Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City will clash at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night in what could be the most crucial fixture of matchday seven in the Champions League league phase.
While many initially expected this matchup to be a formality, both teams’ rocky starts to their campaigns have transformed it into a must-win battle with huge implications for their European futures.
PSG enters this game still in a precarious position, even after their morale-boosting victory over Red Bull Salzburg on matchday six. That win brought them level on victories and goals scored with their previous seven Champions League outings combined, but they remain just outside the playoff spots, sitting one place below the top 24 with seven points.
With just two games left, PSG must secure at least four points to control their destiny. A loss here could leave their fate hanging by a thread before their final match against Stuttgart.
The Salzburg win appears to have rejuvenated Luis Enrique’s side, who had gone three games without a win before embarking on an eight-match winning streak. Their recent 2-1 comeback against Lens extended that run and pushed them nine points clear at the top of Ligue 1, allowing them to focus entirely on salvaging their European campaign.
Despite drawing a brutal league-phase group featuring Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Atletico Madrid, PSG’s failure to pick up more than one point from those fixtures is a major disappointment. However, they’ll take comfort in their last home meeting with City, a 2-0 victory achieved with just six shots—the lowest in their Champions League history for a home game.
Enrique’s personal record against Pep Guardiola adds another layer of intrigue. The PSG boss has lost just twice in five encounters with Guardiola and is one of only two managers, alongside Jürgen Klopp, to beat him by three or more goals multiple times.
Manchester City’s European campaign has mirrored PSG’s in many ways. A poor start spilled into their domestic form, but a run of four wins in their last five games suggests they are finding their feet again.
Still, City’s away performances in Europe have been uncharacteristically poor. After a strong record of just three away losses in 28 Champions League games, they’ve now suffered back-to-back defeats on the road for the first time since 2011-12, falling to Sporting Lisbon and Juventus.
Domestically, City bounced back emphatically, crushing Salford City 8-0 in the FA Cup and dismantling Ipswich Town 6-0 in the Premier League. However, a recent 1-1 draw with Brentford dampened hopes of a late title charge, shifting their focus firmly to Europe.
Pep Guardiola’s squad begins matchday seven just inside the playoff spots, one point ahead of PSG. However, with Stuttgart and PSV Eindhoven both having easier fixtures on Tuesday, City could find themselves overtaken before they even take the field.
City’s early momentum, which saw them take seven points from their first three games, has been undone by costly defeats: a 4-1 hammering at Sporting, a collapse at home to Feyenoord, and a lackluster showing in Turin. Their only wins have come against Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague, leaving little margin for error in these final two matches.
A win against Club Brugge on matchday eight is likely to be enough for City to progress, but losing in Paris would make that game a nerve-wracking affair for both players and fans.
As both teams fight to avoid an early exit, the Parc des Princes is set for a dramatic showdown between two European heavyweights desperate to stay in the competition.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
PSG faces lingering injury concerns over key defenders Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi, who have yet to feature in January. Ousmane Dembélé, sidelined for the last two games due to illness, is expected to return to action.
Meanwhile, new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia won’t be eligible to play in the remaining league-phase matches, as PSG can only register him for the Champions League knockout stages. Even then, the Georgian star will face stiff competition from the in-form Bradley Barcola for a spot in the starting lineup.
Luis Enrique also has a big decision to make up front, with high-profile signings Gonçalo Ramos and Désiré Doué vying for a starting role. Doué appears to have the edge for now.
Manchester City has injury concerns of their own, with Nathan Aké missing the weekend’s match due to a minor muscle issue. John Stones, still recovering from an ankle injury, is being eased back into action, likely leaving Manuel Akanji and Rúben Dias to continue as the center-back pairing.
Similar to PSG's situation with Kvaratskhelia, City’s January signings Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov are not eligible for the remaining league-phase games, limiting their contributions to domestic competitions for now.
Rodri remains City’s only long-term absentee, though there is good news as Oscar Bobb has returned to full training after recovering from a leg fracture sustained just before the start of the season.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Hernandez, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Dembele, Doue, Barcola
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Lewis, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Bernardo Silva, Kovacic, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Savinho
EXPERT PREDICTION
PSG 2-3 Manchester City
When Manchester City hit their stride, they become a force to be reckoned with, often rising to the occasion when it matters most. This week, they’ll be confident in their ability to all but secure a playoff spot with one game to spare.
That said, PSG won’t be an easy hurdle to clear. Despite sitting 25th, their impressive eight-game winning streak is proof of their resilience. However, the quality and intensity City brings to the table will likely surpass anything PSG has encountered during that run.
