Analysis of Cristiano Ronaldo's two-goal display as Real Madrid come back to beat PSG 3-1

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  • Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Real Madrid recover from an early goal to win 3-1 in their Champions League round of 16 first leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabeu.

    Adrien Rabiot opened the scoring for the visitors before Ronaldo equalised from the spot on the stroke of half-time.

    The Portuguese then scored his second in the 83rd minute before Marcelo added another three minutes later.

    Here, we anaylse Ronaldo’s performance.

    STATISTICS 

    Goals – 2

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 10

    Shots on target – 4

    Touches – 40

    Passes – 20

    Aerials won – 1

    Key passes – 0

    Dribbles – 0

    Dispossessed – 1

    30-SECOND REPORT

    Starting alongside Karim Benzema in a front two, Ronaldo had the freedom to attack across the PSG back-line and took full advantage of that licence to roam. He consistently caught defenders on their heels with his darting runs and was involved in a couple of early chances for his side.

    He did duck out of the game momentarily when PSG were on top but was up for the challenge and was part of Madrid’s revival. He chased down every ball and even closed down the Parisian’s where possible. The Portuguese star converted his penalty expertly to draw his side level and was relentless in the second half as well.

    While the ball fell to him rather fortuitously for his second, once it did, he did well to divert it into the back of the net. After Areola parried Asensio’s cross into his path, he made the slightest adjustment with virtually no time to react to knee it into the goal.

    Cristiano Ronaldo (2R)

    Cristiano Ronaldo (2R)

    GOT RIGHT

    Movement – He poked and prodded at every spot in PSG’s defence and was often able to find space. He stretched the away side’s back-line not just with his runs in behind but with the way he would peel off into wide areas as well. His predatory instincts came to the fore for his second.

    Work-rate – What? It’s not a facet of Ronaldo’s game that’s usually highlighted but he was definitely up for this encounter. He was persistent with his runs, toiling to unlock the back four regularly. He went some way towards defending from the front. An honest day’s work.

    GOT WRONG

    Finishing – He scored two vital goals on the night but by his own lofty standards, he should’ve at least had a hat-trick. He fizzed an early attempt wide, blazed one over the bar from inside the area with time and space and failed to beat Areola in a one-one-one. Only four of his 10 attempts found the target.

    Free-kicks – In a game of this magnitude, a free-kick can make all the difference but Ronaldo squandered a couple of well positioned ones against PSG, an all too familiar sight for the Bernabeu crowd.

    KEY MOMENTS

    3rd min SHOT: Isco plays a ball over the top of the defence to find Ronaldo who made a good run. He fires a shot across goal but it fizzes wide.

    28th min ONE-ON-ONE: Madrid break quickly on the counter and Marcelo whips a sublime ball around PSG’s back-line for Ronaldo on the far side whose attempted finish strikes Areola in the face.

    37th min SHOT: Ronaldo wins the ball on the edge of the box, turns and blazes his effort over the target when he had time to compose himself.

    45th min GOAL: Lo Celso concedes a penalty for a tug on Kroos. Areola guesses the right way but can’t get to Ronaldo’s powerful strike from the spot.

    83rd minute GOAL: Ronaldo gives the hosts the lead. Asensio sends a low cross across the face of goal which is parried into the Portuguese’s path who knees it into the back of the net.

    Cristiano Ronaldo score his second

    Cristiano Ronaldo score his second

    VERDICT

    One of his better performances this season. He didn’t dominate proceedings, leave defenders for dead or score a spectacular goal but he was a constant threat to PSG. Every time Madrid went forward, Ronaldo was there making a clever run, dragging defenders out of position.

    He wasn’t at his clinical best either but persevered and was rewarded with two goals which could make all the difference as Madrid now take a 3-1 lead to Paris. Ronaldo worked hard for his team, raising his output in the face of Neymar, and contributed towards what was a well earned win for Los Blancos.

    RATING: 8/10

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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