5 reasons why PSG will beat Real Madrid in the round of 16

Real Madrid vs PSG is perhaps "the" clash of the last 16 stage of Europe's premier club competition. The two sides have some of the best players in the world which is why we could get a brilliant tie.

The two teams have had contrasting seasons going into the first leg. Based on the form, PSG look the stronger of the two. Here are five reasons why they will overpower Real Madrid in the upcoming tie:

---

#5 MCN’s form compared to BBC’s form

The "BBC" have hardly played together this season and will look to make things happen against PSG in the Champions League

They're perhaps two of the most feared trios in modern football today but have been poles-apart this season in terms of form and confidence. The trio of Mbappe, Cavani, and Neymar have been lighting up the Ligue 1 and Europe with their pace, strength, and goals.

Injuries and suspensions at various stages of the current campaign has meant that the trio of Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo have hardly played together. It was only against Valencia, two weeks back that the trio started together for the first time this season.

Follow Real Madrid vs PSG Live right here

While the BBC have looked threatening in the few minutes they've played together this season, their lack of playing time together hands PSG the advantage in this tie. Benzema's struggles in front of goal means the pressure on the other two is even more.

For a game that has been built up around these two attacking trios, one certainly has the edge over the other. Goals win you games and PSG, as things stand, look like the team who could score freely of the two.

#4 Contrasting home form

Paris Saint-Germain has been spectacular at home this season

While PSG possesses a hundred percent record at home in both UEFA Champions League the Ligue 1 this season, their rivals have been shockingly poor at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid have accumulated a surprisingly low 23 points from 12 games this season, currently lying fourth in the La Liga table.

12 wins from 12 games mean that the Parisians have built quite a fortress at the Parc de France this season, a fortress that has seen wins over the likes of Bayern Munich and Lyon along with the plenty they’ve scored.

While Real Madrid may be a different prospect altogether, one must consider that this is perhaps not the usual Madrid.

Thus, the prospect of playing a Real Madrid might not be too bad after all and with all due respect to the whites from Madrid. If PSG can push Real Madrid in the first leg, then they'll be overwhelming favourites come the return leg.

#3 Difference between the two bench strengths

Players like Kovacic and Vasquez haven't exactly had the minutes they'd have liked this season

How far a team goes in the season depends a lot on the bench strength and the depth a side has within their squad. Real Madrid had an extraordinary amount of talent available to them coming off the bench last season. The likes of Morata, James, Isco, Pepe, were all world class players who could change the course of a game.

PSG, this season have something of that sort up their sleeves. With the likes of Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler, Javier Pastore and Dani Alves, PSG are not just limited to star-power within the starting eleven. It is a luxury that not many teams have in this modern day and age.

This season, Real Madrid have a good, young and talented bunch on the bench. However, lack of proper chances have meant that they might not really be ready for a game of such magnitude.

PSG's reserve players look the more likely to cause damage and be the required game-changers as compared to Real Madrid's. Something that is bound to hand the French side the advantage when it comes to giving that something extra on the pitch.

#2 PSG's momentum

Neymar's been doing the job for PSG and will hold the key for PSG in the big Round of 16 clashes.

A lot was expected of PSG when they made the headlines in the transfer market with the signings of Neymar and Mbbape in the summer.

Safe to say the Parisians have lived up to it. The signings have been doing their work on the pitch which has meant that PSG topped their Champions League group and are currently enjoying a 12-point lead in the French league.

While the Ligue 1 may not be the most challenging of conquests for the side, one cannot discount the fact that winning games in any league, in any fashion, is a boost as far as the confidence of a team goes. Because after all, you can only beat what's in front of you.

PSG have been pretty consistent when it's come to scoring goals this season, having put scores past many already this season. There have been times though where they've had to snatch a result from games and have barely tottered over the line.

The result against Toulouse on Saturday was one of those nights. Neymar scored through a deflection on a night when it looked like the ball might not go in. Something that Real did on a number of occasions last season, grinding out results from the dead.

Performances and victories might not be as fancy as some of the others the team might've had but they sure do provide the momentum and confidence a team could need before a big game.

Real, unlike PSG haven't been able to kill off games this season and against PSG who've been on a run of good performances, things could go south again. PSG have the wind in their sails before the big clash and look the likely side to go through.

#1 Real Madrid's lack of confidence

Madrid's confidence isn't high right now

It's been a question that many have wondered. A question as to how a club so good one season can turn out to be so average the following season.

While it wasn't so obvious at the start of the season, it has for sure started to show as we've gone further into the season.

Real Madrid have been a shadow of the side that did the double last season and the confidence which we saw on a number of occasions last season seems to have disappeared.

Holding onto a lead seems to be an issue for the Blancos this season as the morale just seems to die down once a goal is conceded. Second half displays this season have been abysmal and we have seen nothing so far that suggests that they might turn it around against PSG.

Be it the defeats to Betis and Villarreal or the draws against Celta and Levante or for that matter the second half implosion against Barcelona.

It's a big game and games such as these are often decided by small mistakes. One can't help but think that as things stand, it'll be Real Madrid who could be ones making those errors. Errors that could hurt them and possibly dump them out of the competition.