Benitez, Blanc settle for point after Paris stalemate

Oct 26, 2015
Real Madrid recently took a big step towards finishing top of Champions League Group A after holding Paris St Germain to a 0-0 draw in the French capital.

The 10-time European champions stayed top of the group with seven points from three games.

Real, who were without the services of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez, entered the contest having conceded only two goals in eight La Liga games and none in two European matches.

Speaking after the game, Rafa Benitez, head coach for real Madrid said:

“I knew the players will give everything, respect the plan and keep being organized to try winning the game. I think we had opportunities to win and they had some too but I think we had more. I think we controlled pretty well the game facing a difficult opponent, coming here and shooting to goal more than them, and play the way we played with all injured players we have, as a manager I can be satisfied.”

PSG were almost at full strength with the trio of Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti manning the midfield.

The hosts imposed their usual possession pattern on the game and had their first clear chance after 11 minutes when Matuidi’s low shot was blocked by Keylor Navas.

During a post-match press conference, PSG Manger Laurent Blanc said:

“We are a bit disappointed. We though Paris Saint Germain could dominate Real Madrid and we realize to dominate Real we need to be really good and even if Real is missing players you also have to be really good. Few teams can dominate Real Madrid and we saw it tonight even if I sincerely think we compete with this team. We didn’t dominate them but I really think they didn’t dominate us either, that is why I am saying a draw seems fair for this game.”