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#3 Gianluigi Donnarumma
Former AC Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma joined PSG as a free agent ahead of the 2021-22 season. The tall Italian has performed decently since moving to the French capital, producing numerous important saves over the course of the campaign.
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He demonstrated his shot-stopping skills last night as well but made one huge mistake that allowed Real Madrid to crawl back into the tie.
His fingertip save to deny Benzema in the first half was exceptional as very few keepers in the world would’ve been able to keep it out. Unfortunately, his first-half heroics were marred by his poor work on the ball in the 61st minute.
Instead of clearing Marco Verratti’s back pass, the Italian tried to dribble his way out of trouble. Benzema expertly put pressure on him, practically compelling the keeper to give the ball away to Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian cut the ball back for the Frenchman, who easily found the back of the net. That mistake is bound to give the PSG custodian quite a few sleepless nights.
#2 Marquinhos
Rated as one of the best centre-backs in the world, Marquinhos looked like a shadow of his confident self last night. The PSG skipper was careless in the first half itself, which turned into lunacy in the second 45.
In the 28th minute, the Brazilian tried an unnecessarily extravagant flick in his own box, which was intercepted by David Alaba. Fortunately for Marquinhos, the Austrian’s low cross into the area was parried away by an alert Nuno Mendes.
The PSG No.5 played a part in blindsiding Gianluigi Donnarumma for Benzema’s second goal of the night. The Brazil international slid in to block the Frenchman’s shot but ended up deceiving his own keeper. Benzema’s strike took a significant deflection off his slide and beat the keeper comprehensively.
A couple of minutes later, Marquinhos found himself locked in a tussle with Vinicius Junior. Instead of clearing the ball calmly, the 27-year-old waywardly put it in Benzema’s path, who finished it instinctively to win the game for Real Madrid.
A shocking display from the experienced defender.
#1 Lionel Messi
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi was back in a familiar setting on Wednesday, back at the Whites’ fortress, the Santiago Bernabeu. Playing at the home of his former club’s arch-rivals, the Argentine should have been extra motivated to make an impact.
Instead, he disappeared when his inexperienced side needed him the most, barely doing anything of note in the final stretch of the match.
Messi operated in a deeper role for PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 return leg. The 34-year-old pulled the strings from the middle of the park, plugging the gap between midfield and attack without a hitch in the first half.
He also did his defensive work quite well, registering five recoveries. The former Barcelona star had three shots on goal, with one of them coming from a clever bit of play between him and Neymar.
After the hour mark, Messi practically vanished before everyone’s eyes. While the 34-year-old Karim Benzema inspired a Real Madrid comeback, PSG’s veteran superstar couldn’t do anything but watch on in desperation.
He did attempt a free-kick from range, but that never looked like troubling Thibaut Courtois. Paris Saint-Germain fans ought to be disappointed with the performance of their highest-paid player, and rightfully so.
