Paris Saint-Germain’s all-important clash against Manchester City is the marquee match in this week’s Champions League games.
The Champions League returns this week, which is a first because we have never had games in January before. However, after UEFA introduced a league stage format by expanding the number of teams to 36, the two extra games were fixed for January.
This week’s games are the penultimate round of matches in the league stage, with the final round set for next week. There are some exciting matches set for this week as a host of Europe’s top clubs are yet to seal their spot in the top 24.
However, of all the matches scheduled for this week none is bigger than PSG’s clash against Manchester City at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
If you had told someone that both PSG and Man City would be fighting hard to secure a playoff spot with two games to go, they would have called you a crazy person.
But that is the situation both teams find themselves in as they head into Wednesday’s match. PSG sit outside the the top 24 spots having won just two games out of six, while City are currently in the 22nd spot, a point ahead of their host.
This match is important for both sides as a loss could signal the end of their Champions League journey this season.
For PSG, they cannot afford to lose, considering they are already outside the final playoff spot (24th). A loss for Luis Enrique’s men could be catastrophic, especially if both Dinamo Zagreb (24) and VFB Stuttgart (26th) win their games.
Les Parisens come into this match on the back of a 2-1 win at Lens at the weekend to go nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
But it’s their form in Europe that has been worrying. While the draw was not kind to PSG as they had to face Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, their failure to pick up just one point from those three matches has put them in this dangerous position.
However, they can get a statement win against City, which will boost their chances ahead of a potential winner-takes-all showdown against Stuttgart next week.
The problem for PSG is that the stats do not favour them. The French champions haven’t won back-to-back games in Europe in almost a year, while they have lost three of their last five at the Parc des Princes in Europe’s premier competition (W1 D1).
PSG have also won just one of their last seven matches against Man City, although that sole win came when they both met last time.
As for City, they have not fared better, either. The Cityzens have won just two games out of six in the Champions League season. Although they come into this clash on the back of a 6-0 drubbing of Ipswich Town, Pep Guardiola’s men lost to Juventus last time out in the Champions League.
With just a point separating them from PSG, this is also a must win match for the Premier League champions. The good news for them is that they appear to be picking up form again, even though the Premier League title is most likely a lost cause now.
PSG could be without Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi, who are yet to play this month. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele has missed the last two games due to illness. As for City, they are still without Rodri, who remains a long-term absentee.
Also, Nathan Ake and John Stones are doubts, meaning Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias may start again.
This is a game difficult to call. PSG are the slight favourites, though, with the Parisens given an odd of 2.46 to win the game at Housebets. Meanwhile, City are priced at 2.70. Over 2.5 can be backed at 1.52.
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