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PSG logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 28, 2021 at 8pm UK
Parc des Princes
Manchester City logo

PSG
2 - 0
Man City

Gueye (8'), Messi (74')
Verratti (77')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Cancelo (24'), De Bruyne (39')

Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Manchester City's second game of a brutally challenging week takes place at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, as Paris Saint-Germain seek revenge in Champions League Group A.

The two sides renew hostilities after clashing in last season's semi-finals, where Pep Guardiola's men claimed a pair of victories to end the Parisiens' European dream for one more year.


Match preview

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts on September 19, 2021© Reuters

Parisiens, neutrals and rival fans were finally treated to the sight of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe lining up in the same PSG team during their Champions League opener with Club Brugge two weeks ago, but the Ligue 1 giants were unable to mark the occasion with all three points.

Indeed, an unlikely goal source in Ander Herrera drew first blood with 15 minutes on the clock at the Jan-Breydel-Stadion, but Brugge captain Hans Vanaken levelled the scores before half time, and Mauricio Pochettino's famed front three could not turn the game in their side's favour.

Despite an early European setback, PSG have simply swept aside the competition so far in Ligue 1 and maintained their 100% record in the division with a 2-0 success over Montpellier HSC on Saturday, with Idrissa Gueye's thunderous effort preceding a Julian Draxler strike late on.

The opening-day draw with Brugge represents the only game this season so far that PSG have failed to score at least twice, but Pochettino's side now face an incredibly daunting run, with Rennes, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Lille lying in wait over the next four weeks.

Furthermore, PSG's home struggles in the Champions League last term means that they welcome Man City to the Parc des Princes winless in three European encounters on familiar turf, the most recent of which came in last season's semi-final first-leg defeat to the eventual runners-up.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on September 18, 2021© Reuters

Having passed the Stamford Bridge test with flying colours, Man City prepare to cross the channel with the wind in their sails after downing title rivals Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday lunchtime, with Gabriel Jesus's deflected effort separating the sides on the day.

The Citizens are certainly demonstrating their title credentials despite a couple of shaky results early in the season, but they needed no second invitation to stamp their authority on RB Leipzig in their Champions League opener, scoring six of the nine goals on the night against Jesse Marsch's men.

As a result, City have already stormed to the top of the rankings in Group A and will endeavour to hold that place throughout the autumn and winter periods, but Guardiola is sure to have one eye on the impending trip to Liverpool in the Premier League.

However, with six wins from their last seven in all competitions - scoring a whopping 24 goals in that time, only two of which have come away from home - City will feel confident about lightning striking twice in Paris, and they are unbeaten in their last 10 Champions League games on the road.

Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez propelled City to a 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes in last season's semi-finals before a 2-0 home win at the Etihad, so Pochettino's side need no extra motivation to come up trumps in Paris and blow Group A wide open.

Paris Saint-Germain Champions League form:
  • D

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W

Manchester City Champions League form:
  • W

Manchester City form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W



Team News

Lionel Messi in action for Paris Saint-Germain on August 29, 2021© Reuters

PSG manager Pochettino is hopeful that Messi will be able to recover from bone bruising for the visit of City - especially with Angel Di Maria suspended - and the former Argentine is expected to be a part of the squad

Sergio Ramos is expected to remain out for the time being, but Layvin Kurzawa, Juan Bernat and Colin Dagba have all returned to training, Marco Verratti has a chance of being involved and Gueye is back from a European suspension.

Should Messi not be deemed fit enough to start, Draxler may be given the nod on the right flank, while Gianluigi Donnarumma is reportedly set to displace Keylor Navas in goal.

Meanwhile, City defenders Aymeric Laporte and John Stones both made the squad at Stamford Bridge - with the former playing the full 90 minutes on the day - and Stones will hope to be considered for a start this time around.

Nathan Ake marked an emotional occasion with a goal against Leipzig so will not cede his place easily, and it remains to be seen if Oleksandr Zinchenko will recover from a knock in time for the battle, but Ilkay Gundogan is out.

Fernandinho - who earned plenty of plaudits for his performances against PSG last term - may be considered for a start given Rodri's recent fitness woes, while Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres will also hope to return to the forward line.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Gueye, Paredes, Herrera; Draxler, Mbappe, Neymar

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo; B. Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Torres, Grealish


SM words green background

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Manchester City

PSG's perfect record in Ligue 1 does not exactly tell the full story given some of their under-par performances, while the potential loss of Messi and definite absence of Di Maria will certainly be felt in a clash of this magnitude.

Having had recent experience prevailing in battles with their French counterparts, Man City ought to feel confident about their chances of repeating the trick at the Parc des Princes, and we can see them doing just that by the narrowest of margins.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:curl



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Paris Saint-Germain win with a probability of 44.36%. A win for Manchester City had a probability of 36.36% and a draw had a probability of 19.3%.

The most likely scoreline for a Paris Saint-Germain win was 2-1 with a probability of 6.58%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 3-2 (5.58%) and 3-1 (5.2%). The likeliest Manchester City win was 1-2 (5.97%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 2-2 (7.07%). The actual scoreline of 2-0 was predicted with a 3.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Paris Saint-Germain would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: PSG vs Man City

Paris Saint-Germain
38.4%
Draw
13.5%
Manchester City
48.1%
809
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on September 18, 2021
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


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