Plenty of agendas as PSG superstars face Real Madrid test in Champions League

PSG manager Pochettino knows he will be judged on how Messi, Mbappe and Co fare in European football's premier club competition

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi at the club's Camp des Loges training ground on Monday, Febraury 14, 2022, on the eve of their Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Madrid. AFP

Left to right Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti during training. AFP

PSG forward Neymar and midfielder Ander Herrera during training. AFP

PSG's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi at training. AFP

PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar. AFP

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Neymar during training. AFP

PSG forward Lionel Messi warms-up during training. AFP

PSG's Brazilian attacker Neymar during training. Reuters

PSG's Lionel Messi during training. Reuters

PSG's Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappe, Ander Herrera and Leandro Paredes training ahead of their Champions League game against Real Madrid. Reuters

PSG attacker Kylian Mbappe. Reuters

PSG's Kylian Mbappe hugs club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. AFP

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino and his assistant coach Jesus Perez during training. Reuters

PSG full-back Achraf Hakimi during training. Reuters

PSG's Kylian Mbappe with Leandro Paredes during training. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain attackers Neymar and Kylian Mbappe during training. AFP

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino during training. Reuters

Real Madrid won the inaugural European Champions Cup at the Parc des Princes. In the 66 years since, they have collected another 12. They lifted their first of this century in Paris. In the long history of the European Cup, it would be hard to point to any time, until now, when Madrid visited the capital of France and were considered underdogs.

Among the reasons Paris Saint-Germain, who have never won the competition, are deemed narrow favourites to progress from their last-16 collision — whose first leg takes place at the Parc on Tuesday — would be Lionel Messi, the greatest nemesis of Madrid’s modern history.

Another would be Kylian Mbappe, the footballer Madrid tried to prise from Paris six months ago, and have not stopped pursuing.

You could add PSG’s former Madrid stars, Keylor Navas, Angel Di Maria and Achraf Hakimi, who won five Champions League titles between them before joining the procession of players with European Cup-expertise to have been enrolled on to PSG’s generous wage bill. By the second leg, if he recovers fitness, Sergio Ramos, four-time European champion with Madrid, may be up against his old club, too.

You could mention Mauricio Pochettino, who is just over a year into his tenure as PSG manager, and who in the past has been sounded out by Madrid about managing at the Bernabeu, but at the same time recall that Carlo Ancelotti, at Madrid for a second spell, quit as PSG coach nine years ago to join Real.

History has a bearing, as Pochettino said, but it need not be overwhelming. “I don’t think either side is under more pressure than the other,” he said.

“We respect Madrid as one of the greatest clubs in the world, and their record in the Champions League speaks for itself, beyond players or managers, and shows the strength of the club. PSG have spent more than 50 years hoping for this title, so that makes us the challengers.”

Pochettino’s choices on Tuesday are many, beginning with whether to select Navas, 35, in goal or pick Gianluigi Donnarumma, 22. One is a multiple European club champion, the other was signed last summer after he helped guide Italy to becoming Europe’s national champions.

Neither has been clearly earmarked as first-choice. “It’s the same top level whichever goalkeeper plays,” said Pochettino, “because we have two great keepers.” The coexistence, the sharing of the role had, he added, “worked so far.”

Such are the luxuries of selection in key parts of the pitch for a PSG manager.

Up front, there are fewer dilemmas. Mbappe, PSG’s match-winner once again at the weekend with his stoppage time goal against Rennes, is a given, and the focus of intense attention because of the crossroads he is approaching in his brilliant career.

Lille 1-5 PSG: player ratings

LILLE RATINGS: Ivo Grbic - 3: The Croatian made dreadful error to gift Danilo an early goal then completely missed a corner that allowed Kimpembe to put PSG back in front. Fooled by skill of Messi for the third goal. Also beaten by deflected Danilo strike and Mbappe wonder goal. EPA

Zeki Celik - 4: Turkish defender gave away a penalty last time out against Brest and was skinned by Mendes ahead of PSG’s opener. Gave Mbappe time and space to curl home stunning fifth goal. AFP

Sven Botman - 5: Headed a corner just over bar but did score in the 28th minute with he hooked a volley from Ben Arfa's cross. Great tackle to stop marauding Mbappe only to see ball end up with Messi who finished in style. A struggle for the Dutch defender. AFP

Jose Fonte - 5: Usually reliable partnership with Botman was shaky and they both found going tough against PSG’s all-star attack. AFP

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 5: Did OK in first half against Di Maria and one of the Swede’s kicks resulted in the Argentine going off injured. Given a harder time by Draxler and Hakimi in second half. Reuters

Jonathan Bamba - 4: Made no impact on the game until he had weak shot easily saved by Donnarumma just before the hour mark. Getty

Benjamin Andre - 5: Midfielder, who was sent off in brain-dead fashion against Marseille last month, couldn’t get a grip in centre of park as likes of Paredes and Verratti dominated proceedings. EPA

Amadou Onana - 6: Rose above PSG defence to head over corner after eight minutes then had side-foot volley saved by Donnarumma soon after. Unlucky deflection on Danilo shot for PSG’s fourth. AP

Jonathan David - 4: Lille’s top scorer this season got little or no change out of Kimpembe or Marquinhos. Reuters

Hatem Ben Arfa - 7: First start for the 34-year-old former PSG player who was denied early goal by Kimpembe block. Sensational change of pace to beat Di Maria and supply pass for Botman goal. Guilty of losing possession too easily on occasions but was Lille’s best attacking spark – the story of his career. AFP

Timothy Weah - 4: US international rounded Donnarumma in first half but then kicked the ball against his own leg that allowed PSG to block shot at near post - but offside flag would have ruled out goal anyway. Offered little threat. AP

SUBS: Domagoj Bradaric – (On for on for Weah 69’) 5: Booked for clumsy foul on Mbappe. AP Angel Gomes – (On for Ben Arfa 69’) 5: Thankless task coming on right after fifth PSG goal and shot wide when unmarked in front of goal in 88th minute. Edon Zhegrova – (On for Bamba 86’) N/A.

PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6: Produced fine stop from Onana volley minutes after PSG had taken the lead but Italy keeper should have done better with Botman’s leveller. AP

Achraf Hakimi - 7: Full-back returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Morocco could have put PSG 2-1 up but dragged shot wide after being teed-up by Messi. Still searching for form that helped Inter Milan win Serie A last season but a better showing here. AP

Presnel Kimpembe - 8: Important challenge to deflect Ben Arfa shot over bar early on. Capitalised on second Grbic howler to put PSG back in front. Class performance from France defender. Reuters

Marquinhos - 8: Defender, who scored in the corresponding fixture in Paris in October, was composed figure at back and strolled through game. Should have made it 6-1 but volleyed over. Reuters

Nuno Mendes - 7: Wasted great chance for early goal when he dragged a shot well wide after another tee-up by Messi. Skipped past Celic and the cross that followed resulted in first Grbic blunder. Reuters

Marco Verratti - 8: Italian bagged a double in rout of Reims in PSG’s last Ligue 1 game and is crucial player for them. So good at retaining possession under pressure, linked up well with Messi and Mbappe – supplied pass for French attacker’s wonderful fifth goal for PSG. AFP

Leandro Paredes - 7: Argentine, who missed from spot in French Cup shootout defeat to Nice last week, dispossessed Ben Arfa and continued run to supply final ball for Danilo to score fourth goal. Getty

Danilo Pereira - 8: Close-range finish after disastrous spill from Lille goalkeeper Grbic to put PSG in front and his deflected shot made it 4-1. All-action display from Portuguese midfielder. EPA

Angel Di Maria - 6: Curled shot over bar after 20 minutes. Skinned by Ben Arfa before Botman’s goal and goes down far too easily aat times. Was on receiving end of a couple of actual kicks from Lille defenders, though, and limped off before break. AFP

Lionel Messi - 9: First league start since before Christmas and ran the show. Curled left-foot strike from edge of area just wide of target after 18 minutes. His inswinging corner set-up Kimpembe goal then produced sublime delicate finish to put PSG 3-1 up. Hit woodwork with wonderful free-kick at end of first half. Reuters

Kylian Mbappe - 8: Not much of a sniff until late in first half when he sent shot way over bar and then his surging run led to Messi making it 3-1. Lashed volley over the top just after break and shot into side netting minutes after that. Sensational right-foot finish into top corner to make it 5-1. EPA

SUBS: Julian Draxler – (On for Di Maria 45’) 7: Made a good impression after coming on. Lovely bit of skill down right wing in run-up to PSG’s fourth goal. EPA

Thilo Kehrer – (On for Kimpembe 79’) N/A. Xavi Simons – (On for Paredes 85’) N/A. AP

Out of contract in June, he knows that Madrid, a club he has admired since childhood, have a new deal waiting for him if he wants it. So do PSG, who turned down an offer of €200 million from Madrid last August.

Messi, meanwhile, will face Madrid for the 46th time in his career, and the first not representing Barcelona, where he swung the course of countless clasicos over his 17 years as a Barca player.

That Messi has not consistently reproduced his Barcelona form at PSG, who he joined last summer, can scarcely be considered a problem when he has set up seven goals in his last eight Ligue 1 games, and while PSG hold a 13-point lead at the top of the French table.

But Pochettino knows his management will be squarely judged on how effectively he shapes his star-studded forward line into a Champions League-winning unit.

“These are big nights and Leo can bring a lot to them,” said his coach. “He can play a crucial role, and I can see he’s very motivated.”

For some of Tuesday's game, PSG could line up their full-strength attacking trident, Neymar having trained again on Monday to confirm he is in the final stages of recovery from the ankle injury that has kept him out since the end of November. He is in contention to start on the bench.

Madrid have a major doubt over the fitness of their leading scorer Karim Benzema, which may mean a return to Champions League action for the first time in nearly two years for Gareth Bale.

Bale, a €100m signing in 2013, and winner of four European Cups with Madrid before becoming a marginal presence at the club, was recalled to Ancelotti’s starting XI in the 0-0 draw at Villarreal at the weekend, having not appeared since August.

The Welshman performed impressively, making a strong case for adding his name to the several superstars who line-up in Paris.

Eden Hazard rounds Elche goalkeeper Axel Werner to score Real Madrid's winner in the Copa del Rey last-16 clash at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on Thursday, January 20, 2022. AFP

Eden Hazard scores Real Madrid's second goal against Elche. AFP

Real Madrid players celebrate after Eden Hazard's goal. AFP

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti congratulates Eden Hazard after the match. AFP

Isco celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's equaliser. AP

Referee Jorge Figueroa sends off Real's Marcelo. Getty

Real Madrid's Isco celebrates with teammates after scoring. AFP

Elche's Gonzalo Verdu celebrates after scoring. EPA

Referee Jorge Figueroa sends off Pere Milla of Elche. Getty

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. Getty