In the ninth minute, Benzema dropped deep to support the attack.
Paris Saint-Germain had set up a tight defensive line within the 30-meter area in front of their goal.
Benzema, Di Maria, Modric, the advancing Carvajal, and the deeper-lying Xabi Alonso linked up in a series of passes, constantly pulling at PSG's defensive shape.
Finally, a gap appeared.
Modric carried the ball from the right half-space and played a quick diagonal pass toward the top of the arc.
Benzema held his ground at the edge of the penalty area, using his body to block Benatia. Without taking a touch, he flicked the ball back into Modric's path, forming a neat one-two on the right side.
Modric burst into the right side of the arc, then suddenly sent a diagonal pass with his right foot.
The ball was like a sharp scalpel, cutting straight through PSG's defense, flashing from the right edge of the box across to the far side of the six-yard area.
Ronaldo sprinted at full speed, sliding in to shoot, but arrived just a fraction too late, missing the ball.
The Parc des Princes erupted with gasps from the home fans.
"That was a very dangerous attack from Real Madrid."
"If Ronaldo had timed his run better and moved a little quicker, that would have been a goal."
"This is a warning for PSG. They must pay attention to the defensive gaps created by Real Madrid's passing and movement."
The TV cameras cut to the sidelines, showing Ancelotti shouting Matuidi's name, clearly agitated.
On the opposite bench, Gao Shen held his head in his hands, visibly frustrated at the missed chance.
So close!
Real Madrid's quick passing and constant rotations kept creating opportunities near PSG's penalty area, but they were just missing the final touch.
Ancelotti's side was defending very well.
…
"I never thought Real Madrid could play the same kind of possession game as Barcelona."
PSG assistant coach Castellazzi spoke with admiration.
After the opening minutes, Real Madrid's possession rate had reached 75%, leaving PSG stuck on the back foot.
They could try pressing, but it was pointless.
Ibrahimovic couldn't run much, Cavani could, but pressing recklessly would only burn through energy and accomplish nothing. Even if PSG won the ball, they couldn't keep it for long.
They were struggling to control the rhythm of the game at all.
"Back in Serie A, Napoli were very good at possession football. Gao Shen had the imagination to pair Biglia and Rakitic as double holding midfielders, which caused a huge stir back then."
Ancelotti knew Gao Shen too well.
"And then there was Thiago Motta, who barely played at Barcelona, but under Gao Shen at Napoli, he transformed into a world-class number four. Barcelona even tried to buy him back for a huge fee. But look at us now…"
His face darkened with frustration.
He had wanted Thiago Motta for PSG, convinced the midfielder could stabilize their game. But Barcelona refused to sell, and even had the nerve to try and poach Thiago Silva instead.
Ridiculous.
At present, PSG had very few players in defense or midfield who could control possession. Benatia could pass a bit, Beckham as well, but Beckham's age was showing.
"We must bring in a playmaker this summer, or else we'll always be too passive!" Ancelotti said bitterly.
As a manager with ambitions, how could he be satisfied with parking the bus?
At AC Milan and Chelsea, his teams had played attacking football, sometimes spectacularly.
But at PSG, they bullied weaker Ligue 1 sides, then looked helpless in the Champions League.
"Bring Xabi Alonso here," Castellazzi joked.
"Don't even mention it. Under Gao Shen this season, Alonso's performances have gone up a level. He's been incredible," Ancelotti admitted, genuinely impressed.
Xabi Alonso could defend and attack. His only weakness was struggling under heavy pressing, but he solved it by dropping all the way back alongside the centre-backs to collect the ball.
And his long passing ability was unmatched.
Gao Shen valued that highly.
Toni Kroos excelled at long passing too, as did Alonso, and other players like Marcelo, Carvajal, Di Maria, and Modric could all strike accurate long passes when needed.
Even Ramos and Pepe could do it.
Gao Shen's system clearly relied on centre-backs who could distribute.
And to make sure, Real Madrid had already announced a contract extension with Xabi Alonso, including a massive €100 million release clause.
Obviously, it was a warning to rich clubs not to bother trying.
Who would spend €100 million to poach Alonso?
"You still have to be careful. Real Madrid's tempo changes very quickly, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. It's very different from Barcelona," Ancelotti reminded.
Barcelona's tempo was always steady. Under Guardiola it was better, though slower with each passing year, but now, Barcelona's football had become lethargic.
Ancelotti knew PSG's deep defensive stance would struggle against Real Madrid, but he had no other choice.
If they pushed forward and left space, they would collapse completely.
Just like earlier, Benzema dropped deep, played the wall pass, drew Matuidi and Chantome, and even pulled Benatia out of position.
That was why Modric's diagonal pass had opened them up so cleanly.
The PSG players couldn't stand still, because Madrid's movement always dragged them around. But if they followed, new gaps opened up for Madrid to exploit.
…
As the match continued, Ancelotti saw the danger more clearly.
Real Madrid focused their attacks on the flanks but always combined it with central breakthroughs.
A key sign was Di Maria and Ronaldo's movement. They dropped deeper often, then pushed forward into the channels between full-backs and centre-backs, pressing PSG's defensive line from awkward angles.
Meanwhile, Madrid's full-backs, Marcelo and Carvajal, were used almost like wingers.
Once Real Madrid locked possession inside PSG's 30-meter zone, both teams' shapes flattened out.
To defend, PSG had to compress further, but that created other problems.
Like in the 21st minute.
Real Madrid first attacked through the middle. Alonso sent a long ball toward Benzema, but Benatia headed it clear.
Modric collected, but Matuidi immediately intercepted and the ball rolled to Carvajal on the right.
The right-back controlled it outside PSG's 30-meter area and tried to return it to Modric, but Matuidi shadowed him tightly.
At that moment, Di Maria dropped back to receive Carvajal's pass.
The Argentine had his back to goal, with Modric surging forward again, but Matuidi followed Modric closely.
Di Maria shifted laterally inside with the ball.
If time had frozen at that moment, the situation would have looked fascinating.
The ball was on the right side, moving inside. Benzema stood at the top-right arc of the penalty area, Ronaldo had drifted to the top-left arc, and Kroos had pushed up to support Di Maria.
Madrid's entire attacking shape tilted toward the right and center.
Naturally, PSG's defense shifted too. Beckham and Jallet tucked in. Pastore tracked Alonso.
The entire left side of the pitch was wide open.
Of course, in reality, nobody saw it clearly. The situation was fluid, and everyone reacted in real time.
But just as Di Maria cut inside, he suddenly whipped a diagonal left-footed pass.
The ball sailed across, landing perfectly at the left edge of PSG's penalty area.
Yallet and Ronaldo both raced into the box, but the pass wasn't meant for them.
Everyone wondered who Di Maria was aiming for, until a white shirt appeared at full speed from deep.
Marcelo!
Ancelotti's eyes widened.
Cavani had already started sprinting back, shouting urgently, sensing the danger.
Marcelo surged forward, cushioning Di Maria's pass with his left foot.
Almost instantly, Ronaldo and Benzema charged into the middle, ready to pounce.
Yallet rushed to close Marcelo down.
But instead of crossing immediately, Marcelo drove the ball inside with a dribble.
Yallet lunged recklessly and was beaten.
The Brazilian tore into the left side of the box.
Beckham and Thiago Silva scrambled to cover, Chantome also sprinted back desperately.
But Marcelo didn't square it to Ronaldo or Benzema. Instead, he cut the ball back to the edge of the area.
Toni Kroos arrived, stopped it with his right foot, adjusted, and struck from the left side of the arc.
The shot was like a thunderbolt, ripping through PSG's defense, flying straight toward the right corner of the net.
(To be continued.)
***
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