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PSG vs Real Madrid LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow live coverage as PSG and Real Madrid meet in a battle of European heavyweights with both hoping to put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals

Karl Matchett
Wednesday 16 February 2022 09:04 GMT
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(Getty Images)

Eventually, Paris Saint-Germain get there, maybe before Kylian Mbappe goes there. There was certainly a level of genius about how he got into this space.

You couldn’t quite say the French star stole the game given how utterly dominant his team were, but he did steal the show.

Mbappe’s mercurial stoppage-time winner gave PSG a deserved 1-0 win over a dismally defensive Real Madrid, to also ensure Leo Messi’s saved penalty did not have the same cost.

That is always the risk you run when you try and play it so safe. It was an inevitability of Madrid being so conservative, and perhaps an inevitability of the fact this was the first Champions League knock-out tie since the abolition of the away goal rule.

Madrid apparently had no interest in scoring one. It’s also possible, however, that they had no means of scoring one.

The entire match was one grand display of why this stale team so badly need Mbappe. It may well change the future. Follow all the latest reaction and analysis here:

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66’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Well, a dramatic few minutes but it’s as you were - Messi’s spot-kick not his finest, despite firm connection. Nowhere near the bottom corner, Courtois did well to get down.

Verratti then twisted in the area and thought he could shoot but was crowded out, and the Italian got a kick in the process which leaves him needing treatment.

Messi belted another shot at goal just after and he looks fired up - two fast dribbles since then too and the Argentinian legend doesn’t look impressed at having missed such a big moment.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:26
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PENALTY SAVED! 61’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Unbelievable save from Courtois! Lionel Messi takes the spot-kick and hammers it to the keeper’s left - but Courtois gets down and saves!

Real break, Danilo drags down Vinicius, yellow card.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:21
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PENALTY 60’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Penalty to PSG! Mbappe has had Carvajal on toast all game long and does it again here, blasting past the right-back into the box, touching the ball once more and drawing the foul - easy decision, spot-kick given.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:19
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58’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Mendy in late on Danilo and it’s pretty high, right on the ankle - another yellow card and that’s another Real Madrid player suspended for the second leg.

Neymar still warming up on the sidelines but he has the tracksuit bottoms off now - might not be too long before he makes his return. He hasn’t played since November, remember.

Real Madrid totally unable to break out again for now, a few wayward passes as they look to escape the midfield zone is just keeping the pressure on.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:18
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54’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Real suddenly in a flap as Courtois gives it away and then Mendy loses out to Hakimi - the cut-back doesn’t quite line up a clear strike for Verratti though and Mbappe sees his strike blocked. The No7 then tees up a first-time curler for Messi on the edge of the box, but it’s straight at Courtois who saves again.

Up the other end, Vinicius Jr does well to keep the ball alive and set it for a Toni Kroos strike - plenty of power, little accuracy. Over the bar and no problem for Donnarumma.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:13
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50’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Top stop from Courtois! An intricate passing move on the edge of the box ends in Mbappe turning and whacking in a low shot from the edge of the box, forcing the Belgium No1 to get down smartly to his right, diverting the ball away.

Di Maria smashes over from the angle shortly afterwards.

Militao is next into the book as he clatters through Mbappe, catching his ankle and it’s an easy yellow for the ref to dish out.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:10
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46’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Back underway at the Parc des Princes.

Will PSG commit more men forward or play at a higher tempo in this half once into the final third? They had the better of the play but didn’t exactly go all-out in terms of looking to put runners behind the defence and so on - they surely need a goal tonight to take to Spain.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:06
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HALF TIME - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Best images of the half - unless you’re Dani Carvajal. He’s probably busy at the moment through, recovering after 45 minutes chasing shadows. Still, it’s not all bad for the right-back - Neymar isn’t on yet to play that side!

Questions over ‘only’ a yellow for Casemiro perhaps? He’s out of the second leg after this altercation but perhaps it could easily have been a red.

(AFP via Getty Images)
(BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Karl Matchett15 February 2022 21:01
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HALF TIME - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Casemiro heads wide from a corner at the end of the half and the referee’s whistle goes straight away after.

A 45 minutes which PSG mostly dominated, but didn’t really come too close to scoring in after Mbappe’s half-hit finish was parried away by Courtois. Real barely had an attack worthy of the name until the closing stages there, but they’ll be heartened at their defensive discipline and a few sights of how they can counter-attack more often after the restart.

Wonder how long until Pochettino starts thinking about Neymar?

(AFP via Getty Images)
Karl Matchett15 February 2022 20:50
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45’ - PSG 0-0 Real Madrid

Final seconds of the half. Messi fires a ball through for Mbappe, he faces up Militao but the Brazilian stands up well, forces Mbappe across and eventually his attempted pass is cut out.

Messi twists and turns on the edge of the box soon after, but his strike from distance is charged down. One minute added on.

4-0 to Man City at Sporting, not even half time yet. Put their ball in the bowl for the last eight now.

Karl Matchett15 February 2022 20:46

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