Paris Saint-Germain will look to overturn the 2-1 deficit when they face Manchester City in the away leg of the semi-finals.
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain – First leg
PSG struck first through Marquinhos early on in the first half. However, City turned the tables after the break – firstly Kevin de Bryune providing the equalise before Riyad Mahrez scored the winning goal through a brilliant free-kick.
PSG have to score two goals if they don’t want to end their UCL campaign this year. If they concede zero goal they qualify, if they concede 1 goal, it goes to extra-time and then, tie-breaker.
Key Statistics
- Man City remain unbeaten in all of their four previous meetings against PSG including the first-leg win.
- Citizens will look to extend their winning run in the Champions League to seven games in a row, which will be a record by an English club.
- PSG were successful in overturning their 2-1 deficit against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16 last season.
Manchester City
Manchester City are currently brimming with confidence following their win in the Premier League against Crystal Palace, which has taken them closer to the title.
Their Champions League form also looks healthy and will enter the second leg as clear favourites.
However, Pep Guardiola is still aware of the threat PSG attackers can enforce – the best instance would be the quarter-finals against defending champions Bayern Munich.
Nonetheless, John Stones and Ruben Dias, who nullified PSG’s attack in the first leg, are expected to do the same in the return leg.
As far as the team line-up goes, Guardiola is likely to reprise the formation which got the better of Les Parisiens at Parc Des Princes last week.
Possible line-ups
Ederson; Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Zinchenko; Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva; Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden.
Unavailable: Eric García (illness)
Paris] are an extraordinary team, everybody knows it. They can create something nobody expects to win. Of course I look at their qualities, but it’s fresh what they leave on the pitch. At the same time we know how good we can be. Tomorrow, we have to be there and do it again. It’s not complicated.
“[There are] the same dangers as the first leg […] They can change their shape, their manager is so clever, I don’t know what they are going to do. The desire to reach the final is normal, we’ve never been before here. We must focus on ourselves to read [the game], stick together in the bad moments, suffer together. We will try to impose our game as much as possible. We must defend well, be patient, and try to score goals.
Nobody can control the chaos. I can’t predict what happens tomorrow. It’s different teams, different moments. It’s the past, part of our memories, you have good moments, disappointing moments. We made an exceptional performance then, but couldn’t go through. Now we try to reach the final.
Pep Guardiola
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG must be disappointed to concede two goals out of nowhere in the first leg of the semi-finals, especially given that they had been dominant in the previous rounds against Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
However, Pochettino’s men had a much-needed break to gain back the momentum in the weekend after a comfortable win over Lens in Ligue 1.
Neymar, who failed to inspire in the first leg, looks determined to turn things around in the return leg.
Kylian Mbappe picked up a niggle against Lens but Pochettino believes the French World Cup winner will make it to the starting line-up.
Possible line-ups
Keylor Navas; Alessandro Florenzi, Marquinhos, Presnal Kimpembe, Bakker; Leandro Paredes, Ander Herrera; Angel Di Maria, Marco Verratti, Neymar; Kylian Mbappe.
Unavailable: Gueye (suspended), Bernat (knee)
Doubtful: Mbappé (calf), Dagba (ankle)
Mbappe needs to be evaluated today. He will do individual training, to see how he is and whether he is available or not for tomorrow. We’ll see tonight and then we’ll make the decision. We’ve got a big roster, all the players can do the job well. If Kylian is not available, the team has the tools and quality to try to win.
It is the intention to deprive them of the ball. We are a team that also likes possession but with a balance between possession and transition, because of the characteristics of our players. We’re going to have to be clinical and aggressive. We need two goals. It’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be difficult, but we have to be ready.
It’s hard to know the keys to this game. Things are hard to anticipate. Football is a game that can surprise you. Moments may appear during the encounter that will manage because you have managed to create certain habits throughout the season. It’s the method, the philosophy, and the team is prepared to handle those moments.
Mauricio Pochettino, Paris Saint-Germain
Betting odds
Manchester City : Draw : Paris Saint-Germain :: 1.65 : 4.20 : 4.75
| Man City Goal | PSG Goals | Odds | Implications |
| 1 | 1 | 8.0 | Man City qualify |
| 2 | 1 | 8.5 | Man City qualify |
| 1 | 0 | 9.5 | Man City qualify |
| 2 | 0 | 9.5 | Man City qualify |
| 3 | 1 | 12.0 | Man City qualify |
| 2 | 2 | 13.0 | Man City qualify |
Prediction
Man City 1 – 1 PSG
