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When the chips are down, everyone berates you. They stamp on you, count you out. Before last night, Real Madrid were facing the same predicament. After being dumped out of the Copa Del Rey by Leganes—and that, too, at home—and trailing league leaders Barcelona by 17 points, the Blancos were down.
Against PSG, however, they showed that they might be down, but they are not out just yet. Before the encounter, most were expecting PSG to raze the Madrid outfit. In fact, their attacking trio of Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar is perhaps the best in Europe.
And against a Madrid defence which has been sorry for the most part of the season, this was just supposed to be an encounter with a raging bull and a red cloth.
In the end, however, the red cloth turned out to be a decoy; behind it was a bazooka waiting to pound the bull. And this bazooka can go on to win the Champions League.
And here are 5 reasons why…
#5 Asensio coming to life
After his breathtaking goals against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, he seemed to have faded away within all the hype that surrounded him like a nebulous fog. Despite Madrid going through a bad phase and opening up slots in the starting XI as a result, he failed to stamp his name on it.
Even against Paris-Saint Germain, Zidane opted to go for Isco instead of the Mallorcan. Once he was brought in, however, he showed what he could do. On a night where two of the best young players shared the same pitch—Mbappe and Asensio—it was the Spaniard that outshone the Frenchman.
His assists to Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo were a work of art. It might have looked simple to the naked eye, but the way he garnered space for himself and served the drilling cross into the box was awe-inspiring.
Asensio could be to this Real Madrid what Isco was to them last year—and that would just ensure their title win.
#4 Sergio Ramos is the defender everyone thinks he is
Just last week, he was rated as the most overrated defender here. And this perhaps still stands true, but that is a discussion for another day. What has to be in focus now is his almost flawless performance against Neymar and co.
The Spanish captain made two unbelievable blocks to save two sure goals. If those had gone in, PSG would have flown home with an advantage of three away goals—something from which Madrid could perhaps never have come back.
The problem with Ramos is that he isn’t really the most consistent defender in the world. In fact, he is almost always a red card waiting to happen and also often gets pulled out of his position. Against PSG, however, he was sublime—much akin to what he was against Juventus in the final of the Champions League last year.
In Champions League knock-out stages, we see the best of Ramos. And at his best, he is perhaps the best in the world.
#3 Zidane’s job is on the line
It is a shame that a manager who has won the Champions League two times, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup once, Club World Cup and European Super Cup twice in just over 2 years has to worry about his job because his team have underperformed in the league.
But such is the world. Time changes fast and with it, consumes the best of the best. Knowing Zidane, however, he will ensure that his job stays—and the only way that can happen now is by winning the Champions League.
It is the same tournament that landed him Madrid’s job on a permanent basis after he took over from Rafa Benitez, in a move that seemed more like a trial or interim run for the Frenchman.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo is a different player
In the league, his state is just sad, to say the least. With 11 goals from 18 games, he has been an absent figure for the most part of the campaign. It is for this reason that Madrid find themselves closer to 5th placed Villarreal than second-placed Atletico Madrid.
In the Champions League, however, he is a beast. In only 7 games, he has scored 11 goals in Europe’s premier competition. With his brace against the Parisians, he has touched double figures in the competition for the 7th time—a feat that no player has touched as of yet.
If he kicks on in the same vein for the rest of the tournament, then there is a good chance for the Galacticos to win the tournament for the third consecutive time.
#1 Real Madrid and Champions League is an unbreakable love story
This is a trophy that eluded the Whites for 12 years. And those 12 years were the worst for the club. From 2002 to 2014, the Madridistas had to wait for the most beloved 10th title. In the end, they achieved it against Atletico Madrid in the most dramatic fashion.
In the last four seasons, Real Madrid have won the title three times. In the tournament’s history, they have won it a record 12 times.
So, it is safe to admit that the Champions League trophy is Real Madrid’s favourite lover. Their bond is so strong that no matter what, they always find each other. And they will once again find themselves this season too.
