Champions League Preview and Predictions : Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain welcomes Real Madrid at home at the Parc des Princes for their Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter versus Real Madrid.

Unai Emery’s side fail to resist pressure to a 3-1 defeat to Los Blancos in the first-leg of the round of 16, and they face a difficult task of overturning the tie, considering Neymar has been sidelined following a foot surgery.

Both Sides Domestic Form:

PSG have in brilliant form in the French Ligue 1 this season, and they recorded their 24th win of the season versus Troyes last weekend. As a result, the Le Perisiens hold a 14-point lead over reigning champions Monaco at the top of the table.

Real Madrid on the contrary, have endured an indifferent season in the Spaniah La Liga, and Zinedine Zidane’s side was pretty much summed before the turn of the year. Los Blancos are presently third on the table with a massive 15-point deficit to Barcelona, who are favourites to reclaim the Spanish crown.

Players to watch for:

Edinson Cavani – Paris Saint-Germain:

With Neymar ruled for an extended period, the focus is likely to lie on Cavani to score goals for his side. The Uruguayan international has scored four goals in his previous three appearances for PSG and he was offered the weekend off in order to keep him in good shape. Nonetheless, Cavani needs to finally make an impact versus Real Madrid, with three winless (one draw and two defeats) and goalless games played out. Cavani was hauled off just after the hour-mark in the Bernabeu defeat.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid:

The Portuguese international has a difficult time in La Liga during the first-half of the season, but this had no impact on Ronaldo’s Champions League form, where he scored nine goals during the group stage. Since the turn of the year, the 33-year-old former Manchester United player has scored 14 goals in the space of just 10 appearances, and this has involved six man of the match accolades. With Neymar injured in the opposition ranks, he is undoubtedly the player to watch from both sides, and he could make the defining impact to finish off the tie. Ronaldo bagged a brace during the first-leg of the encounter.

Prediction:

Without the presence of Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain face a difficult task of overcoming Real Madrid. Should they score even, we are fancying Los Blancos to find a breakthrough of their own which may finish off the tie.

Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Real Madrid