Paris ready to silence Ronaldo and Real Madrid
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Article summary
Laurent Blanc says last season's victory over Barcelona is cause for Paris hope ahead of the visit of Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, as two sides still unbeaten in 2015/16 meet.
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Article body
- Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid meet having each won first two Group A games
- The teams are two of only three in the competition still unbeaten in 2015/16
- Cristiano Ronaldo became Madrid's all-time leading scorer at the weekend
- Laurent Blanc says there is no specific "anti-Ronaldo plan"
- Madrid coach Rafael Benítez expecting a "great match against a great side"
Possible lineup
Paris: Trapp/Sirigu; Aurier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Verratti, Matuidi, Thiago Motta; Di María, Ibrahimović, Cavani.
Out: David Luiz (knee), Kimpembe (ankle)
Doubtful: Trapp (thigh), Verratti (calf)
Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modrić; Isco, Ronaldo, Kovačić.
Out: Carvajal (ankle), James Rodríguez (thigh), Pepe (muscular problem), Benzema (hamstring), Bale (hamstring)
Laurent Blanc, Paris coach
This match will be special and great for the prestige of our club: we're playing against one of Europe's greatest clubs. When you compare our squads, it's difficult to say it's equal. Just look at their trophy room: Madrid are a top team in Europe; Paris are not there yet.
But we can win. Because we're at home, because we have quality, because we already beaten one of Europe's greatest – Barcelona. We need to respect our opponents but we can do it. It's not a decisive match, although winning our group is a very important objective – but it's not decisive yet.
I love everything about Cristiano Ronaldo. Just look at his statistics: he's one of two extraterrestrials gracing modern football. He's good in all departments: he's fast, takes on defenders, scores goals. So yes, we'll have an eye on him. There will be no anti-Ronaldo plan, nothing specific – just to be vigilant at all times.
Madrid seem happy to defend deep and launch counterattacks, because they have the players to do so: they fly like the wind! At times you think you're on the brink of scoring against them, and ten seconds later you concede. They are very efficient.
Rafael Benítez, Real Madrid coach
Over the last few years they have won everything on the domestic front and proven they're the best team in France. On top of that, they have bought some very good players, so we'll take up this challenge with a lot of enthusiasm. All the ingredients are there for a great match against a great team. This will be a game between equals.
Luka Modrić has trained for the last few days. If he's part of the travelling squad, he's available. We'll see and take our decision after training. Real Madrid players always need to be ready to play and that's the same with Jesé. I don't know who will replace Gareth Bale and I won't know until tomorrow.
It's true we have several injured players, but we can count on Real Madrid's greatest goalscorer in European football and perhaps football history. He's up there with Pelé, maybe.
Weekend results
Bastia 0-2 Paris (Ibrahimović 72, 83)
It took 72 minutes for Paris to break the deadlock but their victory came courtesy of Zlatan Ibrahimović who scored both goals, set up by Edinson Cavani and Serge Aurier, to keep the capital side clear and unbeaten at the Ligue 1 summit.
Real Madrid 3-0 Levante (Marcelo 27, Ronaldo 30, Jesé 81)
Cristiano Ronaldo struck his 324th competitive goal for the club, overtaking Raúl González, as the hosts dominated. Ronaldo combined with a surging Marcelo for the opener before the Portugal forward got the second himself after Toni Kroos led a swift counterattack. Late on Ronaldo combined with Lucas Vázquez to tee up Jesé for the third.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Paris: WWWWWD
Real Madrid: WDWDWW
Reporter's view: Chris Burke (@UEFAcomChrisB)
Title contenders or talented also-rans? The question gets posed every year about this Paris team, and we will get the start of an answer when they tackle Madrid in a game loaded with subplots – not least the showdown between the two sides' now record goalscorers, Ibrahimović and Ronaldo. It ought to be magnificent.
Did you know?
Paris eliminated Madrid from Europe in successive seasons in the 1990s; find out more in our extensive match background.