UEFA Champions League 2019-20, Real Madrid vs PSG: Recapping the last 3 meetings between the two clubs

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain met for the 5th time in the Champions League when the 13-time champions traveled to the French capital for their 2019-20 opener. Much to the dismay of the Madrid faithful though, the Spanish team suffered a chastening 3-0 loss.

Real then stuttered to a 2-2 home draw against Club Brugge in their next game before registering back-to-back wins over Galatasaray to go second in the group.

Meanwhile, PSG built on their opening day success against Madrid with a victory at Galatasaray before away and home wins over Brugge in their next two games. They are one of only two clubs (Bayern Munich being the other) to have won on all four Matchdays of the 2019-20 Champions League.

The French champions, one of six unbeaten teams in this season's competition, are the only team in the Champions League this season to have kept a clean sheet in all of their four group-stage games.

PSG have already qualified for the Round of 16, and need to avoid a defeat at the Bernabeu to seal top place in the group. On the other hand their Matchday 5 hosts, without having to bother about results elsewhere, will join them in the knockout round if they beat the French team.

On the cusp of PSG taking on Real Madrid on the fifth Matchday of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League, let us re-live the two clubs' last three meetings in the competition.

#3 2019-20 Group Stage: PSG 3-0 Real Madrid

Angel Di Maria rejoices after scoring against his former club

With Zinedine Zidane back at the helm, a rejuvenated Madrid traveled to Paris for their first group game of the 2019-20 Champions League.

But former Madrid man Angel di Maria turned out to be the scourge of the record 13-time champions on the night. The Argentinian striker's first Champions League brace in over two years sank his previous employers.

Di Maria opened the scoring after 14 minutes, and a superb curling effort on the half-hour mark provided Thomas Tuchel's men with a healthy two-goal advantage.

Madrid struggled to carve out clear-cut scoring opportunities in the second half. After Gareth Bale had a goal ruled out due to a handball in the build-up, PSG rubbed salt into Madrid's wounds with a third in injury time.

Thomas Meunier turned in Juan Bernat's cross, which rubber-stamped a convincing rout. The result marked PSG's first win in five attempts over Real Madrid.

Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers

#2 2017-18 Round of 16 Second Leg: PSG 1-2 Real Madrid

Madrid exult after scoring against PSG

Trailing 1-3 from the first leg of their Round of 16 tie against the two-time defending champions, PSG started the game with a sense of urgency. Madrid on their part were content to sit back and hit on the counter in the initial exchanges.

Zidane's men managed to keep the French champions at bay though. And they surged ahead on the night when Cristiano Ronaldo's 12th of the campaign gave Madrid a commanding 4-1 aggregate advantage - with over half an hour of play remaining.

After Marco Verratti was sent off mid-way through the second half, an onerous task for PSG became an uphill one.

Edinson Cavani pulled one back off a fortuitous rebounded Madrid clearance. But PSG were fortunate to see Madrid hit the woodwork twice, through Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez respectively.

Their hopes of holding on for a draw on the night were dashed when Casemiro's strike 10 minutes from time sealed a 5-2 aggregate win for the Spanish team.

Madrid would go on to win a third-straight Champions League title.

#1 2017-18 Round of 16 First Leg: Real Madrid 3-1 PSG

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring one of his goals against PSG

Having won the competition in the previous two seasons (the first team to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era), Real Madrid faced French champions PSG in the Round of 16 while riding a wave of confidence.

Adrien Rabiot's 33rd minute strike provided the lead to the visitors, but Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty for the hosts equalized proceedings. The teams went into half-time at one goal apiece.

That first strike by Madrid marked a record seventh time that Ronaldo had scored 10 (or more) goals in a Champions League season. The next best mark by any other player is two. In the process, Ronaldo also became the first player to score 100 Champions League goals for a club.

PSG displayed greater energy and fervor in the second half. Kylian Mbappe drew a save off the Madrid keeper and the French team saw their calls for a penalty waved away after Sergio Ramos seemed to have handled the ball inside his own box.

Madrid pounced on PSG's lapses when Ronaldo's 83rd minute strike put the hosts into the lead for the first time in the tie. Then Marcelo's goal three minutes later provided a comfortable 3-1 win for the hosts.

The win was Madrid's seventh consecutive in a Champions League knockout game at home under Zidane. The day was also a landmark one at an individual level, as Gareth Bale became the second Welshman (Ryan Giggs with 141 is the other) to play 50 Champions League games.