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The Citizens take on PSG at the Etihad Stadium with the winner of the match guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages of this year’s UEFA Champions League.
Theoretically, both teams can qualify on Wednesday night, however, they must rely on the struggling Red Bull Leipzig to take points from Club Brugge.
City sit top of the group with nine points from 12 with the star-studded PSG just a point behind them in second.
PSG’s front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have all been included in Mauricio Pochettino’s travelling squad and could be the difference makers in Manchester.
Both sides come into this grudge Champions League fixture with a win in their last competitive fixtures.
The home side are fresh off a 3-0 win over Everton on Sunday with goals from Raheem Sterling, Rodri and Bernardo Silva securing the three points for Manchester City.
The latter has impressed in City’s bright start in the Premier League and has been on the scoresheet twice in his last two outings.
Phil Foden will also be key for the Citizens in Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish’s absence as they bid to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.
For PSG, Messi netted his first Ligue 1 goal on Saturday as his late effort sealed the victory against Nantes to move his side 11 points clear at the summit of the league table. Mbappe was also on the scoresheet as he scored the game’s opener after two minutes before picking up an assist for the late winner.
Messi, who needs no introduction to Champions League nights, has shone in this competition on numerous occasions over the years. PSG’s number 30 has scored 27 goals in 35 games against English opposition with seven goals of those goals coming against the Citizens.
Managers’ Thoughts
City manager Pep Guardiola discussed how to limit the threat of his former Barcelona star and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.
“It’s so difficult! Sometimes when he has the ball he doesn’t know what he’s going to do, so imagine you have to know what he is going to do.
“There are players who you can say if they will go right or left. When he has the ball, not even he knows exactly what he is going to do. But it happens with Neymar, Mbappe, [Angel] Di Maria, it happens with all the players that play for this team.
“I am still glad and happy that he is still playing, at the level he plays and with the quality, so it will be nice to face him.”
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with the Manchester United job in the past few days after Ole Gunnar Solskjear’s departure. However, the Argentine is adamant that the speculation hasn’t disrupted his preparation for Wednesday’s game:
“I am focused on my football and I ignore the rumours. We are here [in Manchester]to play a great game tomorrow and we are focused on preparing for that as well as we can.”
“My contract with Paris is until June 2023. I’m very happy at PSG, that’s a fact. I am happy in Paris, I want to make it clear.”
Head-to-Head
It was PSG who came out on top of the latest meeting between the sides in September. Messi’s 20-yard wonder strike sealed the three points in Paris as he doubled the French side’s advantage after Idrissa Gueye’s early opener.
The two sides have only met five times in all competitions with City victorious on three encounters.
Unhappy memories lie in Manchester for PSG, as the last time they travelled to the Etihad, Riyad Mahrez’s brace saw the Citizens walk away 2-0 victors in the second leg of last season’s semi-final which booked their place in last season’s Champions League final.
Both sides have been finalists in this competition in the past two campaigns with PSG losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in 2020 and City losing against Chelsea by the same scoreline in May.
Absentees
City star Kevin De Bruyne is sidelined for Guardiola’s side as he tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday.
£100 million ace Jack Grealish is a doubt for the home side with a knock which forced him to miss the game against Everton on Sunday. Ferran Torres is also ruled out with a foot injury and won’t return to action until the New Year.
For the visitors, Julian Draxler is out with a hamstring injury, meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Rafinha is absent with a hip injury.
Neymar returned to the side against Nantes following an adductor injury sustained whilst on international duty with Brazil and will be available for selection.
Fortunately, summer signing Sergio Ramos could be in line to make his debut after a calf injury ruled him out of action for much of this season. The four-time Champions League winner will hope to make his mark on the competition favourites’ campaign.
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