes to the side that beat Malaga 3-1 on Saturday.
The Real substitutes also include Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco with Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez occupying the wide midfield roles.
Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Lucas, Casemiro, Kovacic, Asensio, Benzema, Ronaldo. Substitutes: Casilla, Nacho, Kroos, Modric, Bale, Hernandez, Isco.
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All over. Real Madrid through to the last eight of the Champions League. Zidane’s side far superior of the two. Very polished and very professional. PSG haven’t improved since last year and big questions must be asked of Unai Emery.
92min: Just not good enough… PSG’s performance summed up by Cavani. He worked himself into an excellent position in the Real Madrid penalty area but couldn’t move his feet quick enough before he was tackled. Real Madrid almost there.
86min: PSG, really, haven’t looked close all game to beating Real Madrid. Whether that be on the night or across the two legs, they haven’t been able to manage their opponents. Real Madrid have plenty of experience of navigating a successful path in the Champions League. Cavani makes things that bit worse by getting himself in Brych’s book for a late tackle.
Cavani looks on after Real Madrid go into the lead yet again