PSG vs. Manchester City: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
On Wednesday night, all eyes turn to the French capital as Paris Saint-Germain host Manchester City for the first leg of their massive UEFA Champions League battle at the Parc des Princes.
Both sides go into the match in good form. The away side came out the blocks quickly to beat Bournemouth 4-0 on the south coast of England, and PSG—on the back of a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick—saw off the challenge of OGC Nice with a 4-1 victory.
This matchup means so much to both teams. City have never reached this stage of the Champions League—with Barcelona usually the team to eliminate them—and now they have a great opportunity to reach the final four.
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Laurent Blanc will know the importance of Wednesday’s clash too. PSG have been building a legacy since he took over and with their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title confirmed, this competition is where their season will be judged.
Date: Wednesday, April 5
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST (2:45 p.m ET)
Venue: Parc des Princes
TV Info: BT Sport (U.K), Fox Soccer (U.S)
Live Stream: Fox Soccer2Go (US)
Last five results:
| W PSG 4-1 Nice (Ligue 1) | W Bournemouth 0-4 Man City (Premier League) |
| L PSG 0-2 Monaco (Ligue 1) | L Man City 0-1 Man United (Premier League) |
| W Troyes 0-9 PSG (Ligue 1) | D Man City 0-0 Dynamo Kyiv (Champions League) |
| W Chelsea 1-2 PSG (Champions League) | D Norwich 0-0 Man City (Premier League) |
| D PSG 0-0 Montpellier (Ligue 1) | W Man City 4-0 Aston Villa (Premier League) |
Per the official PSG website, Blanc confirmed the continued absence of both Marco Verratti and Javier Pastore. With the Italian midfielder out, Adrien Rabiot will likely deputise in the midfield three with Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Motta.
Although Serge Aurier has been recalled to the first-team squad, expect Marquinhos to continue in the right-back role, tasked with stopping Kevin De Bruyne.
Predicted Formation:
PSG (4-3-3): Kevin Trapp; Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell; Thiago Motta, Adrien Rabiot, Blaise Matuidi; Angel Di Maria, Lucas Moura, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Manuel Pellegrini has a few more injury worries to contend with for Wednesday’s game. Per Sky Sports, Yaya Toure will miss the first leg, and he joins Vincent Kompany and Raheem Sterling on the sidelines.
Fabian Delph is still a doubt, but there has been good news regarding City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Per UEFA.com, the Chilean boss said: “Joe Hart has worked without any problem for the last few days and we tested him today. There's always a risk when a player returns from injury, but I don't think there's a problem with him playing.”
City are likely to play 4-2-3-1 with Fernando and Fernandinho in the central-midfield positions, and the trio of De Bruyne, David Silva and Jesus Navas will be just behind Sergio Aguero.
Predicted Formation:
City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala, Gael Clichy; Fernando, Fernandinho; Jesus Navas, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Sergio Aguero.
Player to Watch
Although part of the French national squad, Eliaquim Mangala has never played professional football in the country of his birth, but he will get the chance to show the whole of France what he is capable of on Wednesday.
It’s not going to be easy against a star-studded PSG attack, but the former FC Porto defender is not worried: “I respect players like Zlatan, Cavani and Di Maria but I am not scared of them,” declared Mangala, per the Manchester Evening News. “I respect them, I’m not scared of them.”
The 25-year-old added:
"Everyone knows Zlatan and the magnificent career and season he has had even though he is 34 he is in top condition at the moment.
He has been criticised a lot because he has not been decisive in the Champions League in the past, but he has been in the last few games. He is reaching the peak of his career now, but we are not just focusing on him.
"
Often criticised due to his inconsistent form, the centre-back admitted that injuries played their part, but he added that’s all behind him now.
“I feel well,” he said. “I was injured a long time but have been back to play the last three games and have trained very well.”
This could be the biggest game of Mangala’s career. Stop Ibrahimovic and PSG, and he could finally win the respect of the City faithful.
Key Battle
Wednesday’s battle is set to be a fantastic spectacle. As Blanc admitted in his pre-match press conference, it sees two teams with similar styles trying to find weaknesses in each other.
Per the official PSG website, Blanc said:
"Manchester City’s style of play doesn’t really suit us, because they share the same philosophy as us. We knew that Chelsea would let us have the ball and try to counter. City want to play with the ball, try and control the match. They are more comfortable attacking than defending, just like us. It will be a great battle, and the key to succeeding. There is going to be a great intensity in the game.
"
One advantage that PSG may have is the movement and creativity of Di Maria. The former Manchester United man will be confident of causing problems to Gael Clichy, but it’s his movement inside and ability to find space that Pellegrini should be worried about.
Blanc said:
"He’s in great form. We didn’t play him last weekend because the South Americans had a complicated return from their internationals, with a long trip and jetlag. They are tired and struggle to recover. Angel also received a knock. But he trained on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and will train today. He’s fine.
"
Di Maria has been more than fine this season, with nine goals and 11 assists, and he has been involved in another five in the Champions League. He may not have enjoyed his time at Old Trafford, but the 28-year-old will be keen to show his former club's local rivals the full extent of his ability.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Home 100/137
Away 4/1
Draw 5/2
