Top marks for Zidane and his boys
It was a great game by Real Madrid in Paris, resulting in a just victory, which could have been by a wider margin. Without Modric and Kroos, who make things tick, Zidane designed a plan to disarm PSG as he looked to make the most of the wings, especially in the second half, when the Asensio-Marcelo partnership upped their level to match that of Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez. Cristiano scored his trademark goal, a header that brought back memories of the flight and pose of Santillana. The other goal was scored by Casemiro, and it was well deserved. The Brazilian had given a sacrificial performance, as had Kovacic alongside him, ensuring that possession was managed carefully.
Madrid strong together; PSG weak at their best
Without exception, Madrid showed their team's solidarity. The opposite could be said about PSG. The anger with which Cavani plays is not shared by the rest of the group. In addition, being without Neymar diluted the available brilliance. Mbappé gave some sense of danger, but fluffed his lines when given his best chance, by shooting from a tight angle when he had Cavani free and central. At that point, with the game still goalless, it could have sparked some excitement, but he chose wrong. PSG's team image started off as weak, and in the end became depressed. This was nothing like that side that put four past Barça. Madrid disarmed them.
A Parisian Gulf-state club is no loss
And if the team was bad, the club was even worse. So much bravado beforehand, so many pleas to the ultras, the massive flares in the stadium... Gestures of a Gulf club, inappropriate when they are taking the Paris name, but largely now representing the state of Qatar. I won't talk about this insane notion, this backwards step in footballing ways. Madrid go through strengthened. At the Bernabéu they were lucky to get a good result. It was their organisation, sacrifice and play that won them the game. PSG are out and, frankly, after seeing them up close, it's not a loss to the competition with their no-good fans.