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In a blockbuster Champions League fixture, PSG host Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday. The two clubs have been in great form this season and the fixture should make for an interesting watch.
Real Madrid have won the competition a record 13 times while PSG have made it to the final just once. The hosts finished second in Group A while Madrid topped Group D to set up a date with the Ligue 1 giants.
Both sides have lost just one game in their group stage campaigns and should head into this encounter with a certain level of confidence. In their 10 meetings so far Madrid lead 4-3 in wins while three games have ended in a draw.
The two sides squared off in the round of 16 in the 2017-18 edition, with both games ending in a win for Real Madrid. This time though, the two-legged tie is expected to be a closely contested one.
The two sides boast some of the best players in the competition in their ranks, so this game should be a closely contested one. As the stage is set for two behemoths to clash in the round of 16 first leg fixture, here we take a look at how a hypothetical combined XI would like.
Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid
There are a lot of top-quality goalkeepers who will be in contention to start for either side here. Keylor Navas, PSG's current No.1 has won a lot of trophies during his spell with both Real Madrid and PSG. EURO 2020 winner Gianluigi Donnarumma is also an option for Mauricio Pochettino.
The visiting side do not have much of an option when it comes to the goalkeeping department and will field Thibaut Courtois between the sticks. The Belgian keeper has been in great form this season and helped Madrid maintain the second-best defensive record in the league, conceding 20 goals.
He has not won the Champions League so far, finishing as runner-up in the 2013-14 campaign with Chelsea. He made it to the team of the season in the previous edition and is our starting GK for this hypothetical combined XI.
Defenders
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi | PSG
Achraf Hakimi is one of the few players who now starts with PSG having played for Real Madrid earlier. The Moroccan right-back is one of the best attack-minded full-backs of his generation. Though he did not feature a lot for the visiting side, he did earn the winner's medal in the 2017-18 Champions League with Real Madrid.
He has three goals and three assists in Ligue 1 for the hosts this season but is yet to pick up an assist or a goal in the Champions League in six group stage appearances.
Centre-back: Marquinhos | PSG
Marquinhos is one of the two players to have played every single minute in the Champions League for the hosts this season. He also ranks second in terms of playtime in Ligue 1 behind Kylian Mbappe for PSG.
The Brazilian defender is one of the best in his position in the world, making 1.7 tackles per 90 in the Champions League and also making 5.5 clearances per game.
He has also contributed at the other end of the pitch, scoring three goals in the league and picking up one assist in the continental competition.
Centre-back: Éder Militão | Real Madrid
Two of Real Madrid's central defenders departed last summer as Raphael Varane joined Manchester United while Sergio Ramos joined PSG. In the absence of two veteran defenders, Eder Militao has stepped up this season.
In both La Liga and the Champions League, he is the outfield player with the most minutes under his belt this season. He has won more aerial duels in the Champions League than any other player for the club (2.7 per 90).
He is expected to start against PSG and will have the task of stopping Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi from finding the back of the net here.
Left-back: Nuno Mendes
Both sides have some problems at left-back, with Marcelo struggling to regain his form from the previous campaigns and Ferland Mendy struggling with injury at the moment.
Juan Bernat has also struggled with injuries this season, meaning on-loan defender Nuno Mendes gets the nod to start here. He has started in five group stage games in the Champions League and has impressed with his runs down the flanks.
Midfielders
Central midfielder: Marco Verratti | PSG
PSG have one of the best attacks in Europe at the moment but they are not so solid in midfield. Marco Verratti is the only standout player in the middle of the park for Pochettino. He is a guaranteed starter for the French side and is expected to have a great duel against Casemiro in midfield.
The Italian midfielder is equally adept in both his defensive duties and while going forward. While he does not score or provide assists very often, he is crucial to PSG's attacking buildup.
He recovered from an injury layoff earlier this season and having returned to full fitness, adds some much-needed flair to PSG's midfield. While he is without an assist in the Champions League, he has picked up one in the league so far.
He will be the one to watch out for in this game.
Central midfielder: Toni Kroos | Real Madrid
Toni Kroos is one of the best midfielders of his generation. Regardless of how his side perform, the German midfielder usually delivers a top-notch performance. He is a supreme pass master and has maintained a 95.8% pass success rate in the Champions League.
He has also scored two goals in the competition, including a left-footed shot from outside the box against Inter Milan. He has also completed 95% of his passes in La Liga this season, and will look to be the key creative force against PSG in this game.
His ability to dictate play makes him stand out in midfield and he is a starter in any given starting XI.
Defensive midfielder: Casemiro | Real Madrid
Casemiro is one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation and provides an effective shield to his defenders. The Brazilian midfielder has posted even better defensive stats than his defenders this season.
He makes more successful tackles per game in La Liga (3.1) than any of his teammates and also leads the tackles' chart in the Champions League. (2.3 per 90).
Casemiro has helped Real Madrid to four Champions League trophies so far and remains a key player in the search for their 14th continental title. He has also completed 91.4% of his passes in the continental competition this season.
Forwards
Left-Winger: Kylian Mbappe | PSG
PSG forward Kylian Mbappe is one of the most in-form players across Europe at the moment. He has scored 12 goals in Ligue 1 while also having nine assists to his name.
In just five games in the Champions League, he has four goals and four assists. He will be the one player to watch out for in this fixture and is expected to have a good duel against Dani Carvajal on the left flank.
PSG suffered their only defeat in their last eight outings against Nice in the Coupe de France in January. Mbappe started from the bench in that game, so it is evidence that the Frenchman is a key player for the home side.
Right-winger: Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid
One of the many Brazilian players who will be featuring in this game, Vinicius Junior is expected to be one of Madrid's greatest attacking threats in its game. Karim Benzema is facing a race against time to regain fitness and might not start here, so the young attacker might be the player to score or assist against PSG.
He has scored 12 goals in La Liga this season and five assists as well, while also finding the back of the net twice in the Champions League.
He always possessed a great turn of pace but has improved his finishing a lot this season and is expected to cause a lot of trouble for PSG defenders.
Center-forward: Lionel Messi | PSG
Karim Benzema would be a no-brainer for the lone striker role in our hypothetical XI but the Frenchman's participation here remains doubtful, so Lionel Messi leads the lineup.
Despite a slow start in Ligue 1 with PSG, he has enjoyed a great run in the Champions League, scoring five goals in five games. The player has four UCL titles to his name and it is this experience that will be helpful in such a high-stakes fixture.
He has hit some form in recent fixtures, scoring three goals and picking up four assists in his last seven games. PSG will be hoping to have their star player step up against his old foes. Messi has scored more goals against Real Madrid than any other player in history and will be hoping to add more goals to his tally.
