Ronaldo leads Real to victory in the duel of the giants against PSG

Madrid (SID) Real Madrid can continue to dream of a hat-trick in the Champions League. The defending champions won the first round of 3 duel between the giants against Paris St. Germain 1:1 (1:6), not least thanks to the accuracy of world footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, and now have the best prospects of making it to the quarter-finals in the return match on March XNUMX in the Parc des Princes in Paris. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot scored the lead for the visitors in the 33rd minute, but after this defeat, their first triumph in the Champions League is now a distant prospect. World footballer Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for the defending champions with a penalty (45th minute). After the break, Ronaldo scored in the 83rd minute before Marcelo (86th minute) sealed the deal. World champion Julian Draxler was also unable to prevent the French defeat after being substituted in the final phase. Giovani Lo Celso caused the penalty with an attack on world champion Toni Kroos. Ronaldo took advantage of this opportunity to score his 100th Champions League goal for Real and his 115th overall in the competition. In front of 78.158 spectators in the sold-out Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the Champions League record winners put the French under pressure from the start. After a warning shot from Ronaldo, Kroos had the first good chance in the fifth minute. However, the former Munich and Leverkusen player was thwarted by the well-reacting PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. While Kroos, as expected, pulled the strings in midfield from the start for Madrid, the German internationals Kevin Trapp and Draxler, who is in the shadow of his prominent offensive players at PSG, sat on the bench for Paris as expected. There was initially little to see of the Parisian dream attack with record transfer Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani. The Brazilian superstar Neymar only attracted attention in the first 25 minutes with a handball and a botched cross, before he showed his skills after half an hour and tested Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a powerful long-range shot. The Madrilenians, who have already failed in the Copa del Rey and are in fourth place in the championship, 17 points behind leaders FC Barcelona, had good chances, especially thanks to the Portuguese European champion Ronaldo. In the 28th minute, the striker was stopped by the strong Areola at his best opportunity. Shortly afterwards, the guests' first good combination led to success. After a wonderful pass from Neymar, who had an eye for his better positioned teammate, Rabiot scored his first goal of the season in the top flight. However, the Spanish record champions did not let this deficit deter them from their strategy and established themselves in the visitors' half. The equaliser before the break was well deserved. After the break, both teams continued to trade blows. The French had the best chance in the second half when Mbappe forced Navas into a brilliant save shortly after the break. Ronaldo and Marcelo finally got the Real fans cheering after substitute Gareth Bale brought new momentum.

Tennis

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

hockey

Winter sports

Read More

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Favorites

Ronaldo leads Real to victory in the duel of the giants against PSG