Round of 16 – Real Madrid – Paris Saint-Germain – “Noshi Magica”: How is Real trying to reverse the balance of power

It’s a natural slip. Gently but grows as the deadline approaches. While the hope of qualifying has seriously waned after Real Madrid’s very poor performance at the Parc des Princes on February 15 (1-0), confidence has clearly returned to Madrid’s ranks and it is hard to believe that Madrid starts the second leg with a handicap. Because it floats in the air in Madrid like a Rimontada perfume. And not just because PSG are used to faltering once they negotiate their first corner kick well, as evidenced by their bankruptcy at Barcelona in 2017, and their heavy sweats against Barcelona and Bayern. Year after a controlled outing.

Madrid does not need to summon the ghosts of 2017 to be confident: “No, this is not a reference we used herePablo Polo, the journalist in charge of Real Madrid since 2006, testifies at Marca. On the other hand, the idea that Paris is a team that doesn’t have a lot of great European history or experience plays a lot. But the two main arguments for restoring confidence are first the Santiago Bernabeu and then the dynamics of the two teams.”

In the case of form, the argument only works with Real. Owning one of his best matches of the year on Saturday against Real Sociedad, the strong Spanish champions found his way forward in the footsteps of Karim Benzema once again 100%. For PSG, the range of defeats at Nantes (3-0) and Nice (1-0) has to be measured by the relative degree to which the Parisians still participate in the Ligue 1 they dominate. We have to remember the doubts that accompanied them before the first leg, which dominated outrageously.

At Real, we summon the legend

Since that time, Real has built a household legend that he summons when circumstances require it. It has been a long time since the club with 13 first-tier players has not faced such a situation, which is to overturn the ruling to go home. For exactly six years, he lost the first leg in the quarter-finals in April 2016 against Wolfsburg (2-0). In return, Madrid experienced”Nosha Magica“Cristiano Ronaldo carries him into the stratosphere. The Portuguese no longer exists, Real can no longer win the Champions League and must build a new story without him. This is the second stop, in the face of the new terror of Europe and the former archenemy, Lionel Messi, in time.

The Bernabeu is weaned from the great European feelings

Because since 2016, the Bernabeu had a particularly dark night in the round of 16 in 2019 against Ajax where the unthinkable happened (losing the home advantage). Madrid patiently awaits the return of the big evening. Revitalized on Saturday, Karim Benzema’s side relived a tireless but poorly started victory (led by Real Sociedad led by Real Madrid), Karim Benzema’s teammates are progressing victoriously as in their greatest hour.

Carlo Ancelotti’s calmness, on the eve of a meeting that could behead him, contrasts with the sure annoyance of Mauricio Pochettino on the eve of the shock: “Our team is excited and calm and I am sure we will have a great match tomorrow, as the Meringues coach confirms. My team is proud (…). I know exactly how the Bernabeu is and we are even more excited. We know very well that we are not playing this match alone because madridismo are behind us and lead us forward and that makes us stronger.. “

“We doubt all the time and only talk about the negatives while the riyal is in the positivePochettino got angry after questions from reporters that didn’t really satisfy him. However, make no mistake, it is Paris Saint-Germain that is still leading the discussions at least until Wednesday 9 pm. Conclusions of the first leg: Madrid is sailing in a pervasive feeling and in its very concrete history , to forget the Parc des Princes and vow to inferno at the Bernabéu.