Why Marquinhos vs. Kevin De Bruyne Will Be Key PSG vs. Manchester City Battle
On Wednesday night, Paris Saint-Germain host Manchester City at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash.
Neither side has reached the last four of Europe’s elite competition since making huge investments into their squad, and with two very similar projects, this is an intriguing and exciting matchup.
On Saturday, Kevin De Bruyne returned to Manuel Pellegrini's side for the first time since the 3-1 Capital Cup semi-final win over Everton. The Belgian was crucial that day, scoring his team's second goal, to give City a 2-1 lead, before setting up Sergio Aguero for the third.
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It didn't take the summer signing from Wolfsburg long to get back into the swing of the action at the weekend.
Although he starts on the left, he is allowed to drift from side-to-side and find pockets of space. His goal against Bournemouth came from that movement. Although David Silva was already in a central position, De Bruyne wasn't far away, positioning himself just a few yards behind, ready to strike low and put the away side 2-0 up after 12 minutes.
Pellegrini took the Belgian off after 57 minutes, knowing the importance he will play on Wednesday night.
City will likely be without Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling from the attack, plus Vincent Kompany from the defence. Without the driving runs of the Ivorian and the speed and trickery of Sterling, the movement and interplay of the midfield three will be crucial behind their Argentinian striker—especially away from home.
Tasked with tracking the 24-year-old Belgian will likely be PSG’s youngest member of the back four, Marquinhos. Although signed from AS Roma to play as a centre-back, the 21-year-old has found himself behind David Luiz and Thiago Silva in the pecking order.
With the latter the club captain and the former costing £50 million, unless either is injured, Marquinhos has had to find other ways to get into the starting XI. Last season and again this term, this has usually come as a replacement right-back.
Gregory van der Wiel has time and time again proved to be a liability at the back, and his attacking skills are not important enough to mask his defensive downside. The signing of Angel Di Maria added enough of a threat in the final third that playing a defensive-minded right-back doesn’t weaken the team too much.
Due to Serge Aurier’s periscope outburst after the 0-0 draw with Lille, the Ivorian was banished to the reserves, opening a space for Marquinhos to play in the back four. Despite his exile finishing after the international break, it is unlikely that the former Manchester City target, per talkSPORT, will feature in the first leg.
It is vitally important that PSG try to keep a clean sheet at the Parc des Princes. Although Blanc will fancy his side’s chances of scoring at the Etihad, keeping City out will be vital if PSG want to progress.
Facing a traditional winger would be a tougher assignment for Marquinhos. He is an excellent defender, perhaps the best natural centre-back in the squad. He’s quick and strong and reads the game very well. However, it’s still not a natural position for him, he doesn’t add to the attacking side as much as someone like Aurier, but in a way that’ll benefit PSG throughout the two legs.
When De Bruyne drifts inside, he is moving into the area Marquinhos feels most comfortable. Blanc will want the Brazilian to follow and monitor the Belgian’s movement, leaving the midfield three to track the over-lapping runs of City’s left-back.
If City are to have any chance of picking up a positive result on Wednesday, De Bruyne getting the better of Marquinhos will be a huge and pivotal battle.
