The £1BILLION match: PSG and Real Madrid’s expensively-assembled squads face off in Champions League

The £1BILLION match: PSG and Real Madrid’s expensively-assembled squads face off in the Champions League tonight in one of most costly matches ever… but who’s worth more?

  • Real Madrid host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night
  • PSG are on the brink of sealing top spot in group, leading Madrid by five points
  • Some of the biggest stars in world football will battle it out at the Bernabeu
  • The eagerly-anticipated clash is being billed as the remarkable £1billion game

Supporters lucky enough to be at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night when Real Madrid host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, will witness one of the most prestigious matches in world football.

Some of the biggest stars in the world, including Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Eden Hazard, will battle it out for glory as Madrid look to exact revenge on PSG after the Ligue 1 giants coasted to a 3-0 victory last time out.

And fans worldwide can fully expect a thriller in the Spanish capital as the Bernabeu will play host to one of the game’s most lucrative matches in history – with the total combined value of both sides surpassing the remarkable £1billion barrier.

Here, Sportsmail looks at some of the astonishing figures behind the £1bn clash on Tuesday night… 

Eden Hazard will be desperate to prove critics wrong for Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar will be out to hurt Madrid, who have showed interest in the pair

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar will be out to hurt Madrid, who have showed interest in the pair

VALUE OF LIKELY STARTING XI’S

REAL MADRID STARTING XI:

Thibaut Courtois – £49.5m

Dani Carvajal – £63m

Raphael Varane – £63m

Sergio Ramos – £22.5m

Marcelo – £22.5m

Casemiro – £54m

Luka Modric – £18m

Toni Kroos – £54m

Rodrygo – £36m

Eden Hazard – £135m

Karim Benzema – £36m

OVERALL COST: £553.5m

PSG STARTING XI:

Keylor Navas – £9m

Juan Bernat – £13.5m

Abdou Diallo – £31.5m

Thiago Silva – £5.4m

Thomas Meunier – £27m

Marquinhos – £58.5m

Idrissa Gueye – £27m

Leandro Paredes – £22.5m

Neymar – £162m

Kylian Mbappe – £180m

Mauro Icardi – £67.5m

OVERALL COST: £603.9m

 

Over the years, Real Madrid have ruled the roost when it comes to bringing in the world’s most high-profile name for huge money – they became associated with the Galacticos, signing the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham. 

And their spending hasn’t stopped as the years have gone by, with Florentino Perez still dipping in the market to sign world-beaters, such as Eden Hazard in the summer transfer window just gone.

But in PSG, they have met their match and more – with the French powerhouse surpassing their European rivals when it comes to spending following the takeover in 2011 of Qatar Sports Investments, with club president Nasser al-Khelaifi overseeing their financial dominance.

A decade or so ago, it would have been unthinkable that PSG would have team valued higher than Madrid, but incredibly that is now the case. 

Raphael Varane will have a tough job on his hands to keep PSG's star-studded attack quiet

Raphael Varane will have a tough job on his hands to keep PSG’s star-studded attack quiet

Despite enduring a tough time at the Bernabeu, Thibaut Courtois is still valued at £49.5million

Despite enduring a tough time at the Bernabeu, Thibaut Courtois is still valued at £49.5million

Mauro Icardi, who has been in fine form since his move, will be looking to get on scoresheet

Mauro Icardi, who has been in fine form since his move, will be looking to get on scoresheet

According to TransferMarkt – going off current transfer values – PSG’s likely starting XI on Tuesday is worth a staggering £603.9million while Madrid’s costs £553.5m. Add that all up and the overall value comes to an incredible £1,157.4bn.

French superstar Mbappe leads the way for PSG, who is estimated at £180m, while Neymar is worth £162m and Mauro Icardi – on loan from Inter Milan – at £67.5m.

On the other side of the pitch, Hazard – who joined Madrid in the summer from Chelsea after becoming one of the most formidable players in the game – leads the way on £135m.

Raphael Varane is Madrid’s second-most expensive star now, with the French centre-back worth £63m, while Toni Kroos and Casemiro come in at £54m.

Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois – who has endured a very tough time since signing on the dotted line from Chelsea in the summer of 2018 – is still valued at a hefty £49.5m.

Zinedine Zidane will hope to exact revenge on PSG after their heavy 3-0 defeat last time out

Zinedine Zidane will hope to exact revenge on PSG after their heavy 3-0 defeat last time out

Madrid’s likely XI for Tuesday would have come in more expensive than PSG’s if they had ended up signing Neymar in the summer. The Brazilian international had pushed for a move away from Paris after struggling to settle in since his world-record £198m transfer from Barcelona in 2017. 

Zidane failed to get his man but he will almost certainly be back in for him next summer, while a move for his French team-mate Mbappe could come to fruition too.  

All of the above doesn’t even consider those likely to miss out from the start on Tuesday. For PSG, Edison Cavani and Angel di Maria (both valued at £36m) could provide firepower from the bench.

Meanwhile, Madrid’s bench is likely to consist of the likes of Gareth Bale and Isco (both valued at £54m).

Thomas Tuchel's PSG outfit could seal top spot in their group if they grab a point on Tuesday

Thomas Tuchel’s PSG outfit could seal top spot in their group if they grab a point on Tuesday

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