The most outstanding tie of the last 16 of the Champions League is undoubtedly that between both European giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. It’s a most eagerly-anticipated clash between the leaders of La Liga against the leaders of Ligue 1, with fascinating accompanying storylines besides an anticipation of football of the highest level of quality from both teams.
For one, just to whet the appetite, Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos are both returning to Spain for the first time since they left on free transfers in the summer. Next is the intriguing scenario brought into play when Kylian Mbappe will feature against the club he could well be joining at the end of the season if all things go to plan. Following up on this is the prospect of Italian Carlo Ancelotti facing off against his old Parisian club and last, but certainly not least, is Argentine Mauricio Pochettino squaring off against a club he’s flirted with in the past in Real Madrid.
It’s obvious all the elements of cloak-and-dagger drama, intrigue and suspense are there, waiting to unravel.
Los Blancos currently stand eight points clear of Sevilla at the top of La Liga while PSG are a clear 13 points ahead of Marseille at the top of Ligue 1. As for the Champions League standings, Real Madrid topped Champions League Group D, finishing five points clear of Internazionale while their Parisian counterparts finished second, just a point behind Manchester City in Group A.
Cope carried Pochettino’s comments as the latter assured that PSG face a “difficult” tie against a team who’s “used to winning” in Europe.
“It’s a team that has a great coach and great players. It’s a team used to winning the Champions League, a team with a lot of history and a lot of experience,” the Argentine said.
“The important thing will be to arrive in February in the best conditions, evaluating each player individually. There’s always luck at play in the state of each team, and injuries can play a role too. Many factors can influence it.” PSG, he said, will go into the game “with confidence” because they’re “a great team, with great players that have a lot of talent,” he said. “We have enough quality to overcome this tie and move on to the next round.”