MX23RW : Friday, July 5 12:54:20| >> :120:6181:6181:
[monks data]
Attendance: 75,534
Real Madrid logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 26, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
PSG logo

2-2

Benzema (17', 79')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Mbappe (81'), Sarabia (83')

Zidane calls on Madrid fans to back side in Champions League

Zidane calls on Madrid fans to back side in Champions League
© Reuters
Madrid know a victory in Tuesday's mouthwatering clash will guarantee they join Group A leaders PSG in the last 16 with a game to spare.

Zinedine Zidane hopes Real Madrid supporters turn their jeers into cheers as the Spanish giants go in search of Champions League qualification against Paris St Germain.

Madrid know a victory in Tuesday's mouthwatering clash will guarantee they join Group A leaders PSG in the last 16 with a game to spare, but it remains to be seen what the mood in the Bernabeu stands will be like.

Gareth Bale came off the bench to whistles and jeers from fans during Saturday's 3-1 home win over Real Sociedad following a fresh club versus country row during the international break.

Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale came on as a second-half substitute against Real Sociedad (Manu Fernandez/AP)

The 30-year-old was criticised after being pictured celebrating Wales' Euro 2020 qualification victory over Hungary last week with a flag that read "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order".

However, Bale was not the only Madrid player to feel the ire of fans on Saturday, with captain Sergio Ramos also being booed after his early mistake led to Sociedad taking the lead.

Zidane was quick to highlight the importance of the supporters when asked about those incidents during his pre-match press conference on Monday, and he hopes his players receive their full backing against in-form PSG.

He said: "It's not that I feel it's bad or good, our fans are important to every player. They're a big plus and if they're with us the players notice it on the pitch.

"The fans were with the team after a while (against Sociedad) and it's what we want from minute one to 90."

Zidane refused to confirm whether Bale, who had missed six club matches through injury before returning to action at the weekend, would start in Europe but said he was "ready to play".

The Frenchman added: "It's an important day for all, for Gareth, for the fans and for us."

Madrid will be without James Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio for the visit of the French champions, who thumped Zidane's men 3-0 at home in September.

That was one of 16 wins in 19 competitive matches this season for Thomas Tuchel's runaway Ligue 1 leaders and Zidane knows Madrid will be put to the test once again.

He said: "We need to have a great game. They are having a magnificent season and this game is going to be more demanding than the others. But we enjoy that.

"We've improved since then (Paris defeat) but it's not about revenge."

PSG only need a point in the Spanish capital to ensure they finish top of Group A and have been recently boosted by the return to fitness of Neymar.

The world's most expensive player played 65 minutes of Friday's 2-0 win over Lille before being replaced by Kylian Mbappe, emphasising the embarrassment of attacking riches Tuchel has at his disposal.

Edinson Cavani was also a second-half substitute in that match, coming on for Mauro Icardi, and Tuchel must now decide which combination to utilise at the Bernabeu.

Whatever starting XI is chosen, midfielder Idrissa Gueye hopes it will be enough to guarantee first place in the group.

He said on his club's website: "We've already qualified, so now we have to do all we can to keep top spot in the group, which is important for the club.

"We're going to do everything to prepare well for the game and above all keep top spot, which could be important for the rest of the competition."

PSG are without seven players, including Ander Herrera, Layvin Kurzawa and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

ID:380590: cacheID:380590:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8890:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring against Dijon on May 18, 2019
Read Next:
PSG 'to prioritise new Mbappe deal'
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!