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 are reportedly determined not to change plans in the final day of the January transfer market despite Antonio Rudiger suffering an injury. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly agreed a loan move to Crystal Palace and is set to undergo a medical ahead of a deadline day move. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Jordan Henderson was involved in a tense exchange with a journalist, who was probing about his reported Ajax row. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With a place in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal up for grabs on Tuesday, Stuttgart are set to host Augsburg at MHPArena. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Marcus Rashford has officially joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have completed the loan signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, with the forward moving to Villa Park for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Myles Lewis-Skelly possesses such confidence, composure and fearlessness that the teenager will surely be a major player for Arsenal going forward. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Myles Lewis-Skelly announced himself on the biggest stage on Sunday evening during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Manchester City. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has broken his silence on claims that the Lilywhites have agreed a loan deal for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi. 2 February 2025 talksport.com John Stones has issued an apology to Manchester City's fans, labelling the team's performance at Arsenal as 'unacceptable'. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping to become the first former Chelsea manager to beat the Blues in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, Graham Potter takes his West Ham United side to his old home on Monday night. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's negotiations with Bayern Munich over a loan deal for Mathys Tel have allegedly "collapsed". 2 February 2025 talksport.com Erling Haaland sent a cheeky reminder that this Arsenal team has won no title yet after the Gunners took Manchester City to the cleaners. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly contemplating whether to make a formal approach for a Manchester City academy graduate before Monday's transfer deadline. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Milan rescued a point against AC Milan as they drew 1-1 with their rivals at San Siro on Sunday afternoon, but they lost ground on Serie A leaders Napoli. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly combined for a slice of club history in the Gunners' 5-1 Premier League demolition of champions Manchester City at the Emirates. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton have reportedly agreed a deal with Strasbourg for Samuel Amo-Ameyaw to depart St Mary's Stadium. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Erling Haaland made history on an otherwise dire evening for Manchester City. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hale End heroes Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri both found the back of the net as Arsenal demolished a meek Manchester City 5-1 at the Emirates in the Premier League. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Arsenal star Gabriel appeared to get his own back on Erling Haaland before Myles Lewis-Skelly joined in on the act. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace have reportedly joined Leicester City in the race for AC Milan centre-back Strahinja Pavlovic. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Oliver Glasner has revealed Crystal Palace targeted Manchester United's system in their win at Old Trafford. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have "reached an agreement" to sign Carlos Alcaraz on an initial loan deal from Flamengo. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's record of seven defeats from their 13 home Premier League matches this season is their joint-most at this stage of a league campaign in their entire history. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Jordan Henderson insists he's happy to stay at Ajax following his winter window transfer saga. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mathys Tel has reportedly signalled that he wants to join Manchester United, with the Red Devils pushing to sign the Bayern Munich forward before the January transfer window closes for business. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has called the injury that Lisandro Martinez suffered against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon "serious". 2 February 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane has outlined what Bayern Munich teammate Mathys Tel needs from his next club amid continued Premier League interest. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Lamine Yamal produced a stunning piece of dribbling during Barcelona's win over Alaves. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lisandro Martinez appeared to suffer a potential season-ending knee injury during Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
Wed 05 Feb, 17:45
QF
PSV PSV
-
sch
Feyenoord Feyenoord
Wed 05 Feb, 20:00
QF
AC Milan AC Milan
-
sch
Roma Roma