Real Madrid vs PSG

I myself have waited too long for this game, likewise thousands of other passionate football fans. While I feel for the Liverpool and Porto fans unable to watch this with their respective teams playing, the rest can sit and enjoy a game that should really be played in the final. Here's my match report on what should be an incredible game.

For one of the most hyped games of the season, I along with most football fans around the world couldn't wait for this game. Real Madrid vs PSG and Ronaldo vs Neymar. With both teams loving to press and most likely going for it, it only points to an enticing game, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

As soon as PSG kicked off, I'd never seen a press as high as the Real Madrid one in the time I've watched football. The pace was ferocious and I was amazed by how well PSG dealt with it. However the first big moment, despite loads of small ones, came from excellent Verrati pressing robbing Casemiro of the ball. He then finds Neymar on the left who dribbles inside past multiple Real players, however gets caught in two minds, pass to Mbappe or shoot. Unfortunately for him, he does neither. But it isn't over as Real then counter with Marcelo plays superb ball to Ronaldo who's completely free on the right. Ronaldo rushes in on goal and tries to chip Areola, however the keeper did very well to come out so quickly and gets a ball to the face. A very entertaining match so far and a goal looks just on the horizon.

And a goal we get as Mbappe skips past Marcelo, admittedly with some luck, and puts in a dangerous early cross towards Cavani who intelligently dummies it to Neymar only for the cross to be cut out by Nacho. However the Fernandez clearance only succeeds in finding Rabiot coming in unmarked and tucks it home with his right foot past a disparing Navas. 1-0 PSG after Madrid have given so much in the opening half an hour. How will they respond?

Well Madrid almost respond immediately as a poor pass from Yuri, being pressed into his own corner, passes it straight to Ronaldo. Alarm bells are ringing but the Portuguese, on his left, smashes it over. Wasteful but a decent opportunity none the less.

Madrid get another excellent opportunity as well as Benzema receives the ball from Marcelo on the left hand side and shoots first time with his left bringing out an amazing Areola save with his left. The resulting corner goes short to Kroos who drives into the area and is pulled down by Lo Celso, penalty. More controversy however as Lo Celso has been previously booked and with Kroos driving towards goal, should he be off? Who else but Ronaldo steps up and in very "un-Ronaldo" fashion scores to Areola's left with the keeper getting slight fingertips. One all now and it's certainly there for the taking for either team.

Soon after came the halftime whistle with the tie nicely poised at 1-1. An excellent contest so far with it definitely living up to expectations. A high tempo, lots of goal mouth action and a formidable atmosphere that even comes through the TV. I can't wait for the second half.

And it gets off to an exciting start as a good break from PSG leads to Lo Celso finding Neymar over the top who then cuts inside, plays the ball to Mbappe who strikes through Ramos' legs and brings out a solid save from Navas saving well down to his right.

After a very bizarre moment involving the referee and Neymar with the Brazilian's cross hitting the ref in the ear bringing a small stoppage of play, PSG started putting on even more pressure on Madrid. Neymar found Yuri on the left who put in a dangerous cross across the box, just evading Mbappe and Alves sliding in. PSG on top so far this second half, but they need to make their opportunities count against this kind of opposition.

And it looks like PSG will rue their missed chances as Modric finds Asensio on the left who whips in a dangerous cross towards the near post. Areola gets a touch however parries it straight to Ronaldo who puts it in on his knee. A lucky goal nonetheless but they won't care on bit as surely with 5 minutes left, they've come away with a win.

If it was uncertain before, it's certainly confirmed it only a few minutes later as some nice build up play from Madrid leads to Marcelo finding Asensio in a similar position to before. Just like their previous goal, Asensio cuts it back, this time to Marcelo, who scores first time with a slightly deflected volley off of Marquinhos to help it past a despairing Areola. 3-1 Madrid and although PSG will still fancy their chances in the second leg, that was a massive goal in terms of the tie.

PSG were unable to fight back and get another leading to the full-time whistle blowing as the Bernabeu erupts with cheer with the Madrid players evidently ecstatic on the pitch. After such a poor league campaign by their standards, a win against arguably the favourites in the Champions League will certainly do wonders for their confidence and while the league title is pretty much gone, Los Blancos should now go on to qualify for next season's competition. For the French side however, who certainly aren't used to losing, this is a result that will most likely come as a kick up the backside for them in the Champions League. They won't be getting as many opportunities against the best, in comparison to what they would in Ligue 1. As Rabiot correctly pointed out in his interview, PSG would have to be "more clinical" if they are to progress in the Champions League.

MOTM: Cristiano Ronaldo

While not being the most influential in the game as a whole, the Portuguese still managed to grab two goals which speaks volumes about his quality. With Ronaldo again proving his quality from the spot and his killer instinct of being in the right place at the right time, it's little surprise to see how many goals he's scored in his career.