Embroiled in one of football’s biggest-ever scandals, Manchester City’s players must remain focused as they prepare for a blockbuster UEFA Champions League (UCL) showdown with defending champions PSG.
Match News and Current Form
Having been found guilty of breaching over 100 financial rules by the Premier League, Manchester City were in the eye of the storm as they headed to Anfield on Sunday, but brilliantly rose to the occasion to run out 3-0 winners. Enzo Maresca’s men summit the Premier League on the back of eight successive wins across all competitions, one of which came on matchday one of the UCL against Porto (2-0). City’s first game on their own turf after the guilty verdict is sure to be an emotionally-charged affair, and a defiant fanbase could well have more to cheer here given that they’ve lost just one of their last 25 home fixtures in the group stage/league phase of this competition (W21, D3).
Back-to-back UCL winners PSG used their weekend fixture against Le Mans to rest a number of key players ahead of this clash, though some were required from the bench to grind out a 3-1 win. The Parisians seem to have recovered from their slow start to the campaign, winning each of their last four matches - a run that started by thrashing Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in their UCL opener. That took them to 11 games unbeaten in this competition (W7, D4), only once previously posting a longer such streak, while they’re also bidding to become just the second side in competition history to avoid defeat in 10+ successive games against English opponents.
Head-to-Head History
PSG have won just two of the prior eight H2Hs (D2, L4), and are yet to emerge victorious away at City (D1, L3), losing each of their last three visits to the Etihad.
Hot Stats and Streaks
City received no more than one yellow card in any of their last six home fixtures.
City’s last six UCL home victories came by a 2+ goal margin.
PSG have failed to score in just one of their last 26 matches in UEFA competition.
None of PSG’s last six away games were decided by greater than a one-goal margin.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Rayan Cherki has directly contributed to a goal in six of his last seven games for City and France (G4, A2), but he’s suffered a career-high nine H2H defeats against PSG (W1, D1). Former City forward Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick on his UCL debut for PSG on matchday one, but has won just three of his last seven scoring appearances in this competition (D2, L2).
Neither side look to have any fresh injury issues, with Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes in line to return for PSG.
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Betting Analysis
City may be in stunning form, but considering that they’re back-to-back winners of this competition and hitting their stride, PSG to win is priced up very attractively.
Author: Ryan Fisher