Burkina Faso
Croatia
Czech Republic
Indonesia
International Tournaments
Nigeria
Republic OF Ireland
South Africa

PSGvs.Man City

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 January 2025, 13:42
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City meet at the Parc des Princes in arguably the most important game across matchday seven of the league phase in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Many would have expected this to be a dead rubber at the beginning of the competition, but it has since taken on huge importance for both after dreadful starts on the continent.

Match preview

Despite winning away to Red Bull Salzburg on matchday six, PSG still find themselves in a perilous position ahead of facing the Premier League champions this week.

Luis Enrique's men remain outside the top 24, just one place below it on seven points, with the Salzburg win seeing them register as many wins and score as many goals as they had managed in their previous seven Champions League games.

Four points is the absolute minimum requirement if they want to be assured of a playoff place, because a defeat here will leave it out of their hands before travelling to Stuttgart on the final matchday.

However, confidence has been restored by that Salzburg win, because after going three games without victory, they have since won eight straight matches since their visit to Austria.

PSG were handed one of the toughest draws of any team in the league phase, having to face Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and now Man City, but taking just one point against the three of them prior to this week is still massively disappointing.

Enrique saw his side come from behind to beat Lens 2-1 at the weekend to extend that impressive winning run, and to go nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1, so with the title all but secured, they must now ensure their European campaign does not end before the spring.

The Parisians have only won of their seven meetings with Man City, but that came in their last meeting at the Parc des Princes, winning 2-0 despite registering just six shots all evening - the lowest in a home match in their Champions League history.

Manager Enrique also has a fine record against his opposite number Pep Guardiola, losing just two of their five previous clashes, and being one of only two managers (along with Jurgen Klopp) to have beaten the City boss by three or more goals on multiple occasions.

City's season has played out in a similar fashion to PSG's, with a dismal start in Europe also crossing over into their league form, but they now appear back on track after four wins in five games.

After losing just three games in 28 on the road in the Champions League, City have now lost back-to-back away games, their worst run since the 2011-12 season, going down to Sporting Lisbon and Juventus, hugely damaging their chances of making it through.

However, after thumping Salford City 8-0 in the FA Cup last weekend, City then took Ipswich Town to the cleaners at Portman Road on Sunday, mercilessly hitting the Tractor Boys for six in the Premier League.

Guardiola's men did throw two points away at Brentford in between those two victories though, suggesting that a late title surge is beyond them, placing even greater importance on advancing in this competition.

That became evidently clear on Sunday, when Guardiola rang the changes on the hour mark with City 5-0 up, even substituting Erling Haaland when the opportunity for more goals was there for their top scorer.

City enter matchday seven just inside the playoff places, one point above PSG, but they could be overtaken by both Stuttgart and PSV Eindhoven before they play, as both have winnable fixtures on Tuesday.

A 4-1 thrashing at Sporting, a calamitous collapse at home to Feyenoord, and a dismal display in Turin against Juve has put City in this position, after they had taken seven points from their first three games.

City's only wins have come against minnows Slovan Bratislava, and fellow pot-four outfit Sparta Prague, and even though a win against Club Brugge on matchday eight is expected, and should be enough to progress, losing here would make that encounter extremely nervy for the home crowd.

Paris Saint-Germain Champions League form:

W

L

D

L

L

W

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Manchester City Champions League form:

D

W

W

L

D

L

Manchester City form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

D

W

Team News

PSG will be sweating over the fitness of defensive pairing Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi, who have both been absent throughout January, while Ousmane Dembele has also missed the last two games through illness, but should return.

New signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will not be available for the remainder of the league phase, with PSG only able to register him to their Champions League squad ahead of the knockout stages, but the Georgian will have a tough task in forcing his way into the team over the in-form Bradley Barcola.

Enrique has a big call to make up front too, with big-money signings Goncalo Ramos and Desire Doue both tussling for a start, but the latter is most likely to get the nod.

Man City were without Nathan Ake at the weekend due to a minor muscle problem, and are still being cautious with John Stones, who has been recovering from an ankle problem recently, so Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias may start again.

Like Kvaratskhelia at PSG, any new signings for City will not be eligible to play in their final two league phase fixtures, so Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov will have to make do with domestic fixtures only for the time being after their signings are announced.

Rodri remains the only long-term injury concern for City, with Oscar Bobb now back in full training after breaking his leg on the eve of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Dembele, Doue, Barcola

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Lewis, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Bernardo Silva, Kovacic, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Savinho

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Manchester City

Once City get back into their groove, they are a formidable opponent for anybody, and when push comes to shove, they usually deliver, and they will fancy their chances of virtually confirming a playoff place this week with a game to spare.

Written by

Andrew Delaney

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will continue their quest to win the Copa del Rey for the 21st time when they lock horns with Leganes in Wednesday's quarter-final clash. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Tottenham will not be signing Axel Disasi on deadline day, talkSPORT understands. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leganes captain Sergio Gonzalez will be available to feature in Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Real Madrid. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly sent an offer of £20m to Burnley for centre-back Maxime Esteve, but the Clarets are holding out for a higher fee. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic have reportedly made a late move to sign Crystal Palace's Jeffrey Schlupp on loan, as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his squad before the transfer deadline. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester United pulled out of the race to sign Mathys Tel as Bayern Munich excluded a buy option in a deal, talkSPORT understands. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Meeting for the second time in three seasons in Coupe de France, Strasbourg welcome Angers to Stade de la Meinau for their round-of-16 encounter this midweek. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will have to name a replacement for the injured Antonio Rudiger for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganes at Butarque. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly ended their interest in signing Tottenham Hotspur-bound Mathys Tel due to Bayern Munich demanding a £5m loan fee for the 19-year-old. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and West Ham United have named their first XIs for Monday's Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton is reportedly wanted by Championship side Middlesbrough in a late deadline day deal that could fetch 'significantly' more than £10m. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia is reportedly set for a loan move to PSV Eindhoven. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that they have recalled David Datro Fofana from his loan spell at Goztepe SK, a move that could trigger a pair of departures from Stamford Bridge. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly is reportedly on the radar of England's senior plans ahead of the March internationals. 3 February 2025 talksport.com No one knows better than Cristiano Ronaldo about how to succeed at Real Madrid, so Kylian Mbappe better listen up. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Toulouse and Guingamp will lock horns in a battle between two recent winners of the Coupe de France on Wednesday night. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham are reportedly yet to respond to an offer from Palmeiras for midfielder Andreas Pereira. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester United player Angel Gomes is reportedly set to remain at Lille until the end of the campaign. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France is up for grabs when Nice travel to fourth-tier Stade Briochin on Wednesday. 3 February 2025 talksport.com A tenacious fan managed to give Lionel Messi's bodyguard the slip to embrace his hero during an Inter Miami friendly on Sunday. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will look to progress to the Copa del Rey semi-finals when they travel to Mestalla for Thursday's quarter-final tie against Valencia. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly re-entered the race for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi during the final stages of the window. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly ready to push through the signing of Saint-Etienne midfielder Mathis Amougou. 3 February 2025 talksport.com The 2025 Premier League winter transfer window slams shut tonight with clubs rushing to complete some last-gasp activity. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Carlisle United are reportedly considering a bold approach for Steven Gerrard as their next manager following the dismissal of Mike Williamson. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to be one of the lowest-ranked teams to make the Coupe de France last eight, AS Cannes and Dives-Cabourg clash in the competition's round of 16 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Wednesday. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah gave Gary Lineker a humorous, yet jokey, hint about his future at Liverpool. 3 February 2025 talksport.com Wrexham's ascent as a Welsh footballing powerhouse is continuing off the pitch as well as on it. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to miss out on the signing of Leon Bailey from Aston Villa. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly finally reached an agreement over the sale of Mario Lemina.