The champions of France and the champions of England meet in a crucial Champions League clash in Paris on Wednesday, with both sides in serious danger of falling at the first hurdle.
By Alex Roberts
Luis Enrique’s side are fresh off the back of an edgy 2-1 win over RC Lens, the side City recently signed Uzbek centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov from – a player we recently profiled here. He didn’t feature in that game, but he did score his one and only goal of the season against the Parisian club back in December.
City’s most recent victory was a little more comprehensive. Pep Guardiola’s lads travelled to Ipswich and pumped them 6-0, temporarily re-entering the top four. Are they finally back after a dismal first half of the season?
2 Phil 2 Foden
One player who does appear to be back to his best is Phil Foden. Two consecutive Premier League braces against Brentford and then Ipswich earned him two back-to-back Player of the Match awards.
Up until now, the winger had struggled domestically, but found some solace on the continent, providing four goal contributions in his five Champions League games. That’s more than in his previous 16 Premier League games before the 2-2 draw with Brentford.
The past six months marked his first real dip in form since breaking into the Man City first team, which is quite a remarkable feat. It doesn’t always happen, but sometimes the sequels are better. Just ask Vin Diesel.
A shift in policy
Since the departures of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé, PSG have seemingly avoided big name signings, instead opting to build what is quite possibly one of, if not the, best young squad in Europe. And they remain unbeaten after 18 rounds of the Ligue 1 season.
New signing Khvicha Kvaratskhalia won’t feature on the left-wing against City or their next Champions League game against Stuttgart later in the month as they won’t be able to register him until the league phase is over.
Up steps 19-year-old Désiré Doué. The youngster has impressed since joining from Rennes in the summer and started in PSG’s 2-0 defeat to fellow Premier League side Arsenal back in October. With one goal and two assists in 706 Ligue 1 minutes, he has the ability to be a difference maker.
Kyle Walker’s farewell tour
The veteran right-back looks set to depart Man City imminently, with AC Milan the most likely destination according to reports. He’s a player who has saved City time and time again. Tracking back has become his trademark.
Guardiola has never been particularly sentimental, and Walker has been left out of City’s last three squads entirely, but for what he’s done for the club, he deserves a proper send off.
City started Matheus Nunes at right-back in the win over Ipswich, and he performed well, and although Walker hasn’t been particularly impressive this season, ongoing defensive injury issues at the club mean he may well get the chance to say bye.
Marquinhos will be a big miss
Speaking of defensive injury issues, PSG have them too. Not quite to the extent that City do, but they will likely be without captain and central defensive stalwart Marquinhos for the clash.
He’s been out of action since PSG’s 1-0 Super Cup final win over Monaco at the start of January with a groin injury, and, despite his standing at the club and in the game as a whole, he won’t be rushed back.
Lucas Hernández, Willian Pacho, and Lucas Beraldo formed a back three in the win over Lens, and they impressed, but it will take some serious effort to fill the void left by the legendary Brazilian against a side like City.
Prediction
Neither side have been in particularly good form in Europe, sitting in 22nd (Man City) and 25th (PSG) respectively. For the amount of talent on display, and the importance of a win for both sides, we predict a relatively quiet game, 2-1 to Man City.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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