Real Madrid vs PSG was electric. Two of the richest soccer clubs in the world faced each other in the most expected clash in the Champions League round of sixteen. And it was absolutely high voltage.
Of course, soccer fans around the planet were also itching for the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Neymar duel.
In an individual matchup that was billed by many as the past of football versus the future, it was Cristiano Ronaldo — seven years the senior — who once again delivered while Neymar’s myriad of mazy dribbles led to naught.
In the age of the meme, the superstars of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain delivered pretty on-brand performances.
Ronaldo struggled mightily in the opening 44 minutes, putting a free kick from just outside the box over in the 26’ before wasting a wonderful opportunity only two minutes later.
What crisis in Madrid? All’s well for Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid after an impressive 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday. While there’s still a second leg to play in Paris, the Real Madrid vs PSG fixture is now the defending champions’ to lose.
Paris is supposed to be the most romantic city in the world. The City of Lights, with its Eiffel Tower, Gothic architecture and delicious bread, is the ideal place for couples in love to spend Valentine’s Day. But these PSG fans either didn’t get that memo or just care more about their football club than their significant other.
The Champions League returned with two matches on Tuesday, both featuring a team with a legitimate shot at winning the title and preventing Real Madrid from a historic three-peat. One might expect Cristiano Ronaldo and Los Blancos to be watching those matches to size up the competition, or at least spend the evening preparing for the big match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo was doing none of those things. Instead, he was at home playing a game that looks like it was invented by a 6-year-old.
Sitting fourth in La Liga and bounced in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, Real Madrid heads into Wednesday’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain a wounded animal.
PSG's run-of-the-mill 4-1 victory over Sochaux in the Coupe de France took an extremely interesting turn in the final seconds when PSG goalie Kevin Trapp was sent off for a foul on a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar share a birthday: February 5. They do not celebrate in the same way. Ronaldo drinks alcohol like Donald Trump, which is to say he never touches the stuff. But the Neymar birthday party in Paris on Sunday was just what you’d expect from the most playful man in football.
According to Marca, Real Madrid vs PSG ticket resale prices have reached stratospheric amounts for their Champions League matchup on Feb. 14 at Santiago Bernabeu.
Resale apps such as StubHub show prices ranging from €300 (around $373 USD) to the staggering amount of — wait for it — €24,OOO (close to $29,900 USD).