Real Madrid News
Real Madrid positive about overturning PSG game and going through
The UEFA Champions League returned this week with a blockbuster clash for the Los Blancos. Real Madrid took on PSG at the Parc des Princes. It was a day of multiple storylines, with special emphasis on Lionel Messi facing his former rivals and Kylian Mbappe facing his dream club.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side played a very defensive game on the night. As PSG pushed continuously to find a breakthrough, the visitors made barely any effort to get on the scoresheet.
The performance of the Madrid-based side was so poor that Florentino Perez was said to be ‘ashamed’.
Ultimately, the fixture ended in a 1-0 win for the Parisiens. Kylian Mbappe scored a wonder goal in the dying minutes to cover up for Messi’s penalty miss and give the French outfit the advantage.
According to reports from ESPN (h/t Madrid Xtra), the Real Madrid players believe that they can overturn the tie vs Pochettino’s side. Considering the poor team performance and defensive tactics, the 1-0 result is not seen too badly by the dressing room.
The two teams will meet once again for the second leg scheduled on 9th March. With the game set to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu, Los Blancos will certainly have an upper hand.
Ancelotti will have to tweak his methods, for another defensive game will not suffice in the second leg. With the stakes high, Real Madrid will want to go out all guns blazing and propel themselves into the quarterfinals of the competition.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
