PSGvs.Man City

Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Paris Saint-Germain have caught Pep Guardiola's side "on the crest of a wave" ahead of Wednesday's pivotal Champions League showdown at the Parc des Princes.

The Citizens endured a torrid run of form towards the end of last year, winning just one game out of 13 across all competitions between October 30 and Boxing Day, with 28 goals conceded in the process.

However, Man City have since put together a six-game unbeaten run - scoring 23 goals and conceding only four - and extended their undefeated streak in the Premier League to five matches courtesy of an emphatic 6-0 victory at Ipswich Town last weekend.

Man City's morale-boosting win has come at an important time for Guardiola and co, who are now gearing up for a challenging run of fixtures including contests against PSG, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Liverpool before the end of February.

The Citizens have struggled in this season's newly-formed Champions League along with PSG, and both clubs are now at risk of failing to qualify for the knockout rounds heading into their penultimate League Phase fixture.

While PSG are currently languishing in the elimination zone after accumulating just seven points from their first six games (W2 D1 L3), Man City (W2 D2 L2) sit just one point above the French giants and are clinging on to a last-16 playoff place.

Man City have 'a real hunger to rectify mistakes' ahead of PSG clash

Sitting nine points clear at the Ligue 1 summit, Luis Enrique's side have looked strong on the domestic front in recent weeks, winning each of their last seven matches, and with Man City also seemingly turning a corner, McInerney believes that it is difficult to label either side as the favourites on Wednesday.

Having said that, McInerney is "pretty confident" that Man City can come away from Paris with a positive result to boost their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds, before facing Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium in their final fixture on January 29.

Speaking to Sports Mole, McInerney said: "It feels weird for me as a City fan right now, given our form over the last few months, to put City as favourites away at PSG, so I don't think we are. I think most people will probably predict a draw.

"PSG have an awful lot of quality. They're of course strolling to another title in Ligue 1. It's going to be easy for them, but they have struggled a little bit in the Champions League.

"I'm pretty confident actually. I think there's an upwards trajectory that Man City are in right now and I think there's a real hunger to rectify the mistakes. I think Pep's got the players back on track and most importantly a few of them look fit again.

Dias return "makes a massive difference" for Man City

"I do think City will be looking at PSG and thinking we can go and get at them, because as much as they've got loads of quality, they're not quite as shiny as they were a few years ago with all the superstars - [Lionel] Messi, Neymar, [Kylian] Mbappe and so on.

"They probably will be apprehensive as well, because their form in the Champions League has been pretty poor and I think they've caught City on the crest of a wave where maybe a month ago I would have been a lot more anxious, but I just feel City are on the right path here."

McInerney believes that the return of centre-back Ruben Dias - who played against Ipswich after six games out though injury - is a huge boost for Man City, adding: "Ruben Dias is back which makes a massive difference as well. City's defence is vastly better if he's there. We are such a superior side than the team without Ruben Dias.

"I think City have found that belief again and when you've got a team of winners who suddenly believe that they can do just that - win - it tends to result in one thing, so I'm reasonably confident right now."

McInerney has also shared his thoughts on how Guardiola will line up his Man City side for the contest in Paris, with Bernardo Silva and Savinho both pushing to start after watching on as unused substitutes in the win at Ipswich.

Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion ahead of Man City's trip to PSG.

Written by

Oliver Thomas