Cristiano Ronaldo has conceded that Real Madrid's season is now effectively all about their looming Uefa Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain as the Spanish giants trail off the pace in the Primera Liga. "The tie...is one that could define the whole season," the Portuguese forward told Madrid's website after picking up a prize for best player in the world last season from the website <em>Goal.com</em>. "We're going to come up against a great team with excellent players, whom we respect a lot. But we've already shown that we have a very strong, united and experienced group in this competition." Madrid host PSG at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday in the first leg of their last 16 tie, with the return set for March 6 in the French capital. Zinedine Zidane's side have won the Champions League in each of the last two seasons, and it is eight years since Madrid were eliminated at this stage. They are fourth in the Primera Liga, 17 points behind leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand. That is despite <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/zidane-warns-psg-to-be-wary-of-cristiano-ronaldo-in-uefa-champions-league-after-real-madrid-thrash-real-sociedad-1.703450">a big 5-2 win over Real Sociedad at the weekend</a>, a game in which Ronaldo scored a hat-trick. <strong>______________</strong> <strong>Read more</strong> <strong>Champions League talking points: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/benzema-may-overshadow-the-ronaldo-v-neymar-show-champions-league-talking-points-1.703627">Benzema may overshadow Ronaldo-Neymar show</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/disallowed-suarez-goal-sums-up-frustrating-night-for-barcelona-in-0-0-draw-against-getafe-1.703731">Disallowed Suarez goal sums up frustrating night for Barca in draw against Getafe</a></strong> <strong>Jose Mourinho: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/jose-mourinho-david-de-gea-will-not-leave-manchester-united-for-real-madrid-1.703458">David de Gea will not leave Manchester United for Real Madrid</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/hindsight-shows-the-mistakes-made-by-real-madrid-and-zinedine-zidane-1.699010">Hindsight shows the mistakes made by Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane</a></strong> <strong>______________</strong>
