Mbappé, an example of professionalism, overwhelms Real Madrid and proves he's the best in the world

From the start of the match, Paris Saint-Germain imposed a rhythm on the game that Real Madrid were unable to counter at any time.

There is a terrible fact that reflects the bad match of the white team: the goalkeeper of the Parisian team Donnarumma did not have to make a single save in the whole match while Thibaut Courtois was the great hero of Ancelotti's team.

The big difference in the match in PSG's favour was made by Kylian Mbappé, who dismantled the Whites' defence every time he was involved in the game.

He proved to be the best and most unbalanced player in the world with a power and skill that reminds us of Ronaldo Nazario.

Al-Khelaïfi's team can have no complaints about him, an example of professionalism after all the problems with his refusal to renew.

Kylian has shown himself to be a great player and a very focused person who is very clear about what he wants. Next year he will arrive at the Bernabeu, but before that he will do everything he can to win the French league and the Champions League for his fans, his city and his country, for his own people. And all the pressure from Qatar has not changed his objective. Nor has he had any doubts about the team that will host him for the next five years. His professionalism, first and foremost.

On the other hand, Real Madrid is falling back into the mistakes of their last Champions League eliminations. In matches at the highest level, the players have to be at 100 % physically.

Pochettino, PSG's coach, was very clear about this and Neymar did not start despite his medical clearance and his level as a top player.

Karim Benzema suffered from three weeks of inactivity, as did Ferland Mendy. Carvajal is also not at an acceptable physical level and, despite his quality and his desire to help the team by continually offering himself when his team was unable to make more than two passes in a row, he failed miserably both in attack and defence. He had to dance with the ugly one, Mbappé.

On the other side, Mendy limited himself to closing his flank in defence and did not want the ball at any time. A player questioned for his lack of quality who bases his game solely on physicality. He doesn't have it and yesterday he was also outplayed by the French team.

In Florentino Pérez's team, it was clear yesterday who is in the team for the big games and who is left to fester and be marked out. Aside from the two full-backs, Vinicius failed in his first major world championship. I say world because yesterday's game was a red flag for football fans on all five continents. 

The Brazilian striker has to improve a lot on the 9th if he wants to join the group of world class players. Yesterday he lost every ball that came his way and in many cases faked unnecessary falls. Yesterday was a man's game, not a boy's game and he needs to show his quality by holding balls when his team needs it, and by tackling and getting into the box when he has the chance, which he evaded yesterday. He had the best display in the opposition and more specifically in Mbappé and in a magnificent Di María who never stopped working for his team.

Asensio, in the same vein as Vinicius, contributed nothing and makes us think that he can remain a player for the last twenty minutes, but never a starter for a Real Madrid champion. 

Apart from Kylian Mbappé's display and the work of Di María and Paredes, the other star of the match was Italy's Verratti. He dominated the midfield like a marshal supported by the work of Danilo, Di Maria and Paredes. This great little player was enough to overcome Casemiro, Kroos and Modric who were powerless to generate play and when they found the strikers, they were not up to the task either.

PSG's pressure and drive continued unabated. Madrid thought they would hold out for the first twenty minutes without conceding a goal until their opponents let off the pressure, but this did not happen until almost the end of the first half.

Physically, Real Madrid were two steps behind PSG and only held out thanks to the work of the two centre-backs, Alaba and Militao, who played a superb game. And above all to the saves of Courtois, who also saved a penalty from Messi.

At the start of the second half, it seemed that the Whites came out with a different predisposition, but it was a mirage. Pochettino's side immediately took control, led by Verratti and with Kylian Mbappé a constant nightmare for Carvajal, who gave him a penalty as a result of fatigue. The French player made a break to the left, missing the angle of the shot, but the Madrid full-back put his leg in due to fatigue in a move that did not pose too much danger.

The Madrid fans, seeing the lack of participation of Asensio and Vinicius and the loss of the midfield, were calling for Valverde to intervene in the game. He did, albeit rather late, in the eighty-second minute. Earlier, ten minutes earlier, Lucas Vázquez had been brought on for a beaten Carvajal and Rodrygo for a missing Asensio.

They improved Real Madrid's play a little, but without creating any chances.

Eden Hazard, who came on with Valverde replacing Vinicius, lost all three balls he touched. This was not a game for ex-footballers, even if they are paid more than fourteen million.

And speaking of millions, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner who earns sixty million at PSG, Lionel Messi, played for the French team. He didn't play badly, but it bears no relation to the quality that precedes him or the money he earns. He also missed a penalty that in all logic should have been taken by Mbappé.

Thanks to Kylian's 93rd minute goal, the Parisian fans went away happy; otherwise we would see criticism of the Argentine star who is not living up to expectations.

In short, PSG were superior physically, tactically and in terms of play, but it didn't translate into goals. There are 90 minutes left at the Santiago Bernabeu. It would be neither the first nor the second time that Real Madrid have come from behind. The fans will support the team without sparing any effort from two hours before the game and will fill a mythical stadium.

Now it's up to the players and Ancelotti to pull off the feat. They have to stop Mbappé, win the midfield battle against Verratti and up front, Benzema and Vinicius, prove they can win the Champions League.

For their part, PSG have to maintain the level they showed yesterday and not be intimidated by the huge atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neymar will already be at full strength, but it would be a luxury to do without a hard-working Di Maria.

9 March:

Real Madrid can do the complete opposite of yesterday and turn things around.

PSG can once again confirm their great performance. 

Mbappé will say