The entire football world will focus its gaze on Madrid on Wednesday night but the repercussions of another bad night for Zinedine Zidane may be most keenly felt in north London.

It may seem bizarre that the future of a manager aiming to become the first to win three consecutive European Cups is under such scrutiny, but this is Real Madrid and a glance at the current La Liga table is both startling and instructive.

Fourth and some 17 points behind Barcelona – a situation compounded by their humiliation in the Spanish Cup against Leganes - means that the Champions League is now regarded as Zidane’s last shot at salvation. And, should he depart this summer, the name of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will figure prominently on Madrid’s shortlist.

Meanwhile, Striker Edinson Cavani believes Paris Saint-Germain are still growing and should not be under pressure to win the Champions League.

The runaway Ligue 1 leaders travel to face Real Madrid on Wednesday in the first leg of their stand-out last-16 tie but Cavani has attempted to play down expectations.

He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "I believe it is unnecessary that a club like PSG has the obligation to win the Champions League at all costs, regardless of their signings.

Good tie. Madrid may not get lucky this time with offside goals. Lets see what the self proclaimed GOAT has to offer.

willjoe:
Good tie. Madrid may not get lucky this time with offside goals. Lets see what the self proclaimed GOAT has to offer.

I just hope you wont eat your words when the time comes

Let's see how the €500m signing will help psg .

Madrid all the way.

Sanchez01:

I just hope you wont eat your words when the time comes

about offside goals or being GOAT ?

willjoe:
about offside goals or being GOAT ?

It's just hours away. Why don't you just sit back and see how everything unfolds

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.

Opta stats

PSG have eliminated Real Madrid in their two previous knockout encounters (1992/93 UEFA Cup, 1993/94 Cup Winners Cup), both times in the quarter-finals.

Under Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid have won 10 of their 14 Champions League knockout games (D2 L2), lifting the trophy twice in as many seasons. As part of this run, they've won all six of their games at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid have reached the semi-finals in each of the last seven Champions League campaigns, also a record run in the history of the competition.

Last season, Real Madrid became the first team since Inter Milan in 2010 to win the Champions League after having finished second in their group.
PSG scored 25 goals in this season's group stages, a record in the group phase of the competition.

Top scorers
Champions League 2017/18

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid 9
Harry Kane, Tottenham 7
Roberto Firmino, Liverpool 6
Neymar, PSG 6
Edinson Cavani, PSG 6
Wissam Ben Yedder, Sevilla 6
Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool 5
Vincent Abouakar, FC Porto 5

Is Chelsea Vs Barcelona also today?

willjoe:
Good tie. Madrid may not get lucky this time with offside goals. Lets see what the self proclaimed GOAT has to offer.

Yes, You shall see.