Real Madrid's European home record ominous but PSG have never lost a Champions League first leg last 16 tie

Matt Jones - Editor 12:25 13/02/2018
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  • Real Madrid host Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in the glamour tie of the Champions League knockout stages.

    Los Blancos may not be finding the imperious form they’ve enjoyed on the continent in recent seasons as they have struggled to cope with the Barcelona juggernaut – currently Zinedine Zidane’s side sit 17 points adrift of the La Liga pace-setting Blaugrana in fourth place.

    In Europe though, it’s been a different story. They have won three of the last four tournaments, and they have embarked on a timely run of form leading up to this clash too, winning three of their last four league games, with Cristiano Ronaldo back among the goals.

    Meanwhile, the Parisians are in pristine form coming into the first leg. Since a 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the final group game on December 5, PSG have won 14 of their last 15 games in all competitions.

    FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-PSG-DIJON

    Here, we look at the key statistics and match facts ahead of Wednesday’s clash including Real’s resurgence in the last competition in the last decade.

    • The Spanish side have got to the semi-finals or better in each of the last seven seasons: winning three of the last four finals. They lost to Juve in the 2014/15, Borussia Dortmund in 2012/13, Bayern Munich in 2011/12 and Barcelona in 2010/11, exiting each time at the last four stage.
    • PSG knocked Real Madrid out of Europe two years in a row: in the 1992/93 UEFA Cup quarter-finals and 1993/94 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals. George Weah’s goal as PSG won the 93/94 first leg 1-0 against Vicente del Bosque’s Madrid is the Spanish side’s sole home defeat against a French club.
    • Real are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the eighth successive year. Their round of 16 record is W8 L6. Their streak is in stark contrast to the years prior to this as they lost at this stage for six years in a row between 2005 and 2010.
    • Madrid have won 33 of their last 39 Champions League home matches, losing just once – 4-3 to Schalke in the 2014/15 last 16 second leg. They have lost just two of their last 25 European fixtures, most recently the 3-1 defeat at Spurs on matchday four, winning 17 and drawing six.
    • Cristiano Ronaldo scored nine goals in the group stage – three more than any other player. It was a record-breaking haul for the Portuguese as he became the first player in Champions League history to score in every group game. He also had 21 shots on target and 18 shots off target, also competition highs.
    • The 2015/16 group stage games against PSG were Real’s last matches against French opposition. They are unbeaten in their last nine such encounters (W6 D3), going back to a 1-0 loss at Lyon in the 2009/10 round of 16 first leg (1-2 aggregate). In those wins they scored 15 goals without reply.
    • Champions of Europe for a 12th time in 2016/17, Madrid aim to become the first team since Bayern Munich in 1976 to claim three successive European Cups (1973-76). Ajax (1971–73) and Madrid themselves (1956–60) are the only other sides to have won three or more in a row.
    • PSG have never lost the first leg of a round of 16 tie (W4 D1). Although beaten 3-1 by Munich on matchday six to prevent them winning all six of their Group B games, they nevertheless finished the group stages with 25 goals, setting a new Champions League record.

    Statistics provided by UEFA

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