REAL MADRID host PSG tonight in a blockbuster Champions League clash.
The Last 16 tie is delicately poised from the first leg, with the Ligue 1 side leading 1-0 from the first leg after Kylian Mbappe’s late effort.
But Real Madrid won’t have the away goals rule to worry about so expect fireworks at the Bernabeu.
- Kick-off: 8pm
- TV/ live stream: BT Sport 3
- Real Madrid XI: Team news to follow…
- PSG XI: Team news to follow…
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Neymar to break tradition
PSG superstar Neymar is set break tradition and play during his sister Rafaella Santos’ birthday celebrations.
Tonight’s second leg falls just two days before his sister’s’ March 11 birthday.
And if he avoids injury in Madrid he will be fit enough to play Sunday’s league fixture against Bordeaux.
Coincidentally, Neymar almost always appears to pick up a knock just before his sister celebrates her big day.
The birthday ‘curse’ started during the Brazilian superstar’s playing days at Barcelona in 2015.
He was suspended after picking up too many yellow cards and Barca allowed him to attend her birthday bash.
And history repeated itself the following year, with Neymar picking up another suspension allowing him to celebrate at her Disney-themed party.
In 2017, a muscle injury ruled him out of a game against Deportivo, which was scheduled to take place the day after Santos’ birthday.
What are the odds
Real Madrid to qualify 21/10
Draw (after 90 min) 10/27
PSG to qualify 4/11
*Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at time of publication
Real Madrid vs PSG team news
Los Blancos will be without Ferland Mendy and Casemiro who are both serving suspensions as a result of accumulating too many bookings in the earlier rounds.
Marcelo is reportedly another absentee having picked up a knock in the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on the weekend.
However, experienced midfielder Toni Kroos and his protégé Federico Valverde could be in contention to start despite both missing the last outing.
PSG defender, Sergio Ramos was pushing for a return to action against the side who he won 22 trophies with.
But the Spaniard’s persistent calf injury which has kept him out for most of the season, has ruled him out again.
And former Manchester United star Ander Herrera is also likely to miss the trip having sustained an eye infection.
On the flipside, Kylian Mbappe has come through an ankle scared he suffered in training and Achraf Hakimi has made the travelling squad despite rumours suggesting the Moroccan would be unavailable.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
