PSG 1-0 Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe's late strike hands Parisians slender Champions League advantage
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Loading... - Hilary Allen
- 16 Feb 2022
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Kylian Mbappe's injury-time strike saw PSG beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Parc des Princes.
PSG had appeared to be heading for a frustrating goalless draw in the French capital after Lionel Messi saw his 62nd-minute penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois.
The visitors' giant Belgian goalkeeper guessed correctly and dived low to his left to turn Messi's spot-kick behind for a corner in what looked like being the pivotal moment of the tie.
All this after Mauricio Pochettino's side had dominated most of the clash, only for Mbappe to twice be denied by excellent Courtois stops in each half, before Messi was given the chance to break the deadlock from the spot after Dani Carvajal had foolishly lunged in on Mbappe in the box.
Both managers brought on a raft of substitutes in an effort to break the deadlock, with the hosts seeing the return of Neymar after a four-month layoff with an ankle injury, while Real introduced Wales forward Gareth Bale, but with little effect.
That was until the fourth and final minute of stoppage time when Neymar's cheeky back-heel released Mbappe down the left side of the area and within the blink of an eye the striker's quick feet saw him one on one with Courtois.
The angle was tight, but Mbappe - who has been consistently linked with a move to Real this summer - kept his cool to side-foot home through Courtois's legs for his 22nd goal of the season to hand PSG a slender advantage heading into the return leg in Madrid on March 9.
Mbappe passes his Real audition
In many ways, Tuesday night was the ideal Real Madrid audition for Kylian Mbappe, the coveted PSG striker whose contract runs out at the Parc des Princes at the end of June.
The Parisians are desperate for their France international to stay in the capital, while Los Blancos are equally keen for the 23-year-old to be their next Galatico.
And after his match-winning display, surely Real president Florentino Perez will be doing everything in his power to convince Mbappe, who has now has been directly involved in 52 goals in 52 Champions League appearances (32 goals, 20 assists), to move to Madrid this summer. Read More…
