Real Madrid 2-2 PSG: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Quickfire Double Seals Group Win for Visitors

Real Madrid saw a two-goal lead vanish to PSG in the space of three second half minutes in a dramatic Champions League night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A Karim Benzema brace looked to have sealed a win for Zinedine Zidane’s men but Kylian Mbappe grabbed a goal back before Pablo Sarabia came back to haunt his former club with a dramatic equaliser, earning the visitors a 2-2 draw.

The hosts were at their fluid best and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 16th minute. Eden Hazard, Federico Valverde, Dani Carvajal were all involved, but it was Benzema who was on hand to turn home after Isco’s shot had cannoned off the woodwork.

Keylor Navas was impressive in the visitors goal, but the real talking point of the game came when Mauro Icardi was hauled down by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian was shown a red card and a penalty was awarded, only for VAR to overturn the decision after a foul in the build-up by Idrissa Gueye on Marcelo. 

Pantomime villains Neymar and Gareth Bale both appeared from the substitutes bench for their sides, before Real made it two through Benzema again – this time Marcelo providing the assist after receiving the ball from Luka Modric.

But before the Bernabeu could retake their seats, PSG struck. A lapse in concentration at the back for Madrid led to a mix-up between Raphael Varane and Courtois, gifting Kylian Mbappe an easy tap in.

Just moments later, it was unthinkably all square – as Neymar’s good work eventually saw the ball break to Sarabia, who curled home into the top corner. Bale almost won it in stoppage time as he hit the woodwork, but PSG clung on to seal top spot in Group A, leaving Real to settle for a place in second.

Here’s 90min‘s breakdown of the game.

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REAL MADRID

Key Talking Point

An extraordinary five minute spell saw Real Madrid throw away 80 minutes of hard work, but actually it was taking a two-goal lead that led to their downfall.

Complacency kicked in after the second goal had been scored, with a lapse in concentration from Varane and Sergio Ramos allowing Mbappe a simple finish.

For all of their attacking fluid football and swagger, Madrid came unstuck by lacklustre defending and will be left wondering what might have been. One positive, however, will have been the performance of Isco, who brushed off his lack of football with a composed performance.

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Player Ratings

Starting XI: Courtois (5), Carvajal (7), Varane (6), Ramos (6), Marcelo (8); Valverde, (8) Casemiro, (7) Kroos (7); Isco (8), Hazard, (7) Benzema, (8) 

Substitutes: Bale (7), Modric (6), Rodrygo, (6)

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STAR MAN – The big news prior to kick-off was that Isco was included in the starting eleven, seemingly as Zidane tried to stop PSG being so dominant in the middle of the park. 

It proved to be a masterstroke as Madrid controlled the tempo, largely through the diminutive Spaniard. Isco had a hand in both of Madrid’s goals, putting in a majestic midfield performance.

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PSG

Key Talking Point

PSG will feel aggrieved by the decision towards the end of the first half that could have resulted in Madrid being down to ten-men and a penalty.

But, after initially giving Courtois his marching orders, the referee reviewed the decision and PSG ended up conceding a free-kick.

The visitors put that to one side eventually, though, fighting back from the brink of defeat thanks to goals from Mbappe and Sarabia, though they will perhaps be the first to admit that they were perhaps fortuitous to leave with a point, despite the penalty drama.

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