Who else but him?

"Kyky" unlocked the Madrid lock with a goal (90th + 4) in his image, full of speed and accuracy, which blew up the Parc des Princes.

With a dribble, he erased two defenders before unleashing a shot from the right that was too fast for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had played a perfect game until then.

The striker rewarded his team's dominance, in a good position before the return match at the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium on March 9.

The Parisians were full of confidence.

The joy of Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé, author of the only goal of the match against Real Madrid, during their round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, on February 15, 2022 at the Parc des Princes FRANCK FIFE AFP

Generous, applied, combative, the teammates of Marco Verratti, masterful in the midfield, achieved one of their best performances of the season.

To his qualities, we must add patience.

Like many times in Ligue 1 this season, PSG made the difference in added time, a characteristic to be credited to their self-sacrifice.

Real, which had no chance, despite the presence of its star Karim Benzema, can even be happy with the result.

Paris should have scored one or two more goals.

Lionel Messi missed a penalty (62nd) which is likely to weigh heavily when doing the accounts in three weeks.

Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saves the penalty shot by Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi in their Champions League round of 16 first leg on February 15, 2022 at the Parc des Princes FRANCK FIFE AFP

The Argentinian, clumsy, was chambered by Real supporters who chanted his name, after a well-placed free kick that the "Pulga" did not target (75th).

Neymar played again

In addition to the deflected penalty, Courtois also made several decisive saves which sickened Mbappé.

The French striker, who could join the merengue club when his contract expires in June, has long lacked efficiency (18th, 50th, 74th, 90th), before his flash of genius in additional time.

His success will be one of the Parisians' keys to the second leg in Madrid, where Neymar is set to start, having started as a substitute on Tuesday.

The Brazilian, who had not played since the end of November due to a sprained left ankle, played the last 20 minutes, the time to distinguish himself with a good breakthrough (75th) and a shot from the side (86th) .

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian striker Neymar sees his shot deflected by Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during their Champions League round of 16 first leg match on February 15, 2022 at the Parc des Princes Alain JOCARD AFP

Like 'Ney', Benzema has three weeks to ramp up before the rematch.

Long uncertain due to an injury to the left thigh, the "Nueve" started as a starter after three weeks without playing.

The meeting proved that there was a C1 button in Paris which increased the motivation of the players, criticized for their lack of investment in the Championship.

From the outset, the Parisians put pressure on Real who did not play in the opposing camp during the first half hour.

But chase the natural ... Despite a large possession, PSG have long been too predictable in their game to shake up the best defense in the group stage.

As often this season, the danger came mainly from the left lane, where the accelerations of Nuno Mendes and Mbappé made Dani Carvajal dizzy.

Unhappy Messi

The French striker, served by Messi, had the best chance of the first 45 minutes, but Courtois had the last word in their duel (18th).

In the second half, the Belgian goalkeeper intervened again on a powerful strike from "Kyky" (50th).

Nuno Mendes also stumbled on the wall of Brée (23rd, 52nd).

By dint of insisting on this side, a fault ended up being created.

Jostled by Carvajal, Mbappé caused a logical penalty (60th), celebrated as a goal by the Parc des Princes.

Messi had the key to breaking the Madrid lock.

But the Argentinian with seven Golden Balls saw his attempt stopped by Courtois, to the chagrin of Parisian supporters.

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi, after seeing his penalty saved by Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, during their Champions League round of 16 first leg, on February 15, 2022 at the Parc des Princes Alain JOCARD AFP

This failure is reminiscent of the one at the Parc last March, when he came with FC Barcelona, ​​already in the round of 16 (return, 1-1).

With him, the bad memory of his last European campaigns, the final escaping him since 2015.

The Argentinian, who joined Paris to win the competition, had a difficult evening.

Toni Kroos and Casemiro left him almost no space.

His compatriot Angel Di Maria was no more successful.

But luckily Mbappé was there.

© 2022 AFP