Real Madrid were surprisingly held to a Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 draw in the Champions League Group A match on Wednesday (11/27).
In the first round Madrid saved a number of senior players such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale as well as a rising young player, Rodrygo. While PSG also did not put Neymar and Edinson Cavani since the early minutes.
Striker Mauro Icardi failed to make good use of Kylian Mbappe’s gastric pass in the 13th minute. Icardi’s header after receiving Mbappe’s pass was still hovering over the Thibaut Courtois crossbar.
Icardi’s header was met with Madrid’s attack through Toni Kroos. In the 15th minute Kroos fired a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but only thinly over the PSG crossbar.
In the first half Madrid could lead first through Karim Bensema’s goal in the 17th minute utilizing a rebound ball from Isco’s shot.
Despite winning 1-0 in the first round, Madrid did not relax the attacks in the second round. At the beginning of the second half Madrid immediately get the opportunity to increase the score through Benzema who use Marcelo’s cross. But the cheat from the former Lyon player could be blocked by goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Toni Kroos really placed as an alternative attack for Madrid when the front lines are blunt. The German midfielder seems to have the task of breaking the deadlock through speculative kicks.
In the 58th minute when the attack line had difficulty dismantling the PSG defense, Kroos came in with a shot from outside the penalty box, but still narrowly off the left side of the opponent’s goal.
Navas again made an important save while holding on to Isco in the 61st minute. Isco has a good chance to increase Madrid’s advantage after receiving a breakthrough bait from Marcelo.
The entry of Neymar in the second half has not produced significant results for the PSG attack line. Until the 75th minute Neymar recorded a shot just once blocked by the opponent’s defense.
Benzema scored his second goal against PSG after receiving Marcelo’s pass while taking advantage of the back line of PSG. When welcoming a cross from Marcelo, Benzema in a position not guarded by the opposing player. The French striker calmly headed to the Navas goal.
But Benzema’s goal was immediately responded neatly by Mbappe. Mbappe scored a goal back in the 81st minute thanks to a Pablo Sarabia pass. Mbappe’s goal was created thanks to a communication error between goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Raphael Varane.
PSG does not require a long time to be able to equalize. Two minutes after Mbappe’s goal, it was Sarabia’s turn to score Les Parisiens’ second goal in the match. The match ended with a 2-2 draw for Madrid and PSG.
