The problem is that PSG meet genuine challenges so infrequently that they are rudderless when they find one. Navas therefore gets the nod, but this is a clear point of weakness for both sides that could be exploited during the two legs. The other first legs will be played next week.
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History is on Real’s side – they are the 12-time European champions, winners in each of the last two seasons.
“This is not some other club – the slightest negative thing here and the media make a song and dance out of it”.
PSG veteran midfielder Thiago Motta is ruled out through injury. They can wear the captain’s armband for a half each.
Zinedine Zidane has endorsed Guti’s credentials as a future Real Madrid coach after the Spaniard admitted his ambition to occupy the Santiago Bernabeu hot seat.
With three spots up for grabs in central midfield there are some big decisions to be made. There couldn’t be a better place or opponent for Paris Saint-Germain to show it is ready to take the next step to becoming a soccer powerhouse in Europe. And he will be up against Gareth Bale on the right flank at the Bernabeu.
PSG travel to Madrid with a fearsome array of attacking talent with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani a major threat to the Madrid defense. We just have to hope that he has an off-day.
Cristiano Ronaldo has collected his award after topping the Goal 50 and exclusively told Goal that he always believed his talismanic form could be recaptured at Real Madrid. But this has not been an ordinary season for the Portugal superstar.
But they are not the biggest spenders this year, and neither are City, with Barcelona’s £291.87m outlay putting them in top spot.
Madrid left-back Marcelo had earlier done his bit to fuel the speculation, saying: “Madrid fans like good players”.
He like Ronaldo, has been in the press, with many claiming he could move back to Spain, with Wednesday night’s opponents, Real Madrid.
If that felt like a means of escape and isolation, there was something of that in the way the PSG manager spoke as he largely evaded answering questions about the mental impact of last season’s defeat. Who knows what a year, or two or three, here will do to one of the most talented dribblers and impactful strikers the game has ever known.
Chelsea does get a boost as Alvaro Morata has returned to full fitness and they will need his experience against Barcelona along with Eden Hazard at his best if they want to provide a shock in the Round of 16.
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“This is a very busy stadium with large advertising space, many spaces for companies”, said Jose Maria Gay de Liebana, economics professor at the University of Barcelona.
