UCL Aftermath: Scary prospect for PSG and Lionel Messi but Real Madrid’s future look baptized in the Champions League mojo

Upon getting drawn alongside Real Madrid for the Champions League round of 16 back in December, a lot of football fans will feel PSG will be favourites heading into the contest, even if they had finished behind Manchester City in their group.

Real Madrid, who finished top of their group would have preferred some other opponent, as they could have met the likes of Sporting CP, Salzburg or even Benfica.

With PSG having it easy when they played Real Madrid in Group A of the competition in the 2019-20 season, winning 5-2 on aggregate including a 3-0 win in Paris, the addition of Lionel Messi to the squad brings more experience of playing in the competition, and that is thought to make them even better this time round.

Messi, who had already 40 goal contributions against Real Madrid while playing for Clasico rival, Barcelona is the player with most goal contributions against Los Blancos in history. His goals had however dried up against them, with the Argentine firing blank in each of his eight appearance against them before Wednesday night, including the game in Paris few weeks ago, where he missed a penalty.

However, it turned out to get only worse for them as Messi continues his poor form against Madrid, leaving the visitors to only count on the individual brilliance of Kylian Mbappé to get them through the night.

The French forward did gave his all but unfortunately, it was not meant to be. They also were not helped by their tough luck as Mbappé saw just one of his three goals stood, while the other two were chalked off for offside.

After going behind on the night and having an uphill task of having to score twice in order to stand a chance, Real Madrid never stop in believing even when PSG grew all over them, teasing them and making them feel the battle is already lost. They never gave in.

As confessed by hat-trick hero Karim Benzema at full time, “The Champions League is in our DNA. We won because of our mental strength.”

Rightly so it takes more than just chasing to turn it round against a team with probably the best individually talented attackers in the world. With the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappé, who all have incredibles end product against Madrid is one thing the Madrid players have to overcome when they were down.

Real Madrid are know to be on a different level when playing in the Champions League even though it hasn’t been so kind for the since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the game against PSG gives them another avenue to convince that they still got it in their arsenal.

Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior have both been on a different level since the start of the season and after they were completely shutdown in Paris, the pressure was on them to show Madrid have indeed moved on from their Portuguese talisman.

And looking to their overall display in the game, they really came prepared to the party to help Madrid put PSG away. Karim Benzema was the stole the headline but the two players played their part expertly, with Vinicius Junior also registering an assist, while giving the PSG players a tough outing on the night.

The game changed after the introduction of Edouardo Camavinga and Rodrygo Goes for the not fully fit Toni Kroos and the inconsistence Marco Asensio. The introduction of the two spurred Real Madrid on and they went to to score three goals afterwards.

This showed that big champions league performance is in the name Real Madrid and when playing against any other team in the world, they can not be written off as long as it is the Champions League.

The record winners enjoyed another night for the ages in the competition but the real battle is just starting as it is only bound to get tougher as you progress in the Champions League. But Real Madrid can be assured that they are on the right track.

Even when one considers the future, it appears Real Madrid have their home secured in young players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Fede Valverde and Edouardo Camavinga, who were all involved yesterday, giving their all to see Real progress.

Already playing a big part on night like this gives the needed experience and even more belief and confidence that will be needed when they assume leadership role at the club.

Missing the likes of Casemiro and Ferland Mendy, both who are integral part of the team, a lot of plaudit has to be given to manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who handled well the situation amidst the adversities.

With the show put on at the Bernabéu last night, they have also been able to convince Kylian Mbappé not to sign a new contract with PSG and to join them for free in the summer.

Obviously, Kylian Mbappé will not have second thoughts now.

An absolute shambolic display on the night as it was obvious Kylian Mbappé is all there is to anything good from the club’s play. PSG were beaten by Nice last weekend in the absence of Mbappé and it was evidence in the two legs against Real that PSG are just another team without him.

It is going to be more difficult for them to convince the man to stay with them as the game against Madrid was the best avenue for them to prove to Mbappé that moving from Paris to Madrid will be a downgrade but unfortunately, they only gave him more reason to leave.

To win the Champions League, you have to beat the best teams and with a star studded side Paris Saint-Germain have, one would have thought they would go far in the competition, even as far as going all the way to winning the title.

But after years of disappointments which has seen them reach the final once, Kylian Mbappé might as well concede defeat and move on to the next stage of his career, which is playing for his dream club.

With his current PSG contract expiring in the summer, Mbappé will feel the time is right to move as he had want to try and win the Champions League for PSG but efforts have prove futile over the years.

The Argentine endured horrible years with Barcelona after last winning the competition in 2015. Having suffered humiliating defeats to the likes of Liverpool and AS Roma when it appeared they have the round won with impressive wins in the first legs, they ended up being overruned in the return leg, just as it happened with Paris this season.

Outclassed and outplayed by the like of Bayern Munich and PSG Paris Saint-Germain while with Barcelona, Lionel Messi would have thought moving to PSG will help him make more fun memories in the competition but after finishing second in their group, they suffered elimination in the round that follows.

Lionel Messi left Barcelona for PSG looking to win the bigger trophies after it seems the Spanish club were on a downgrade but after their early season struggles, which saw them eliminated from the Champions League group stages, they are now starting to find their feet with new manager, Xavi Hernandez.

With the imminent departure of Kylian Mbappé in the summer, it is obvious that a player that might not be replaced is leaving and that is another set back in Messi’s bid for a fifth Champions League crown. What do Messi Messi do ? See out his contract in Paris or leave Europe and move to America in the MLS ?

It remains to be seen as no other European club will be looking to sign the player due to the massive wage demands and the declined form brought about by the old age.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi