'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAAp//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAECEAAAAH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAC//xAAgEAACAgEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBQAGIRIUIkGS/9oACAEBAAE/AM1sp6+air0RTjgCRQlH6nDkQh3bkcElW+tVNhYmOpCk9alJMqKHftF8m9nX/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAC/9oACAECAQE/AHIX/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACA//aAAgBAwEBPwA0sz//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was a dramatic finale at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid blew a 2 goal lead late on in the encounter to share the spoils with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Los Blancos were the dominant side for much of the encounter, but they had to settle for a point and second place in the group after a late flurry of goals for the Parisians.
In the 17th minute, Karim Benzema gave Madrid the lead, as he tapped the ball home after an Isco shot came off the bar. The Spanish capital club went on to have a couple of chances but just couldn't beat their erstwhile goal guardian, Keylor Navas.
However, all that resistance was blown away in the 79th minute of play, as Benzema was on the end of an excellent attacking manoeuvre, heading the ball home to double his side's advantage.
Two minutes after Benzema's brace, PSG found a way back into the encounter, as miscommunication between Thibaut Courtois and Raphael Varane saw Kylian Mbappe put the ball beyond the Madrid goal line with ease.
A few minutes later, PSG got their second, with a Julian Draxler shot coming off Varane and falling kindly to substitute Pablo Sarabia, who fired his shot past Courtois for the equaliser.
In this article, we analyse a few reasons why the game ended in a draw.
#3 Missed opportunities
It was a truly dominant performance from Real Madrid is many ways, as they kept the dreaded PSG attack machine impotent for much of the encounter, while continuing to bombard Thomas Tuchel's backline over and over.
It was a game Los Blancos needed to win in order to advance as group winners, and the Spanish capital club got the ball rolling superbly by taking the lead early on in the encounter. However, many chances to double their advantage as well as go on to possibly triple the advantage went begging, as the Madrid attack constantly spurned golden chances.
Madrid finally doubled the advantage late on, but there was always a looming danger of the PSG attack spurring into life at some point, and leaving destruction in its wake.
Los Blancos had a total of 27 shots in the encounter, with 12 troubling Keylor Navas' goal. Those are huge numbers, and against a premium opposition like PSG, every moment in front of goal ought to be taken with aplomb. In the end, Zinedine Zidane's men were punished for their thriftiness in front of goal.
Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers
#2 Defensive frailty and an over-reliance on Karim Benzema
There was a time Real Madrid seemed to be lost without the golden touch of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, and they desperately needed a new hero. Well, Karim Benzema has since stepped up, and he's the one constantly providing the answers for Los Blancos upfront this term.
However, the Spanish capital club now seems too reliant on the Frenchman, and in this encounter, it proved somewhat costly, as many chances went begging, with his teammates constantly drawing up blanks and inviting a PSG comeback.
Also, Real Madrid's penchant for shambolic defending reared its ugly head in this encounter, with their backline pressing the self destruct button over and over late on.
Late in the first half, Thibaut Courtois was let off the hook by VAR after being originally shown a red card for a sliding challenge on Mauro Icardi. Then late in the second half, miscommunication between the Belgian goalkeeper and Raphael Varane invited PSG's first goal and sparked the comeback.
Los Blancos will need to step up in attack and defence if they are to beat the competition's more established sides.
#1 Clinical PSG
The characteristically ruthless PSG attack was gagged for a huge chunk of the encounter, with Real Madrid starving the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi of the ball for much of the matchup. Neymar was also introduced, but he too was kept relatively quiet.
However, the threat of a PSG resurgence always loomed, with Los Blancos continually spurning chances and remaining within touching distance of PSG.
True to the prediction of many, Zinedine Zidane's men were punished ruthlessly, as the irrepressible Mbappe pounced on a blip in the Los Blancos rearguard to ignite a late comeback.
A few minutes later, substitute Pablo Sarabia was alert and on hand to stab home the equaliser, putting all the hard work Zidane's men had put in to shut the ruthless PSG attack all game in vain. The French giants were restricted to only 4 shots on target in the game, but they made those meagre numbers count in the end.
