Real Madrid vs PSG Champions League Matchday 5 Odds, Picks & Betting Preview

• It’s Matchday 5 in the UEFA Champions League next week
• The top two in Group A clash in Madrid
• A point for the Galácticos should be enough to secure a place in the knockout phase

Group A’s top two meet in Madrid on Matchday 5 on November 26, at 3:00 pm EST in the penultimate round of group games in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

PSG’s 4-0-0 record has already earned them a place in the knockout stages but there is still work to do for Real Madrid, who need a win to mathematically secure their place. In reality, with their superior goal difference, a draw will be enough for the Spanish, but they’ll just want to get the job done.

So, where’s the value? We’ll take a look.

Real Madrid vs PSG UCL Odds

Odds taken on Nov. 19

Sportsbooks have Real as slight favorites with good reason. PSG beat the Spaniards on opening day but it was a victory tainted by controversy – so not too much should be read into that one – and with the French champions having already qualified for the knockout phase, they may take their foot off the pedal for this game.

All of the incentive here is with Real and that could well be the deciding factor although, with no pressure on them, PSG can go to the Bernabeau and play with freedom. There is also the small matter of a 100% record to protect, something that if maintained would send out a powerful message to the other big-hitters ahead of the knockout phase.

PSG Prosper After Matchday 1 Controversy

PSG’s campaign got off to the perfect start with the win over Real on Matchday 1. A brace from Angel Di Maria and an injury-time strike from Thomas Meunier gave the scoreline an empathetic look – and few argued that PSG deserved the win on the night – but it was a game dominated by a controversial VAR decision that ruled out a fine Gareth Bale strike that would have made it 2-1.

Sustained Madrid pressure followed the ruled-out goal, and Meunier’s late strike came as a result of the visitors committing numbers forward in the vain hope of a comeback, so it’s well worth noting before placing a bet that 3-0 was a flattering scoreline for the hosts.

There was nothing fortuitous about the two away-day PSG wins on Matchdays 2 and 3 though. A tricky looking tie in Istanbul against Galatasary was successfully negotiated thanks to a single Mauro Icardi goal, and was followed by a 5-0 demolition of Club Brugge with a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe and a brace from Icardi.

PSG’s return game with Brugge was less dramatic but another Icardi goal was enough to seal the deal and secure their place in the second phase of the competition. With their place assured, will they rest key players in the Bernabeau?

PSG’s campaign got off to the perfect start with the win over Real on Matchday 1 thanks to a brace from Angel Di Maria and an injury-time strike from Thomas Meunier

Real Looking for Revenge

Real’s terrible start to the competition didn’t improve massively on Matchday 2, when they were only able to draw 2-2 at the Bernabeau with ten-man Club Brugge. It could, however, have been far worse after trailing 2-0 at half-time, but second-half goals from Sergio Ramos and Carlos Casimiro managed to salvage what, in hindsight, was a vital point.

Order was finally restored for the Spaniards on Matchday 3 when they too went to Galatasary and won 1-0 – the goal coming from Toni Kroos – and the reverse fixture in Madrid offered a glimpse of the Real of old when they ran riot with a 6-0 thrashing, the goals coming from Ramos, Karim Benzema and a hattrick from Rodrygo.

Zidane Needs the Win

All of which leaves Real on the cusp of qualifying but still with a little work to do before getting across the line. They have been helped by Brugge and Galatasaray’s failure to win a single game between them – the crucial one being the opener between the pair that ended in a 0-0 draw – and so while the Bernabeau crowd will be demanding a win, the draw will still probably be enough.

However, with Zinedine Zidane’s position as Real manager still subject to much speculation, the Frenchman will be sending his side out to win and hopefully in style. The 3-0 defeat in Paris hurt and this will be a chance for revenge. For that reason alone, I’m going for the home win.

My pick: Real to win (+129)