REAL MADRID vs PSG preview

The cream of the European crop return to action this week with the Champions League knockout stages beginning on Tuesday.
Sixteen teams remain in the hunt for club football's biggest prize, with five English teams in contention and Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid the standout tie.

Big-spending PSG memorably lost to Barcelona at the same stage last season, winning the first leg 4-0 before Neymar - now with the French club following a world record £198m move - inspired Barca to a 6-1 win in the return game.

Real are fourth in La Liga - 17 points adrift of leaders Barcelona - and the future of manager Zinedine Zidane as manager rests on the last-16 tie.
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But ahead of facing his countrymen, a relaxed Zidane played down speculation over his future, saying: "I am only thinking about the match. I can only control what happens on the field and prepare for that.
"That is what is important. My future does not matter much."

TEAM NEWS:-
Real Madrid will be without full-back Dani Carvajal through suspension, meaning Raphael Varane could play on the right of defence with Nacho partnering Sergio Ramos in the centre.

Jesus Vallejo and Dani Ceballos are also set to miss out through injury while Zidane will have to make a call on whether to start Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo as a front three.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery has left Thiago Motta out of the squad heading for the Spanish capital.

Former Real midfielder Lassana Diarra is set to start in his place behind the star-studded front three of Neymar, Cavani and Kylian Mbappe.

The most eye-catching of the eight ties sees Europe's most successful team against another looking to create a legacy of their own.

Unai Emery's PSG, who threw away a 4-0 first-leg lead against Barcelona at this stage last year, are once again running away with the top flight in France. They are 12 points clear in Ligue 1 and have added both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to their attacking ranks since that Nou Camp humiliation.

PREDICTED LINEUPS:-
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain

Madrid: Navas; Nacho, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modrić; Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema
Out: Carvajal (suspended), Vallejo (hamstring)
Doubtful: Ceballos (ankle)

Paris: Areola; Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Berchiche; Verratti, Diarra, Rabiot; Mbappé, Cavani, Neymar
Out: Thiago Motta (fitness)
Doubtful: Kurzawa (thigh)

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