PSG vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
The Champions League returns this week and in Paris there is a mouth-watering game that will attract attention from all over the globe—Paris Saint-Germain taking on Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
Both clubs opened the group stage with wins over Malmo and Shakhtar Donetsk. Combining for 11 goals, neither side has conceded over the two games. The next two games, between two of Europe’s top sides, will likely decide who finishes top of the group.
There is no guarantee that it will hand the victors an easier game in the last 16, but this is more about bragging rights and stature, especially for Laurent Blanc’s side.
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PSG are constantly looking to join Europe’s elite and challenge for the Champions League, and putting in a performance against Rafa Benitez’s team will be paramount in showing that they are still progressing and closing the gap.
Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane return to the French capital after playing for their country last week, although the crowd won’t be on their side when they walk out on to the Parc des Princes pitch.
France’s forward was widely speculated to possibly be departing the Spanish capital, but when asked whether he was close to leaving the La Liga side, Benzema told Journal du Dimanche (h/t Sky Sports):
"Never. Like every summer, I laugh about it with my brother and my friends. We wait for the media to come out with these rumours.
In my opinion, I think that Real and Barca are the pinnacle in football. Why I would leave?
"
With only two centre-backs fit and available this week, stopping Benzema will not be easy for the Ligue 1 side.
Date: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST / 2:45 p.m ET
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
TV Info: BT Sport (UK), Fox Soccer (US)
Live Stream: Fox Soccer2Go
Form Lines
| Bastia 0-2 PSG (Ligue 1) | Real Madrid 3-0 Levante (La Liga) |
| PSG 2-1 Marseille (Ligue 1) | Atletico Madrid 1-1 Real Madrid (La Liga) |
| Shakhtar 0-3 PSG (Champions League) | Malmo 0-2 Real Madrid (Champions League) |
| Nantes 1-4 PSG (Ligue 1) | Real Madrid 0-0 Malaga (La Liga) |
| PSG 3-0 Guingamp (Ligue 1) | Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Real Madrid (La Liga) |
The team Blanc selected for PSG’s 2-0 win over Bastia on Saturday all but revealed who would likely start against Real Madrid.
Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta will come back into the midfield, and after another sub-par performance, Lucas Moura will drop out, and Angel Di Maria will join Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani in the front three.
Both Gareth Bale and Benzema have been left out of Real Madrid's 19-man squad for the game. Isco will take the Welshman's place on the right of the attack, with Jese likely to play through the middle.
Predicted Formations
PSG (4-3-3): Salvatore Sirigu; Serge Aurier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti, Blaise Matuidi; Angel Di Maria, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Keylor Navas; Danilo, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luca Modric; Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jese Rodriguez.
Player to Watch
On Saturday afternoon, PSG were at far from their best, but two goals from Ibrahimovic helped the club squeeze past SC Bastia with a two-nil victory.
It was another two to add to PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer, and although he may not be playing at his best, he is finding the net.
"I think I'm still improving, even if I'm getting older!” Ibrahimovic, 34, told PSG’s official website before the game against the Corsican side.
“I'm still here, doing what I know how to do, and doing it better and better. I'm like wine; I get better with age! I don't feel like I'm getting old, quite the opposite, I'm stronger and stronger mentally. I'm still hungry and that will help me keep reaching my goals."
That hunger now needs to translate into form against the Spanish giants on Wednesday. In recent seasons, his form in the Champions League has been phenomenal—including four goals in one match against Anderlecht—but when it comes to the biggest games, the Swede hasn’t been at his inspirational best.
Now is the time for Ibrahimovic to step up.
Key Battle
On Saturday, PSG were able to rest their preferred midfield trio against Bastia, meaning they will all return on Wednesday night. Real Madrid will feel they have the edge in the attacking areas, but Verratti, Matuidi and Motta will be confident of helping their club win the midfield battle.
Playing against the likes of Casemiro, Luca Modric and Toni Kroos, it will not be easy, but PSG’s trio have been playing together for longer and are, nine times out out ten, on the top of their game.
The PSG trio complement each other perfectly: Motta is happy to sit and control the game, Verratti is tenacious in winning the ball back, but he is superb at keeping possession and pushing the game along.
Then they have the lung-busting runs from Matuidi. The France international gives 100 percent in every game, with his well-timed runs are a key feature of their attacks.
If Real Madrid can stop the trio finding their rhythm, the Spanish side could leave with all three points. It is set up to be a fascinating battle.
Odds (via Oddsshark)
Home win: 83/50
Away win: 79/50
Draw: 239/100
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