EUROPE: Champions League

Date: 28-09-21

Time: 8:00 PM

Venue: Parc des Princes (Paris)

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, two of the most high-profile sides never to have won the UEFA Champions League (UCL), meet in a mouthwatering Group A match that offers an early chance to see whether they can justify being among the tournament favourites.

PSG have made a perfect start to their domestic season with eight consecutive Ligue 1 victories, although they’ve had to work hard, needing injury-time winners in two of their last three. That suggests they have a fighting spirit that could serve the 2019/20 runners-up well here and later in the competition.

However, they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Club Brugge in their UCL opener, so they’re already on the back foot. Knowing that the last team to beat them at the Parc de Princes was Man City, and with just one win in five UCL clashes with English clubs (L4), they’ve struggled in recent cross-channel affairs.

Now Man City’s all-time most successful manager in terms of wins (221) courtesy of a 1-0 victory against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola has guided his side to a seven-match unbeaten run (W6, D1). That includes the 6-3 win over RB Leipzig that opened their UCL campaign in fine style as they look to go one better than last term.

With their 2020/21 UCL semi-final triumph over PSG fresh in their memory, the ‘Citizens’ have now won each of their last four European clashes with French sides, conceding just once and scoring ten times. Notably, they netted twice on both previous visits to this venue (W1, D1).

Players to watch: PSG will hope Kylian Mbappé can raise his game for this big occasion as he’s not scored in four outings following a run of four goals in three matches earlier this season – all before the 65th minute. City’s man in form is Gabriel Jesus, who netted second-half goals against Leipzig and Chelsea.

Paris SG’s form in last 5 matches: WWWDW.

Manchester City’s form in last 5 matches: WWDWW.

PREDICTION: BTTS