'Real Madrid have got an extra gear'
Spanish pundit Guillem Balague has said that PSG were undone by Real Madrid's 'extra gear' in Wednesday night's last-16 Champions League tie.
With just seven minutes to go on the clock, Unai Emery's French side looked to have bagged themselves a draw at the Bernabeu and a valuable away goal. But then Real Madrid decided to really turn it on.
Two quick-fire goals saw the home team win 3-1 and in the driver's seat going into the return fixture in three weeks' time.
Guillem Balague said that PSG's downfall was that they "forgot that Real Madrid have got an extra gear - a Real Madrid gear."
"It has nothing to do with the performance, or who deserves it more, Real Madrid appear when it's needed and they've been doing now for four years now. In fact, for decades! They've been to at least the semi-final in the last seven seasons and they look to be heading the same way, draw permitting," he added.
Balague went on to praise Zidane's well-timed tactics: "Bale came on, Vazquez came on and then Asensio came on. They changed the game completely. Asensio and Vasquez provided the fresh blood while Bale allowed Real to play longer... By hook or by crook, in the end, Zidane changed the game from the bench."
Emery, on the other hand, did not appear to show the managerial prowess of his counterpart, subbing off his top-scoring striker after just 66 minutes to seemingly play for a draw. A very risky move at the Bernabeu, and one that ultimately did not pay off.