PSG are more like Barcelona than Real Madrid, says Angel Di Maria - 7M sport

PSG are more like Barcelona than Real Madrid, says Angel Di Maria



Posted Monday, February 12, 2018 by squawka.com

PSG are more like Barcelona than Real Madrid, says Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria has risked the ire of his former fans at Real Madrid by comparing the style of play of his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, to that of their bitter rivals Barcelona.

The 29-year-old believes Les Parisiens play a possession-based game similar to Barcelona, while Real Madrid play on the "counter-attack."

The old Spanish adversaries need no reason to fuel their rivalry, but that is perhaps just what the former Manchester United man has done by praising the passing exploits of Ernesto Valverde's team.

PSG face Los Blancos on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 match, and Di Maria was offering an assessment of his former club.

Di Maria told PSG's official website: "I don't think they play to have possession as we do. Our style of play is closer to that of Barcelona.

"Real mostly play on the counter-attack. When their opponents lose the ball, they go forward quickly, and they have the players to do that.

"That's why games against them are difficult to control. The key to the game will be to hold onto the ball well, play our game, play as we know we can, while also staying very focused defensively, because we know they can score at any time."

The Argentine also thinks Neymar has the advantage over Cristiano Ronaldo because of his height, as the two will come face to face in a few days time.

He continued: "They are quite similar players. They are both quick, very strong one-on-one, they play quickly and put a lot of intensity into their games.

"Ney is smaller, and that's perhaps his advantage. But they are both capable of turning games."

The European giants will face each other in a clash of the heavyweights on Wednesday night, with the world watching in awe as the likes of Ronaldo and Neymar take centre stage at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.



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