Prediction: 2-0
Tip: Result - Real Madrid | Karim Benzema to score anytime
Key Points:
1. Real Madrid have won 10 of their last 12 home games in all competitions
2. PSG have failed to win their last 4 Champions League away matches
3. Karim Benzema has scored 12 in his last 11 Champions League home games
Paris Saint-Germain head to the Bernabeu for their Champions League last 16 second leg against Real Madrid with a 1-0 aggregate lead. The potential absence of Kylian Mbappe is one several troubling factors for the French side as they look to reach the quarter finals.
History is not on the side of Les Parisiens. Despite all the investment and all the star players, the Qatari-owned club have failed to meet their ultimate objective of winning Europe's biggest prize. They always slip up when the going gets tough and we think they may well do the same again tonight.
Real Madrid have won 10 of their last 12 home games in all competitions. They are very strong at the Bernabeu and their strength is matched by PSG's weakness on the road. In the Champions League, PSG have now failed to win their last four games away from home, two draws and two defeats. They will need to turn that form around tonight if they are to progress to the next round.
With or without Mbappe, PSG just don't do well enough on their travels. Even outside of Europe's elite competition they are suspect on the road. They come into this match on the back of consecutive away losses in Ligue 1 to Nantes and Nice. This form may be explained by the fact that the French giants have all but won their domestic league as they sit 13 points clear at the top but it's not a great rhythm to be in before facing one of the competition's favourites.
Despite being 8 points clear at the top of La Liga, Real Madrid are not showing any signs of complacency. Apart from that defeat in the first leg, Madrid are unbeaten in five in La Liga, winning four and drawing one, conceding just one goal in the process. It was only Mbappe's last gasp winner for PSG which cost them another clean sheet. They have the second best defensive record in the Spanish top flight and only Bayern matched them for goals conceded in the group stage - just 3 goals in 6 games.
Typical of Ancelotti's teams, Real are very strong at the back and we think they'll get the clean sheet tonight that they should have got in Paris. Like the first leg, it will likely be a very competitive, evenly matched contest with few goals. We just think Real will edge it by a couple.
We also see the phenomenal Karim Benzema stepping up and firing his team into the quarters. La Liga's top scorer has been invaluable for Los Blancos once again this season, and he'll be keen to prove a point on the biggest stage and against the biggest club from his home country.
That's why we are predicting a Real Madrid win with Karim Benzema to score anytime. Our correct score prediction is 2-0 and we see Ancelotti's side qualifying to the next round 2-1 on aggregate.
UEFA Champions League
LaLiga
Ligue 1