nacho helps madrid see off paris to reach last 16 published: tuesday 3 november 2015, 22.57cet real madrid 1-0 paris nacho's first-half goal separated the sides and took rafael benítez's team through with two group a games to spare, the visitors missing a host of chances. by joseph walker from santiago bernabéu
real madrid beat paris to secure top-two finish in group a paris spurn a number of chances in dominant first half substitute nacho makes them pay after 35 minutes paris unable to find a way past keylor navas, the competition's only unbeaten goalkeeper next games: shakhtar v real madrid, malmö v paris (25 november)
real madrid booked their place in the uefa champions league round of 16 as they withstood a barrage of first-half paris saint-germain attacks to claim a narrow victory.
the visitors took the initiative from the off and wonderful interplay down the right set the tone as ángel di maría, back at the santiago bernabéu, fed the marauding serge aurier. blaise matuidi met the ıvorian's centre; keylor navas was equal to the midfielder's effort.
zlatan ıbrahimovic then curled two efforts just wide, but it was madrid who struck first as they made paris pay for their profligacy in front of goal. toni kroos’s long-range effort was deflected high into the air and while there appeared to be no immediate danger, goalkeeper kevin trapp slipped as he came to claim and nacho volleyed into an open goal.
paris' morale seemed unaffected as substitute adrien rabiot hit the post before edinson cavani saw his clipped effort cleared off the line with the final kick of the first period.
the second half was less frantic, the visitors continuing to enjoy the majority of the ball without creating the same volume of chances. di maría tested navas and hit the bar from a free-kick with two minutes to go as madrid held on to their narrow lead to secure a victory and move clear in group a.
madrid show resolve ıt is often said the mark of true champions is not playing well and winning and that is just what madrid did. they held firm despite a number of paris threats – and at times rode their luck – to claim three points, top spot in the group and a place in the last 16 with two games to spare.
strength in reserve losing a player in the first period is never easy, however both madrid and paris replaced the injured duo of marcelo and marco verratti with ease. moments after coming on for the brazilian, nacho opened the scoring with what was virtually his first touch, while rabiot showed composure in the centre of the pitch, striking a post with a sumptuous volley.
tale of two goalkeepers neither goalkeeper had conceded in this season's uefa champions league, but it was navas who ended the evening as the only man to be beaten in the 2015/16 competition. while trapp was caught out for nacho's goal, navas – who almost left the club in the summer – brought security and composure to the home side, making two smart saves to keep his record intact.
