Real Madrid vs PSG: Preview, team news and score prediction
Real Madrid will be hosting Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Thursday in their Champions League Round of 16 fixture.
The 12-time European champions, Real Madrid, were made to settle for second place in group H after being beaten to the top spot by an impressive Tottenham side. The Spanish giants sit fourth in La Liga, 17 points off leaders Barcelona. Real Madrid will be hoping to shrug off this disappointment through the Champions League.
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On the other hand, Unai Emery's PSG are 12 points clear of the second-placed AS Monaco in the Ligue 1. Last year, PSG threw away their first-leg lead of 4-0 against Barcelona. This time, they will be looking to make things right and go all the way in the Champions League.
Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-German: Kickoff information
Date: 15th February 2018.
Kickoff: 19:45 (local time), 1:15 PM (IST)
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane will be without his premier defender, Dani Carvajal after he was suspended for the first leg. Nacho Fernandez is expected to take up the role of right-back in the absence of Carvajal.
Casimiro is expected to feature in the playing XI after being rested against Real Sociedad. The manager also hinted at the return of Gareth Bale to the side after starting from the bench in the previous match.
In the attack, the famous trio of Bale-Benzema-Cristiano is expected to start for Los Blancos.
Formation: 4-3-3
Real Madrid form guide: W-L-W-D-W
Real Madrid possible starting XI:
Keylor Navas(GK); Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Nacho Fernandez; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Also read: Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain: A tactical overview
Paris Saint Germain
Alphonse Areola will continue in goal for the visitors at Santiago Bernabeu. In defence, Thiago Silva and Layvin Kurzawa are expected to return to the starting XI as they both sat out for the visitors in their previous fixture in Ligue-1. Dani Alves and Thomas Meunier will be competing for their spot in the right-back position.
Marco Veratti will be starting the game for the visitors as he started from the bench, last weekend. There will be no surprise if Emery drops Thiago Motta for Lo Celso as the latter has performed better in this season, while Angel di Maria will most likely have to settle for a place on the bench.
Formation: 4-3-3
PSG form guide: W-W-W-W-W
PSG possible starting XI:
Alphonse Areola(GK); Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Layvin Kurzawa; Marco Veratti, Giovani Lo Celso, Rabiot; Kylan Mbappe, Edison Cavani, Neymar.
Also read: Ronaldo demands backing from Madrid fans against PSG
Head to Head Stats
Total Played: 7
Real Madrid Win:2
PSG Win:3
Draws/No Result: 2
Prediction:
An absolutely mouth-watering tie, PSG is really in top form and will try to exploit Rel Madrid. However, Los Blancos are always a hard nut to crack at home and a scoreline of 2-2 can be expected.