For all but 30 seconds of 94 long minutes, that was a near-perfect away display from Real Madrid, keeping PSG and their attacking talents at bay. Granted, they rode their luck, but they were undone by a moment of magic at the last from Mbappe, and that will now change the outlook for the second leg, which will be even tougher given that Casmeiro and Mendy will be absent, too
PSG have the breakthrough with seconds to spare! Neymar, who had looked desperate to make an impact as he waited to come on, produces a moment of brilliance, backheeling the ball into Mbappé’s path on the left. The man who has come so close to scoring tonight still has plenty to do but he makes the two defenders ahead of him look static, slipping between Éder Militão and Lucas Vázquez inside the penalty area to allow himself space to fire beyond Courtois. A worthy winner!
Kylian Mbappe has now scored 13 goals in his last 13 Champions League matches
Paris are elated after scoring a last-gasp winner! Relieved coach Pochettino raised two arms to the sky after watching Neymar and Mbappé find a final, decisive inspired combination, the scorer sitting on the turf to celebrate with his overjoyed fans as the ball settled in the back of Courtois’ net. It was cruel on the goalkeeper, who had saved Messi’s penalty earlier in the half. The imperative is now on Madrid to attack in the second leg, when their opponents will fancy their chances of completing the job.
Mbappe has been named the UEFA Player of the Match. “He produced a bit of magic to win the game,” said the UEFA Technical Observer panel.
PSG have lost only six of their last 65 European home games, winning 42 of them.
Real Madrid goalkeeperThibaut Courtois said ,”We started well enough but we perhaps weren’t calm enough on the ball and suffered because of that, not countering well enough.”
Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid coach said “We couldn’t get out with the ball and we misplaced a lot of passes because of their high press. They did that well and put us under difficulty in that sense.”
Kylian Mbappe said “We prepare for these big evenings because we dream of this kind of match.”
Further he said,”Like the entire team, I was in the right rhythm. I tried to help the team as best as I could, to try to be effective in both attack and defence. I have been rewarded with this goal and I am very happy.”
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino,said ,“I am very happy. The team’s performance was very good. We were generally better than Real; we deserved the victory. There is still one game left [in the tie] but it is important to have taken this first step. It was a very good game.”
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Champions League PSG Real Madrid Football Sports Kolkata
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