Real Madrid 1-0 PSG: Five talking points

Sloppy Real Madrid eked out a slender 1-0 victory over a spirited PSG side in a heart-pounding game at the Santiago Bernabeu, and earned qualification to the next round. Les Parisiens were the dominant side for large spells of the game, creating the better chances and putting the home side into a tizzy with their high pressing.Following a host of missed opportunities, the visitors found themselves a goal down when substitute Nacho latched-on to a deflected effort from Toni Kroos to nudge the ball into an unguarded net from a tight angle. The goal was supposed to spur the largely underwhelming Blancos on, but the home side continued to struggle to get a foothold in the game.Having been put to the sword in a lively first-half, Real Madrid sat deep in the second period to stifle the visitors’ attack, but the ploy didn’t yield dividends as the French champions still appeared the superior ones, although playing with a relatively lower intensity.Los Meringues pushed forward in search of their second late in the game, but lacked the inguenity in the final third. Eventually, they held on to their advantage and racked-up a win that was uncharacteristically bitter to taste.Here are some of the talking points from the exhilarating action in the Spanish capital.

#1 Luck deserts PSG

At Santiago Bernabeu, teams usually come with the knowledge of getting battered from pillar to post. PSG though, were one of the few teams that held Real Madrid on the backfoot in their own backyard, and maintained their hegemony over the home side for large swathes of the game.

If the first leg in Paris was a dreary, dull affair, the reverse was an edge-of-the-seat encounter with the Parisians launching attacks at full pelt. Real Madrid were given the cold shoulder from the electrifying troupes of Laurent Blanc, who rode roughshod over a subdued Real Madrid side and were really unfortunate not to find the equalizer, let alone the winner.

Chances kept coming in at full pelt for the visiting side right till the death, with Angel di Maria, Edinson Cavani and Rabiot drifting into the area seamlessly to keep the Real Madrid defenders on their guard.

Despite clearly being the more threatening side, PSG failed to find their breakthrough and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that they were just short of luck here.

#2 A memorable homecoming for Di Maria

Angel di Maria returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since swapping the white of Madrid for the red of Manchester in July last year, and made sure he left behind an indelible mark on his old stomping ground with a truly belter of a performance in PSG colours. The Argentine attacker started on the left of the three-pronged attack and punched holes in Real’s defence reminding them what they are just missing at the moment.

Having orchestrated the Whites’ Decima success over neighbours Atletico in Lisbon last year, Di Maria was absolutely harrowing to his old colleagues last evening. The forward was one of the better PSG player going into the attacking third and most of his side’s chances stemmed through him.

The Argentine was excellent on the ball, grabbing eyeballs with some good technique and trickery, and even went close to scoring against his former club on two occasions when he stepped up to take the free-kicks. The first one flew narrowly past the post, whereas the second deflected into the stands after hitting the crossbar.

Di Maria couldn’t engineer a win for his side, but was really terrific on his homecoming otherwise.

#3 Nacho gets his moment in the sun

With Marcelo hobbling off the field with a calf problem, Real Madrid substitute Nacho was called on to deputise on the full-back. The Spaniard isn’t an adventurous fullback like Marcelo, usually lurking only in his defensive fief all the time, but the youngster made a point when he replaced the Brazilian more than aptly with an all-important goal just three minutes after stepping onto the field.

Toni Kroos made a tame effort at goal that David Luiz tried to block by sticking out his leg. The ball took a deflection to swing high into the air, and Nacho drove forward to just tap the ball past an on-rushing Trapp from a difficult angle to send the ball into the net after a bounce.

Apart from the winning strike, Nacho was also impressive in his defensive duties, keeping an eye on Serge Aurier bombings down the flanks and made some crucial interventions in or near the box.

The injury to Marcelo came as a blessing in disguise as Nacho got his moment of recknoning, and proved to be an able substitute.

#4 Ronaldo left frustrated

With Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema sidelined, Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo was the only prolific attacker in the attack and was flanked by Jese and Isco on his either sides. The Portuguese star was supposed to be the guiding light for his side in the light of the absence of several key players, but failed to have any impact on the game.

The forward missed one or two good chances in Paris two weeks ago, but it was a different ballgame altogether in the return fixture as he saw little to absolutely no chances landing at his feet and appeared gasping for service. Isco and Jese did not diasppoint on the wings, but weren’t effective either, and Ronaldo cut an isolated figure for much of the game.

With PSG flying out of the blocks with their all-out attack, the ball was being circulated largely in the Real’s half and Ronaldo was just kept waiting to receive. The 30-year old had very few touches on the ball and was no threat to Kevin Trapp whatsoever.

Whether it was the lack of services upfront or a lack-of-form, Ronaldo disappointed when he should have been the star and flattered to deceive.

#5 Cavani should do better

Of all the visiting players, Edinson Cavani was at the receiving end of most of the chances, but the Uruguayan was too profligate and fluffed his lines. The burly forward showed good movement off the ball and always found himself at the right place at the right time, but poor end product kept him from making the difference for the French champions.

Cavani should have easily put his side 2-0 ahead in the first half, but saw a one-on-one opportunity with Keylor Navas wasted when he flicked the ball with both feet while a simple finish would have been enough, and his headed effort had also gone begging.

With Maxwell and Aurier surging into the box after some terrific runs down the flanks, PSG created the better chances - both in terms of number and quality-but the lack of cutting edge from the forwards, Cavani in particular, saw Les Rouge-et-Bleu fire a blank every single time.