Raphinha scores hat-trick in 100th appearance for Barca
Brazilian winger Raphinha celebrated his 100th appearance for FC Barcelona with a hat-trick goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League encounter on Wednesday night.
Holders Real Madrid have a task on their hands as they host Paris Saint-Germain in a mammoth UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night and both sides have revealed their lineups.
Tonight’s starting XI! VAMOS!!! #APorLa13 pic.twitter.com/dhY5jLDCZz
Advertisement
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) February 14, 2018
Advertisement
Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane is starting Keylor Navas in goal, behind a four-man defence of Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Nacho.
Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric anchor the midfield while Zidane has opted to go start Isco in attack, in place of club-record signing Gareth Bale, alongside fowards Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to complete their 4-3-3 formation.
La composition parisienne le @realmadrid !
Match à suivre en exclusivité à 20h45 sur @beinsports_FR
#RaceToTheStars pic.twitter.com/6iosywAfcl
— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside) February 14, 2018
Unai Emery’s men mirror their opponents in terms of their shape, with Alphonse Areola retaining his place between the sticks.
There is a surprise inclusion at the back, with stalwart Thiago Silva warming the bench as Emery has preferred young defender Presnel Kimpenbe to partner Marquinhos in the heart of defence.
Dani Alves and Yuri Berchiche are the fullbacks for the visitors on the night, with Adrien Rabio and Marco Verratti lining up alongside Giovanni Lo Celso in midfield.
Les Parisiens, unsurprisingly, are starting all their big guns in attack as Edinson Cavani, Kylian MBappe and Neymar are all on the teamsheets.
For Real Madrid the match is of paramount importance for the UEFA Champions League is the only competition they can win this season but the stakes are high for the Ligue 1 giants as well for their massive outlay in the summer demands titles and domestic dominance will simply not do this time round.
Real Madrid: Navas, Ramos (c), Varane, Nacho, Ronaldo, Kroos, Benzema, Modric, Marcelo, Casemiro and Isco.
Paris Saint-Germain: Areola, Berchiche, Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Rabiot, Lo Celso, Verratti, Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe.
Match starts at 01.15 AM IST.
Advertisement
