Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the
Champions League encounter between
Real Madrid and
Paris Saint-Germain. While the visitors have already put themselves on the brink of sealing top spot in Group A, Real still have a small opportunity to displace the French giants having already guaranteed a place in the last 16 thanks to the draw between Galatasaray and Club Brugge earlier this evening.
As the two teams make their way out at the Bernabeu, let's see who features in each starting lineup...
REAL MADRID XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco, Benzema, Hazard
REAL MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Areola, Militao, Modric, Bale, Jovic, Mendy, Rodrygo
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN XI: Navas; Meunier, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Gueye, Marquinhos, Verratti; Di Maria, Icardi, Mbappe
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBSTITUTES: Rico, Cavani, Neymar, Sarabia, Diallo, Draxler, Dagba
KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us underway!
First things first, it is bucketing it down with rain in Madrid! It hasn't prevented PSG from dominating the opening minutes, however. One free kick from the right has been easily cleared.
SHOT! Real go straight up the other end and earn a corner through Isco. However, from the resulting set piece, Ramos can only send a tame header over the crossbar.
Both teams have been pretty lively on the ball. To a certain extent, there is little pressure on this game. Regardless of the result this evening, PSG will qualify as group winners if they avoid defeat at home to Galatasaray next month. That's providing that Real do not win 3-0 or better.
CHANCE! PSG's first chance of the game goes to Icardi, who gets in front of a defender to meet Bernat's low cross. However, the Argentine can only divert the ball well off target.
Real go back on the front foot with some passing in the PSG half of the pitch. While they quickly switch possession, they are unable to make it into the penalty area.
CHANCE! And this is why Real cannot afford to commit too many men forward. Mbappe is released behind Marcelo and although he has space to exploit, the choice is made to find Icardi at the back post. However, the ball has too much pace on it, leading to the striker to head harmlessly wide.
SHOT! This match continues to warm up. Kroos engineers some space for himself on the edge of the area before firing an effort marginally over the crossbar from 20 yards.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (KARIM BENZEMA)
© Reuters
GOAL! A brilliant, brilliant goal. Hazard starts the move with some fine skill on the halfway line, and it's the catalyst for a sweeping attack down the right. Isco hit the far post with a shot from 10 yards after collecting Valverde's cutback, but Benzema was on hand to find the far corner with the rebound.
That goal had the Bernabeu crowd on their feet. They must wonder why their side cannot produce that kind of quality every week!
Hazard looks well up for this game tonight. The summer arrival is yet to produce his best form in a Real shirt, but this is by far and away his highest-quality performance so far.
The Belgian's in the action again, but his eventual shot is blocked by a defender. From the resulting corner, Navas is able to rise above a group of players to punch the ball away from danger.
PSG are yet to respond to going behind. They have barely got over the halfway line in the past 10 minutes. Real sense their moment here.
SHOT! Real put together another patient attack, before Benzema flicks the ball into the path of Kroos. The German wastes no time in getting a shot away from distance, and Navas is required to dive to his left to punch the ball clear.
The visitors have improved over the past couple of minutes. A cross from the left has just been spilled by Courtois, and it momentarily caused a bit of panic in the penalty area.
SHOT! Verratti tries his luck from all of 35 yards. Given the conditions, it's worth a try. However, Courtois was able to parry the ball away.
This match is becoming increasingly open, which definitely suits PSG at this stage. Real are ready to match the visitors blow for blow if they show any ambition going forward.
SHOT! Big chance for PSG. Mbappe is played in behind the Real defence and the Frenchman either needs to shoot low towards the far corner or provide Icardi with a tap in at the back post. Instead, the attacker went high at the near post, much to the disgust of Icardi.
SHOT! A sustained spell of possession in the final third eventually leads to the ball falling invitingly for Carvajal. The right-back gets everything behind his first-time shot, but Navas makes a solid save to his right.
SHOT! Real have really upped the intensity over the past few minutes. A clever corner from Kroos sets up Marcelo for the first-time shot in the penalty area but once again, Navas makes a smart stop.
The referee has had an absolute shocker here. Courtois trips Icardi just inside the penalty area, but he gives a free kick! The drama isn't over. While VAR correctly overturns the decision, the referee has now opted to send Courtois off, even though there were defenders in close proximity!
WOW! The drama still isn't over. The referee has gone to the screen at the side of the pitch and correctly overturned the red card. However, he has also ruled out the penalty and given a free kick to Real on the halfway line for the softest of fouls!
Tuchel is laughing in the dugout. He cannot believe what he has just witnessed. Neither can I.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain
The half-time whistle goes in Madrid and Real lead thanks to Benzema's early strike. The home side deserve their lead based on general play, but I am struggling to get my head around how the referee has chalked off a PSG penalty for an innocuous foul on the halfway line.
A quick look at the two benches...
REAL MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Areola, Militao, Modric, Bale, Jovic, Mendy, Rodrygo
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBSTITUTES: Rico, Cavani, Neymar, Sarabia, Diallo, Draxler, Dagba
Slowly but surely, the two sets of players are making their way back out onto the pitch. Barring any injuries, I wouldn't expect any changes at this stage.
Scratch that, we do have a change. Neymar is being introduced for Gueye. Things just got interesting.
KICKOFF: PSG get us back underway.
CHANCE! Just 24 seconds into the second half, it should be 2-0. Marcelo picks out Benzema at the back post, but Navas makes a stunning stop at point-blank range.
PSG are playing with a much more adventurous formation now, and it doesn't take long for the visitors to go on the offensive. Real survive this time, but you feel that their backline will be put under constant pressure during this second half.
Marcelo has been excellent this evening and the left-back does well to tee up Kroos. However, the midfielder wants too much time on the edge of the area and the chance is lost.
Real have dominated since that PSG flurry five minutes ago. It's a real show of intent from the home side, who aren't prepared to sit back in an attempt to defend this lead.
Hazard comes to life again in the centre of the pitch and is fouled. Everyone stops expecting a free kick, but the referee plays on. It doesn't work in Real's favour, with a rushed cross going out of play.
It's PSG's turn to mount some more pressure, and Real are having to defend extremely deep. I can't see this game ending 1-0.
SHOT! Yet another long-range effort from Kroos, and another which threatens a goal. However, the German's low 20-yard strike goes marginally wide of the post.
CHANCE! Navas is putting in one of his best-ever displays at the Bernabeu. The home supporters will be ruing that it is no longer in a Los Blancos shirt! On this occasion, the Costa Rican stuck out a hand to prevent Isco from converting from close range after a Marcelo cross.
We are yet to see a yellow card this evening, but Meunier should have just received one for a foul on Hazard. The Belgian is still down and will require treatment.
While Hazard continues to receive treatment on the side of the pitch, play gets back underway. Nothing comes from the resulting free kick, however.
Hazard was hoping to come back on, but he has just signalled to the bench that he needs to be substituted. It's an issue with his ankle.
YELLOW CARD! Marcelo goes into the book for a foul on the halfway line. It certainly was as bad as Meunier's on Hazard.
SUBSTITUTION! Here comes Bale, who is given a mixed reception as he replaces Hazard.
Bale's first contribution is an attempt to take on Meunier down the left, but the Welshman runs the ball out of play. As we enter the final 20 minutes, I would expect further changes. It can't be long before we see Cavani.
Despite the attacking talent on the pitch, PSG are still largely playing on the break. Real have been effective in keeping possession in the right areas of the pitch.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Here's a double change for PSG. Sarabia and Draxler have been introduced for Verratti and Di Maria.
SUBSTITUTION! Zidane also acts with an alteration of his own as Modric is introduced for Valverde.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 PARIS-SAINT GERMAIN (KARIM BENZEMA)
GOAL! That should be that. Real work a fine move across the pitch before Marcelo crosses for Benzema, who powers a downward header into the net from six yards out.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-1 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (KYLIAN MBAPPE)
GOAL! Maybe not. Courtois and Varane fail to deal with what appeared to be a poor cross into the area, and the confusion leads to Mbappe diverting the ball into the net from two yards out!
SUBSTITUTION! Real make their final switch as Rodrygo is introduced for Isco.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-2 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (PABLO SARABIA)
GOAL! Well this is quite ridiculous. PSG have another! The ball finds it way to Sarabia on the edge of the area, and the former Sevilla man produces a stunning half-volley which finds the top corner of Sarabia's net.
CHANCE! Real go close twice in the space of as many minutes. Moments after Rodrygo dragged a half-volley wide of the far post, Varane sent a powerful header narrowly off target at the near post.
YELLOW CARD! Meunier finally goes into the book for another crude challenge down the flank.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
SHOT! This game remains wide open. Moments after Carvajal failed to test Navas with a scuffed effort, PSG go down the other end with Mbappe firing into the side-netting from an acute angle.
OFF THE POST! What an ending this would have been! Bale is presented with a chance to make the headlines with a 25-yard free kick from a central position. The substitute makes the perfect connection, only to see his shot hit the post and go away from danger!
FULL TIME: Real Madrid 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain
The full-time whistle goes at the Bernabeu and after a thrilling encounter, we have ended level. While Real probably deserved the three points, PSG deserve credit for their comeback from a two-goal deficit. It is enough to seal top spot in Group A.
That will be all from
Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.