Real Madrid 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain: Champions League highlights and recap

Real Madrid face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Here are all the highlights from the match.

As the Champions League Knockout Stages got underway, no matchup was as highly anticipated as the one between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. However, they came into their Round of 16 clash on different feet. Real have not looked like their dominant selves much at all this campaign, a season marred with inconsistency. Meanwhile, PSG had looked the part of a juggernaut in all competitions.

There was a bit of chippy play between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain early on in the action. Both clubs were clearly looking to attack and both defenses weren’t at their best. However, the chippy play landed the great Neymar a yellow card early on.

While it looked like a hungry Madrid side would come through, Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t convert on a lovely ball from Marcelo as Alphonse Aréola was able to make a save — albeit using his face to do so. Instead, it was PSG that broke through first, though it wasn’t one of their dominant front three that was able to find the back of the net.

After winning a free kick in the defensive half, Mbappe took the ball on a run down the right side and played it into the box for Neymar and Edinson Cavani. However, both attacking players left it for Adrien Rabot, who unfurled a rocket into the top of the net for the 1-0 lead and an ever-important away goal.

Real Madrid wouldn’t be stifled, though. Late in the first half action, Toni Kroos had the ball out wide left of the box and made his move in. He beat Giovani Le Celso, who reached out and grabbed the midfielder’s shoulder. Kroos went down with the contact and rightfully earned a penalty for his club. Ever reliable, Ronaldo stepped up and confidently netted the penalty to tie things up going into halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, both sides were in full-on attacking mode. They were attacking the sidelines with great ferocity and it appeared something would have to come to fruition. Both PSG and Real came close early on, but both clubs were held scoreless in the first 35 minutes of the second half.

Once the 80th minute hit, however, some home-field magic at the Bernabeu started getting cooking. Real was cooking something up around the edge of the box, which sent the ball out wide to Isco. He played the ball into the middle of the box where Ronaldo peaked through the defense and poked the ball into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead.

Real Madrid weren’t done there, however. Just minutes after taking the lead, the home side was still relentless on the attack. That allowed Marcelo to get free and find the back of net for himself and give his club a 3-1 lead. Though Paris Saint-Germain were furiously trying to notch one more away goal, they were unable as the two late Real goals set the final score.

Highlights

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While the away goal is still looming for PSG, the late surge for Real put them in fantastic position as they await the second leg at the beginning of March in Paris. They’re in the driver’s seat after taking care of business at home on Wednesday.