Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Maccabi Haifa - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the Israeli basement side are still in with a chance of a top-two finish after stunning Juventus on matchday four.

Match preview

PSG and Benfica's battle for supremacy in Champions League Group H has been a fascinating watch to say the least, and a pair of 1-1 draws means that the French champions are just about holding off their Iberian counterparts in first place courtesy of having scored one more goal.

Since that tale of two penalties at the Parc des Princes, PSG have returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 with back-to-back successes over Classique rivals Marseille and newly-promoted Ajaccio, with Kylian Mbappe (2) and Lionel Messi on target against the latter in Friday's 3-0 win.

Christophe Galtier's side hold a five-point buffer over Juventus and Maccabi Haifa after four Champions League games and will therefore guarantee a place in the knockout rounds with victory on their own turf, and a point would be enough if Juventus fail to beat Benfica.

Off-the-field controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe's future and allegations of fraud and corruption against Neymar have been early blots on the PSG notebook this term, but the Ligue 1 champions will be expected to seal a safe passage into the next round at their Paris fortress.

Indeed, PSG have only ever suffered one defeat in 32 Champions League group-stage games at the Parc des Princes, but they are yet to keep a clean sheet in the tournament this term, and Maccabi Haifa make the long journey with nothing to lose.

Refusing to bow out of the Champions League with a whimper, Maccabi Haifa had already given PSG a brief scare in their inaugural meeting, and a lacklustre Juventus side felt the full force of the Israeli champions' prowess in front of a jubilant crowd on October 11.

Only six days on from going down 3-1 to Massimiliano Allegri's side in Turin, Maccabi Haifa served the Old Lady a slice of humble pie with a remarkable 2-0 win at the Sammy Ofer Stadium, as Omer Atzili scored possibly the two most memorable goals he will ever score.

Barak Bakhar's side may still be rooted to the foot of Group H, but they have moved level on points with the out-of-sorts Juventus and remain five behind Benfica and PSG, so anything is possible for the ambitious Greens from the Carmel as they endeavour to make history for their nation.

No team from Israel has ever won consecutive Champions League matches before, and the visitors warmed up for a potentially history-making night with a 3-2 league win over Ironi Kiryat Shmona at the weekend - ending a four-game losing run away from home in all tournaments.

Tuesday's encounter will mark the fourth meeting between PSG and Maccabi Haifa in all competitions, with the past three yielding a draw and one victory for each side, and neither team has ever kept a clean sheet against the other - setting the scene for a tantalising encounter in the French capital.

Paris Saint-Germain Champions League form:

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W

D

D

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

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D

D

D

W

W

Maccabi Haifa Champions League form:

W

D

L

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L

W

Team News

PSG pair Sergio Ramos and Neymar will both be back from domestic suspensions for the visit of Maccabi Haifa, but yellow-card magnet Marco Verratti will serve his own ban this week after picking up three bookings in the tournament already.

Presnel Kimpembe is back in training over a month after suffering a hamstring injury and could therefore force his way onto the bench, while Nuno Mendes is also scheduled to return to practice this weekend, but Danilo Pereira is still out with his own hamstring problem.

Ramos's return and Verratti's absence seems like the formula for a return to a back three for Galtier, with Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz likely to partner up in the middle as Neymar rejoins Messi and Mbappe up front.

As for Maccabi Haifa, right-winger Suf Podgoreanu represents one of three injury concerns for Bakhar to contend with, as the 20-year-old is yet to recover from an Achilles issue.

Dolev Haziza's hamstring issue is also giving him grief, while Mahmoud Jaber is also out of contention with a fractured femur, but Bakhar was always expected to place his faith in the XI that stunned Juventus on matchday four.

Joining two-goal hero Atzili in the final third will be creative hub Tjaronn Chery, who scored in September's involvement with PSG and has had 13 direct shot involvements in the tournament so far, second only to Robert Lewandowski's 16.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Mukiele, Marquinhos, Ramos; Hakimi, Vitinha, Ruiz, Bernat; Messi; Mbappe, Neymar

Maccabi Haifa possible starting lineup:

Cohen; Sundgren, Batubinsika, Goldberg, Cornud; Mohamed, Lavi; Atzili, Chery, David; Pierrot

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Maccabi Haifa

Having conceded first to Maccabi Haifa before turning the game on its head and winning 3-1 last month, PSG will be aware of the dangers that Atzili and Chery can pose when afforded time and space on the ball, as any team that defeats Juventus in such a manner commands plenty of respect.

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