Kylian Mbappe’s stoppage-time winner hands PSG slender advantage against Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe’s stoppage-time winner hands PSG slender advantage against Real Madrid

On a pitch that included the likes of Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Eden Hazard and Neymar, all eyes were on Kylian Mbappe as the French superstar produced a phenomenal display to give PSG a slender advantage in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 at the Parc des Princes. After tormenting the Real Madrid defence for the entirety of the 90 minutes, Mbappe pulled out one more moment of magic in stoppage time, scoring the decisive goal with a clever finish into the bottom corner after wriggling through two defenders. 

The late winner from the 23-year-old gives PSG something to hold onto in the tie ahead of the return leg in Madrid on March 9, taking them one step closer to securing the elusive European crown.

PSG started the game with the returning Angel di Maria accompanying Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the front three, and the French giants dominated from the outset against a defensive-minded Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s side arrived in Paris with a clear game plan of earning a clean-sheet to take back home for the second leg, and Los Blancos failed to register a single shot on target for only the second time in the Champions League since records began. 

Most of PSG’s threat on the night came through Mbappe on the left-wing, as the Frenchman terrorized Real Madrid right-back, Dani Carvajal, with his pace and movement. Mbappe created the first real chance of the game in the opening ten minutes, teeing up Di Maria after creating separation from Carvajal on the by-line.

Mbappe’s threat in behind was a constant theme of this encounter, and after having two shots saved from Thibaut Courtois on either side of half-time, the Frenchman won PSG a penalty just after the hour mark. Lionel Messi, however, couldn’t add to his tally of 26 against Madrid, as the former Barcelona star’s spot-kick was well-read by Thibaut Courtois to keep the score at 0-0.

Nevertheless, the danger Mbappe posed forced Carlo Ancelotti to double up on him for most of the game and bring on the quicker Lucas Vasquez for Carvajal in the 72nd minute, but nothing could stop the Frenchman from leaving his footprint on this star-studded fixture. With just 45 seconds left on the clock, the 23-year-old collected Neymar’s backheel before slaloming past two Real defenders and slotting the ball through Thibaut Courtois’ legs to break the deadlock and give PSG a one-goal advantage. 

Despite the last-minute winner, everything is still up for grabs when the two sides meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu in three weeks. However, the continental giants will be without both Casemiro and Ferland Mendy in Madrid due to suspension, and any hope of a second-leg turnaround will depend upon how they can stop Mbappe from producing similar moments of quality.