A Champions' response from Real Madrid

Champions League - Real Madrid 3-1 PSGRonaldo, Marcelo score late in victory over PSG

 

Christiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Forward

 

A breathless start came to a crashing halt when a collision between fellow Brazilians Marcelo and Alves ended with the former writhing in agony on the turf with an apparent arm injury. Marcelo would soldier on though, but PSG were starting to find a hole in the Real defence, as the focused their attack on the left where Neymar could exploit Nacho.
In attack Real were not getting the penetration that they wanted, especially in the middle of the pitch, and so they looked to open up space by playing wide. Marcelo crafted a golden opportunity for Real to open the scoring just shy of the half-hour mark with a sensational ball across for Ronaldo at the far post, but PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola blocked the shot, albeit painfully with his face.
But PSG's class would rise up and their attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar would all have a hand in Rabiot's goal that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead. Mbappe launched a ball in from the right that was dummied by Cavani for Neymar, who forced a weak clearance from Nacho that set up Rabiot perfectly and it was an easy stroke into net for the goal.
The goal gave PSG a massive confidence boost and Cavani had a chance to double the lead minutes later but saw his effort deflected wide.

Real would respond though and moments after Areola made a diving stop of a Karim Benzema curler, Toni Kroos would draw a penalty after being taken down by Giovani Lo Celso in the area. Ronaldo, like he has so often in this tournament, dutifully converted the spot kick to even the tie 1-1.
PSG were content to sit back and play the counter at the start of the second half, and one such break almost resulted in an Mbappe goal. Later on Rabiot had a go at goal but his shot struck the arm of Sergio Ramos in the area, but there was no call from referee Gianluca Rocchi.

Real continued poking and probing the PSG defence, trying to unlock the French sides' compact back line. Zidane had to go to his bench for inspiration, bringing on Bale for the relatively quiet Benzema. However, the next big chance again came for PSG when a scramble in the box gave Kimpembe a look from just yards out, but Nacho stretched out his leg to block the effort.
The PSG pressure did not wane and a surgical ball played from Yuri from the left nearly connected with Mbappe and then Dani Alves, only to roll wide. That prompted Zidane to make his remaining two changes, swapping off Isco and Casemiro for Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez, respectively.
The fresh legs off the bench gave Real a lift, and a poor clearance from PSG led the way to Ronaldo's winner, as Luka Modric intercepted, fed Asensio on the left and the cross deflected to the Portuguese who gleefully poked home to make it 2-1.
Real were keen for more, and went back to Asensio on the left wing for a spark, as his cutting pass back for Marcelo was one-timed in by the Brazilian to completely turn the tie on its head and send Real home with a 3-1 victory.