PSG 1-2 Real: Ronaldo shines to bring Real into the quarter-finals

During PSG's away trip to the Parc des Princes, coach Zinedine Zidane did not dare to risk the physical condition of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Therefore, he left the duo on the bench. Instead, Zidane applied a 4-4-2 formation with Mateo Kovacic and Casemiro playing as a central midfielder.

With a defensive lineup, Real held their ground for about 10 minutes as PSG took the lead. Real played very tightly, preventing a high-spirited PSG from creating any dangerous chances. After PSG lost their morale, Real began to regain control of the game.

Coach Zidane has helped Real have a reasonable approach to the match.

However, with a 2-goal lead after the first leg, Real did not need to play offensively. They played defensively and waited for opportunities from counter-attacks or mistakes from PSG. In such a situation in the 38th minute, the "White Vultures" almost had the opening goal.

After a PSG defender's inaccurate clearance, Karim Benzema was able to comfortably escape down the left wing. Benzema dribbled into the penalty area and faced goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. However, at a narrow angle, the French striker was unable to defeat the PSG goalkeeper.

Benzema missed a good chance to score in his 100th Champions League appearance.

In the final minutes of the first half, PSG increased the pressure. The home team's coordination was smoother. However, the final moves lacked sharpness, so PSG could not penetrate Real's net and had to accept the break with the score 0-0.

The two teams entered the second half with the same intentions as the first. However, the difference came from Real's brightest star: Cristiano Ronaldo. In the 52nd minute, from Lucas Vazquez's precise cross from the left wing, Ronaldo rushed in and powerfully headed the ball into PSG's net.

Ronaldo headed the ball to open the score for Real.

Ronaldo's goal broke PSG's fighting spirit. The French team now needed to score 3 goals to equalize after 2 matches with Real. That made PSG's heads even hotter. In the 66th minute, Marco Verratti reacted to the referee's decision and received a second yellow card and had to leave the field.

Verratti received a red card and left the field.

Verratti's red card sealed PSG's place in the quarter-finals. Although Edinson Cavani scored a lucky goal for PSG in the 71st minute, that was all the home team could muster. With such a huge advantage, Real played leisurely but still scored another goal through Casemiro in the 80th minute.

Cavani had a lucky goal for PSG.

Defeating PSG 2-1 in France, Real won 5-2 on aggregate after 2 matches and won a ticket to the quarter-finals.

Line-up

PSG: Areola; Yuri, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Alves; Verratti, Motta (Pastore 59'), Rabiot; Di Maria (Draxler 76'), Mbappe (Diarra 85'), Cavani

Real: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Lucas, Casemiro, Kovacic (Kroos 72'), Asensio (Isco 82'); Benzema (Bale 76'), Ronaldo