Champions LeaguePSGReal Madrid

This February, "Valentine's Day" passed without a match in the Champions League, but here that the tournament of the rich returns the day after and with what match. In Paris, PSG and Real Madrid face each other in the first round of the competition. The clash is worthy of a final, but one of the favorites for the trophy will be eliminated early. The rematch in Madrid is on March 9.

Over the past decade, we have enjoyed several meetings between the two teams. The first two of them were in the group stage in the 2015/16 season, when Real scored the only goal and collected four points. They met again in the groups two campaigns ago, when we witnessed two successful matches - a 3-0 victory for PSG in Paris and a spectacular 2-2 in Spain. Only once did the opponents meet in the elimination phase, and this happened again in the round of 16 in 2018. Real then won both games and later beat Liverpool in the final.

PSG reached this year's elimination phase as the second in their group and was the worst possible draw. The French runner-up achieved only three victories in Group A and remained one point behind the leader Manchester City. Impressive was the high performance with a total of 21 goals, 8 of which were conceded by the teams of Club Brugge, RB Leipzig and Man City. The only defeat was recorded in England.

So far from the campaign, Real Madrid has demonstrated that this is their tournament. The White Ballet was uncompromising in its group, but we must admit that the draw was relatively favorable for them. The big opponent was the Italian champion Inter, who was defeated in both matches. The only wrong step came in the first home game in the group in a historic 1: 2 defeat by debutant Sheriff Tiraspol.

In the domestic championships, both teams are at the top, rarely failing to win and the PSG championship even seems certain. After the break for international football at the end of January, the Parisians defeated two of the best teams in France - Lille and Rennes. Real Madrid played with a game in more in this short period, allowing relegation to the Copa del Rey. In the championship, only a goal was scored for success over Granada, and on Saturday the visit of Villarreal ended in a draw.

Real Madrid's appalling performance in February has its explanation, and that was the absence of Karim Benzema, who, however, is returning for the match in Paris. Guests arrive in the French capital with all the best. The hosts cannot count on the former captain of their opponent Sergio Ramos. It is very likely that Pochettino will finally be able to bet on his strike trio in the attack Neymar - Mbape - Messi, as this almost did not happen during the season.

All the prerequisites for a real spectacle are there, but I'm afraid to look for a bet for a goal fiesta, and one of the ultimate winner I do not think is a good decision. I expect tension in both camps, as the players do not show very good discipline and even in the national championships they are often decorated, despite their role as favorites and mostly easy victories. The referee of the match will be Daniele Orsato, and in Italy we know that the cards are easy to pick up. So far, the referee has shown 21 yellow cards and one red in just four matches of the season in the Champions League.