Following Saturday convincing 4-1 home win against Real Sociedad, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti and his players thanked their fans in the most animated section behind the Bernabeu goal.
Then they returned to the dressing room before coming out to the fans one more time. This is unheard of, but it was with good reason and with an eye on what’s to follow.
Madrid host Paris St Germain in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, their biggest game of the season.
PSG won the first leg 1-0 in a game they completely dominated. Madrid need everything for the second leg if they’re to stand a chance of progressing and now, more than ever, they need the fans and players and have said so in post-match interviews.
The timing is right since the Bernabeu will host a crowd of more than 60,000 for the first time in two years. Covid lockdown, a massive stadium reconstruction and capacities being slashed by the government kept crowds down and while there’s still another year to go before the building work is fully completed, 60,000 will be sufficient to create an almighty din.
Zinedine Zidane’s side were 10 minutes from winning La Liga last season and one goal from reaching the Champions League final, despite not playing well in two semi-finals against eventual winners Chelsea – the first leg in a rain-soaked, empty, windy, reserve-team stadium which was their home last season. The difference on Wednesday is hoped to be huge.
Despite having the same players, Madrid have improved this season under new boss Ancelotti. They score more goals, play better football and win more games. The Italian fixed the problems in their defence at the start of the season, which were understandable after losing defensive mainstays Sergio Ramos and Varane.
Real Madrid 4 Real Sociedad 1 - in pictures
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Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu. AFP -
Luka Modric celebrates with teammates after scoring for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad. AFP -
Marco Asensio celebrates scoring Real Madrid's fourth goal. Getty Images -
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti celebrates with Luka Modric. EPA -
Real Madrid fullback Marcelo in action against Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi. EPA -
Luka Modric celebrates scoring Real Madrid's second goal. Reuters -
Marco Asensio celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's fourth goal against Real Sociedad. EPA -
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Real Sociedad's Joseba Zaldua battle for the ball. AP -
Vinicius Junior in action against Joseba Zaldua. AP -
Karim Benzema celebrates scoring Real Madrid's third goal. Reuters
Other pillars of great Madrid sides have stayed and remain hugely important. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and La Liga’s leading scorer Karim Benzema have been their best performers this season, along with Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior and his compatriot, central defender, Eder Militao.
At the other end of the scale, Eden Hazard, whose Madrid career has been frustrated by injury, retains a peripheral role while Madrid fans think Gareth Bale simply does care what they think about him and will leave at the end of the season.
In mitigation, Bale has been injured and ill but getting his salary off the Bernabéu books will pay the wages of three world-class players.
Bale will become Madrid’s past when his contract is up, while Madrid look to PSG’s Killian Mbappe for their future.
He’ll see the Bernabeu for himself and he’s Madrid’s number one target for this summer. The Spaniards hope they can fund it in part by what the new Bernabeu will bring in. While the capacity will stay at 81,000, the club is anticipating another €150 million in revenue a year from the rebuilt stadium that they hope will be used 300 days a year rather than the current 30.
The stadium, which enjoys a prime city centre location, will have a roof and stage concerts, american football, basketball and have more space for museums (Real Madrid’s club museum is the second most popular in the city after the Prado), sponsors, restaurants and VIP spaces. Madrid will be able to say with confidence that they play in the best football stadium on the planet and football will be the main concern.
PSG 1 Real Madrid 0: player ratings
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PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7. The Italian stopper was a spectator for the majority of the match as PSG had total control. Dealt adequately with the little action he saw. Reuters -
Achraf Hakimi – 9. The former Real Madrid player was always a threat going forward, using his pace and athleticism. Very good use of the ball and defended well. AP Photo -
Marquinhos – 7. The Brazilian looked comfortable all night. Was calm and composed in possession and defended well when called upon. AP -
Presnel Kimpembe – 7. Wasn’t asked to defend much, but did his job and contributed with the ball, feeding his midfielders and looking to play through the lines. EPA -
Nuno Mendes – 6. The Portuguese left-back was an attacking threat, supporting. Got played around a couple of times, but kept Marco Asensio in check. EPA -
Danilo Pereira - 7. Solid performance in the middle of the park. Good, simple use of the ball and helped to control the game by breaking down Madrid’s attacks. EPA -
Leandro Paredes – 9. Like a metronome in the PSG midfield, the Argentina international controlled the tempo of the game, and was always in the right place to break up play and set up an attack. EPA -
Marco Verratti – 8. The Italian international was his usual tenacious self and alongside Paredes and Danilo controlled the game for PSG in the first half. Too much energy for his Madrid counterparts. EPA -
Angel Di Maria – 5. Wasteful when it mattered, poor decision making in and around the Madrid box. The Argentine missed the best chance of the first half when he failed to get over the ball, firing over from Mbappe’s cross. Replaced by Neymar after 72 minutes. AP -
Lionel Messi – 7. The seven-time Ballon D'or winner was always a threat, finding space in between the lines. Seemed to come alive after his penalty miss and played some lovely through balls for Neymar and Mbappe. Reuters -
Kylian Mbappe – 8. Used his pace well, getting in behind early on a couple of occasions and was always willing to test Carvajal. Got some success, but needed to find a better end product. His perseverance was rewarded, however when he scored PSG’s deserved winner deep into injury time. Reuters -
the after latching onto a lovely through ball from Messi. HIs effort just drifted wide of the far post. Nice back heel to Mbappe in the lead up to the goal. Getty Images -
SUB: Idrissa Gueye (Danilo, 87’) N/A – The Africa Cup of nations winner was introduced towards the end. Did little wrong in his short cameo. EPA -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois – 8. The Belgian international had a busy evening, making multiple saves from Mbappe and dealing with sustained PSG pressure. Excellent penalty save to deny Messi. Couldn’t do anything about the goal. AFP -
Dani Carvajal – 5. Toughest job of the night for the Spain international, playing directly against Mbappe. Some good recovery tackles, but got squared up too many times, even with help from Modric and Asensio. EPA -
David Alaba – 8. The former Bayern centre-back had to be alive to the danger of Messi, but he defended well and won his fair share of individual battles. His timing of tackles around the penalty box was excellent. Getty Images -
Eder Militao – 7. The Brazilian defended well under pressure and showed decent use of the ball. AP -
Ferland Mendy – 6. Good battle with Hakimi, but couldn’t get himself forward to be as potent an attacking threat as he would’ve liked. EPA -
Toni Kroos – 6. Good strike from 30 yards that just dipped over the bar midway through the second half, but a quiet night for the German playmaker as Madrid’s midfield were dominated. Getty Images -
Luka Modric – 6. Uncharacteristically wasteful in possession at times and did most of his good work in his own half helping out defensively. EPA -
Casemiro – 8. Picked up a booking in the first half which will keep him out of the second leg but gave everything he had for the rest of the match. Madrid’s best performer. AP -
Vinicius Jr – 5. Ineffective going forward. Got into some good positions on rare Madrid attacks but made poor decisions. AP -
Karim Benzema – 6. Didn’t get much change from PSG’s defence. Also didn’t get much service, but Madrid would’ve been looking for him to hold the ball up more and link play better than he did. AP -
Marco Asensio – 6. Lots of effort defensively, but didn’t affect the game in the attacking third. No real penetration and a lack of a final pass was the story of Madrid’s night. EPA -
SUB: Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal, 72’) N/A – Should’ve done better for the goal, didn’t get his body in the right position to defend. EPA -
SUB: Rodrygo (Asensio, 72’) N/A – Had no real impact on the game. AP -
SUB: Eden Hazard (Vinicius, 72’) – Came on for Vinicius with eight minutes left, but couldn’t influence the proceedings. EPA -
SUB: Fede Valverde (Modric, 87’) – Replaced Modric late on, and you could argue his presence was missed from the start. AP -
SUB: Gareth Bale (Benzema, 97’) – Got three minutes at the end, and again did well in his short cameo as he continues to earn more game time. EPA
Madrid were outclassed in the first leg in France, the only surprise being that it took until the 94th minute for PSG – and Mbappe – to score. They’ll return with former Madrid players Angel Di Maria, who is liked by his former fans, Keylor Navas, who is loved, and Lionel Messi, who is not. The Argentine is feared since he played some of his greatest Barcelona games in the Bernabeu.
It’s Madrid who need a great game. Ancelotti has said publicly that his side need to press higher after being too defensive in the Parc de Princes. Madrid, who usually play a 4-3-3, started this season pressing higher before changing.
Ancelotti is popular but it will be a huge task for his side, who’ll be without Casemiro and Mendy, while there are doubts about Toni Kroos. Luca Modric, 36, remains a key player.
Madrid used to think they could come back against any team at home and, aided by Cristiano Ronaldo, they often did.
They’re no longer the pre-eminent force of European football, nor are one of the three biggest clubs in the world ready to be sidelined. And this time, home really should give them an advantage.
