Ronaldo-Felix clash outshines duel of depleted Real-PSG
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash tonight would usually be the biggest headline-maker on any other night, but with a tantalising rematch of last year’s round of 16 clash between Juventus and Atletico Madrid and the injuries in both Real and PSG’s camps, the clash at the Parc des Princes has been relegated to the sidelines.
Real Madrid confirmed yesterday that defender Marcelo would miss the clash after sustaining a back injury, adding to the woes of the 13-time champions who will also be missing Isco, Luka Modric, Marco Asensio and Fede Valverde through injury. Captain Sergio Ramos will also miss out alongside Nacho Fernandez, the duo serving out suspensions.
Los Blancos have replacements such as Ferland Mendy for Marcelo, and they will still have plenty of starpower up front, with Eden Hazard set to make his Champions League bow for the side, alongside Gareth Bale and the in-form Karim Benzema.
On the other hand, the hosts will be left with a mountain to climb with all of their preferred front three out of action. Forwards Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani were ruled out yesterday, the French champions said in a statement. Mbappe picked up a hamstring injury and was forced off against Toulouse last month and has not featured since for PSG, while Cavani is out of action with a hip problem.
Meanwhile, Brazilian superstar Neymar -- who announced his return to the side with a spectacular overhead kick winner -- will be serving out a ban for insulting match officials following PSG’s defeat by Manchester United in the round of 16 last season. Neymar’s ban has also been reduced from three-matches to two, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said yesterday.
Mbappe, Neymar and Cavani netted 11 of PSG’s 20 goals in their Champions League campaign last season, showing just how much the team depend on them.
That does not mean they do not have the capacity to plug holes however. Mauro Icardi, loaned in at the summer from Inter Milan, is likely to take Cavani’s place but the other replacements are not nearly as promising.
That match will fade further into the background given the other big clash of the day and its compelling storylines.
Last season, Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hattrick to inspire Juventus to a second leg comeback against Atletico. They had gone into the game down 2-0 before the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s heroics resuscitated them.
Ronaldo, is as usual in a rich vein of form, with six goals in five matches this season for club and country, as he hunts a sixth Champions League title and aims to extend his record total of 126 goals in the competition.
This time around, a rematch of that eventful game will be further spiced by Ronaldo’s heir apparent in opposition colours.
Atletico Madrid’s quest for vengeance will be led by young gun Joao Felix, who will make his debut in Europe’s top competition.
The 19-year-old has been hailed as the new ‘CR7’ after his breakout season at Benfica last year, scoring 20 times as the two-time European champions won the Primeira Liga and reached the Europa League quarter finals.
Ronaldo’s former manager at Madrid Jose Mourinho is convinced that Atletico bagged a “an incredible player” for a club record fee of 126 million euros.
The noise surrounding Felix was amplified after a sublime pre-season that included a brace in a 2-1 win over Juve, but Felix has shied away from the comparisons.
On Wednesday, Felix has a chance to redeem himself and add to the one goal he has scored so far in Atletico colours, even if Ronaldo’s achievements seem a long way off.
“I am here to write my own story,” Felix said. “Cristiano is Cristiano and I want to be myself”.
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