Real Madrid. Kings of Europe. It is simply impossible to explain how Real Madrid survived and got through this draw. Just one of those magical nights we will never forget.
Real started well, but it took PSG 15 minutes to control the game and dominate.. Real Madrid played well and with great tension from the first whistle. However, PSG survived this initial attack and quickly came to dominate the pace of the match. The intensity was there, the fans were involved, but in the end the best team took charge and controlled the game.
Real Madrid had no answers to the left flank of PSG. Some might pull the trigger and blame Carvajal, but even the best versions of historical right-backs like Dani Alves or Cafu couldn’t survive in this context. Asensio’s pressing position was completely wrong, as was Valverde’s (force didn’t matter). After all, Carvajal somehow expected to succeed against Mendez and Mbappe, who attacked him 2 on 1 again and again. He did not.
That Champions League magic works. Somehow, Madrid scored the first goal thanks to a colossal mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma. From there it was just chaos. Karim Benzema once again inscribed his name in the history of Real Madrid, and Los Blancos took the lead on aggregate in just 5 minutes.
Credit where credit is due. Ancelotti’s substitutions changed the game. Vazquez, Camavinga, Rodrigo – all three changed the game. Their pressure, their aggression, their fire gave Madrid a chance. That’s all this club needs.