MBAPPE’S MOMENT OF MAGIC SAVES MESSI’S BLUSHES

Kylian Mbappe scores last gasp winner after Lionel Messi misses from the penalty spot. The Parisians head to the Bernabeu with a narrow 1-0 advantage on the 9th of March.

In a game that looked like it would never quite go for PSG, they finally got their golden chance to get a goal. Kylian Mbappe won a blatant foul in the 18-yard box in the 60th minute. Lionel Messi stepped up to give his side the advantage against his arch rivals Real Madrid. The moment proved to be too much for him as Thibaut Courtois easily guesses which way Messi would put the ball, preventing the ball from going in.

Finally, PSG got their goal, in the last seconds of the game, Mbappe glided through Real Madrid's defence before slotting the ball through Courtois' legs. The Parc de Princes was electric, their time came, the dreaded goalless draw wasn't to be. The world cup winner gave his side the all-important advantage in the dying moments; the French giants now can take a one goal lead to the Bernabeu for the second leg.

Setting the tone

Instantly the pitch was set alight by Kylian Mbappe, the first highlight of the game came from him over on the left-hand-side. The Frenchman teased Dani Carvajal, twisting the Spaniard inside-out before chopping the ball past him.

Mbappe then drilled the ball across the 6-yard box, reaching Angel Di Maria. Unfortunately, Di Maria skied his shot over the bar on his favoured foot.

Courtois denies Mbappe

With PSG keeping possession for the majority of the first 20 minutes, it was only a matter of time before star-man Mbappe broke through the Madrid defence again. Nuno Mendes chipped a long ball forward - over the top of Real Madrid's back line - towards Mbappe.

Eder Militao attempted to pressure him but is shrugged off. The effort on goal was slightly disappointing, Mbappe wasn't able to get enough contact on the strike.

The shot went straight at Courtois from close range, who was able to turn the ball away for a corner kick.

Trying to break the deadlock

The rest of the first 45 proved to be a fairly dull show, however after the interval, chances to break the deadlock began to occur.

5 minutes into the second half, Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi flicked the ball beautifully inside Real's 18-yard box onto Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman's impressive first touch encouraged the drilled shot at goal.

The attempt was on target although the Belgian wall got down to the shot before it whistled over the goal-line. Leo Messi was on the end of the rebound but sent it flying over the bar.

Penalty for Paris

On the hour mark, Kylian Mbappe left Carvajal for dead once again. The struggling full-back brought down Mbappe inside the box. The defender's outstretched legs got no contact on the ball.

Daniele Orsato instantly gave the penalty, possibly the easiest decision he made all game. Lionel Messi stepped up to take the spot-kick.

Messi struck the ball to his right, aiming for the bottom corner. Unfortunately for the Argentine, Thibaut Courtois had also opted to go that direction and palmed away the shot. Real Madrid players crowded their saviour in complete ecstasy as he had once again kept them in this fixture.

In the post-match interview, Courtois admitted he'd done his homework, "It was obvious what way he would go, it was a good save"

Inches away

With time running out and still no goal, PSG needed to find a way through in order to get their deserved advantage. Lionel Messi fed the ball into Mbappe on the left flank who shifted the ball out of his feet well.

Mbappe curled the ball towards the far post along the floor; his effort came agonisingly close. Thibaut Courtois was finally beaten however the ball trickled just wide of the post.

Neymar dinks it from a tight angle

Messi continued to create opportunities for his side, desperate to redeem himself after missing what looked to be the match winner. The Argentine darted forward before playing the ball out to Neymar.

Courtois closed down Neymar, which forced the Brazilian to release the ball early than he would have liked. He dinked it over Courtois - going for goal - however the ball couldn't get over the line as it flashes across the goal mouth.

The ball travelled out for a throw-in; Neymar's attempt had too much on it.

Right at the death

This was it; one last chance. Neymar received the ball and topped off his impressive cameo appearance by back-heeling the ball over to Mbappe, a pass that would result in his partner in crime scoring in the final kick of the game.

Mbappe brought down the ball, eased his way past two Real players, before placing the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal. His shot took a miniscule deflection that helped the strike pass through Courtois' legs cleanly.

The Parc de Princes exploded as the net rippled, the Parisians had done it. In the very last moment of the game; it looked all set to be a goalless draw. A generous score line to Real and a disappointing one for PSG. But Kylian Mbappe passed his Real Madrid audition with flying colours by breaking the hearts of their fans and players in the dying seconds.

Advantage PSG

Kylian Mbappe's last gasp winner secured a narrow 1-0 advantage for PSG in the first leg of this historic round of 16 match clash. The game looked like it would finish a goalless draw, with Thibaut Courtois being the hero for Real Madrid. The Belgian was a brick wall all game however he wasn't able to stop Mbappe slotting the ball home in the dying moments.

The Frenchman's moment of magic gives PSG a sacred lead to take to Madrid. At one point it looked as though the opportunity to win had been squandered, as Lionel Messi wasn't able to convert his penalty.

The second leg will be played at the Bernabeu where Ancelotti's side will attempt to come back and claw their way through to the quarter final, however both Casemiro and Ferland Mendy missing out due to suspension. Los Blancos will have to come up with something special to overcome the French giants.

What's Next?

Next match report = Chelsea vs Liverpool

Sunday 27th February 16:30

Line ups:

PSG - Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Hakimi, Verratti, Paredes, Danilo Pereira (Gueye 87'), Mbappe, Messi, Di Maria (Neymar 73')

Bookings - Verratti (40'), Danilo Pereira (62'), Kimpembe (83'), Paredes (90')

Real Madrid - Courtois, Mendy, Alaba, Militao, Carvajal (Vazquez 72'), Kroos, Casemiro, Modric (Valverde 82'), Vinicius Jr (Hazard 82'), Asensio (Rodrygo 72'), Benzema (87')

Bookings - Casemiro (37'), Militao (51'), Mendy (57'), Rodrygo (83')

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Aggregate Score: 1-0 PSG

MOTM: Kylian Mbappe

Written by Isabelle Newnham