All you need to know about Real Madrid v. Paris

A BIT OF HISTORY...

This is the 12th competitive fixture between the two teams, with an even head-to-head record of four wins, three draws and four defeats for Les Rouge et Bleu. Just one club has crossed paths with the capital club more often in Europe: FC Barcelona, with 13 matches played.

Paris Saint-Germain have played 35 competitive fixtures against Spanish clubs in their history, including against Real Madrid (11 matches), FC Barcelona (13 matches), Deportivo La Coruña (four matches), Sevilla FC (two matches), Athletic Bilbao (two matches), Valencia CF (two matches) and Racing Santander (one match). The head-to-head record in this respect sits in Les Rouge et Bleu's favour, with 14 wins, nine draws and 12 defeats.

Including friendlies, this is the 17th meeting between the two teams, with the head-to-head record standing at six wins, three draws and seven defeats for Les Parisiens. Real Madrid will tonight join Barcelona on 17 matches as Les Parisiens' most regular opponent.

Paris Saint-Germain have played 16 competitive fixtures against Spanish clubs in Spain, including against Real Madrid (five matches), FC Barcelona (six matches), Deportivo La Coruña (two matches), Sevilla FC (one match), Athletic Bilbao (one match) and Valencia CF (one match). The head-to-head record in this respect stands at five wins, three draws and eight defeats, with Les Parisiens coming off the back of a magnificent 4-1 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou in February of last year.

12 players have worn the shirts of both clubs: Nicolas Anelka, Alphonse Areola, David Beckham, Angel Di María, Lassana Diarra, Achraf Hakimi, Gabriel Heinze, Jesé, Claude Makélélé, Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos and Pablo Sarabia.

THE STAKES...

It's a clash between two European heavyweights – since 2012, Paris and Real have always made it through to the last 16 of the competition, a performance matched only by Bayern Munich.

Paris Saint-Germain are taking part in their 30th European campaign since making their debut in the European Cup Winners' Cup during the 1982-83 season.

It's also the tenth time in Les Rouge et Bleu's history that they have taken part in a Champions League last-16 tie, making it through on six occasions and bowing out on three. Paris have reached the last 16 of the various European competitions on 18 occasions, getting through on 12 of them and going out on six.

Against Los Blancos, Paris Saint-Germain will be playing their 135th match in the UEFA Champions League, with a record of 73 wins, 25 draws and 36 defeats. The capital club will also be playing their 247th European encounter*, with a record of 129 wins, 55 draws and 62 defeats.

THE KEYS TO THE match...

Les Parisiens will be aiming to go through in Madrid, where they will be playing the 20th UEFA Champions League last-16 game in their history, including both home and away legs. Les Rouge et Bleu have always scored at least one goal in matches at this stage of the competition.

Paris Saint-Germain will also be able to rely on their captain, Marquinhos, who is now the capital club's record appearance-maker in Europe with 72 matches played, putting him just ahead of Marco Verratti, who has made 71 appearances in Europe for Paris.

With 30 goals scored, Edinson Cavani remains Paris's top scorer in the Champions League, but Kylian Mbappé is getting dangerously close, with 26 goals scored in Europe for Paris since 2017.

Paris Saint-Germain's man in form has found the net on 24 occasions in competitive fixtures this season, including five in the UEFA Champions League, and has scored at least once in the club's last three European matches (one against Manchester City, two against Club Brugge and one against Real Madrid).

*These figures take the UEFA Super Cup into account but not the Intertoto Cup.