Manchester City will board their flight to Paris as they face PSG in which will be the headline clash of the Champions League this mid-week.
The Cityzens just bettered Chelsea at the weekend, and will look for something similar against possibly one of the deadliest attacks football has ever had. Although the trio of MNM are yet to make their name count together and doing that against City would be the perfect way to announce themselves. The second game of the group stage promises to burst into life as two well-drilled and talented squads take to the field at the Parc de Princes in Paris.
Team News
PSG’s biggest injury concern is Lionel Messi, with Pochettino confirming that he will be in the squad but can’t say if the former Barcelona man will start. Marco Veratti could return in midfield after four games out.
With Benjamin Mendy still suspended by the club, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gündogan remain the only notable absentees from Pep Guardiola’s 21-man traveling party.
What to expect
Paris Saint-Germain were lackluster in their first game against Club Brugge, failing to dispatch the impressive Belgians to kick off the new Champions League season. The frontline has failed to hit top gear in most games this season but have a unique opportunity to do that on Tuesday. The talent and varied skillset of the PSG attack offers them hope, to punish a City side that conceded 3 goals against Leipzig in their opener. Most of PSG’s summer signings are working their way to form with Achraf Hakimi being the most impressive of the signings so far. Against Manchester City, his defensive duties are expected to be more considering how fluid the attack is. In the attacking sense, PSG have one job and that is to make sure they get the better of City’s centre-back pairing, which could see Ruben Días and Aymeric Laporte feature again after a good performance against Chelsea.
Preparing for Paris! 💪
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/kNoZOoJmYV
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 27, 2021
Despite winning their first game 6-3, the way Leipzig managed to glide through the defence time without number would concern Pep Guardiola, especially against the lethal Paris Saint-Germain attack. In Paris, Man City’s job is cut out for them knowing that maximum points strengthen their position atop the group table. It is however no easy feat with the Parisiens chasing their own victory at home. Despite being without Kevin De Bruyne for a considerable number of games, City have lost just once this season but have looked jaded in games against Wycombe and Chelsea. The fit-again De Bruyne has looked a shadow of himself but would need time to pick up the pace. Tactically, keeping PSG’s fullbacks cum wing-backs pinned goes a long way to stifle their attack. Guardiola would need a masterclass display to come away with a positive result at the Parc de Princes.
Predicted Starting XIs
Paris Saint-Germain predicted XI: Donnaruma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo, Gueye, Herrera, Paredes, Messi, Mbappe, Neymar.
Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson, Walker, Días, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, Bernardo,De Bruyne, Grealish, Jesus, Foden.
