Ace Football previews the Champions League match between PSG and Manchester United, and offers the latest betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
Champions League football resumes on Tuesday night, with a mouth-watering tie between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United to kick things off in Group H.
Nobody will forget the last encounter between the two sides in March 2019 at the Parc des Princes. Two goals down on aggregate, no one expected United to win the last-16 tie. But Marcus Rashford’s 94th-minute penalty sealed a remarkable 3-1 comeback victory. It was one of the club’s greatest moments in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era; and certainly of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s managerial career.
The Norwegian, who has since come under his fair bit of scrutiny, could do with another positive result in Paris.
Although PSG have the quality at their disposal to make life difficult for United, particularly for the defenders. Facing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe alone is enough to give any defense nightmares.
PSG Form & Stats
That loss to Manchester United last time out was one of several heartbreaking moments to befall upon Thomas Tuchel’s men.
PSG came agonizingly close to winning a first Champions League title in August, only to lose the final 1-0 to Bayern Munich. It was a tremendous disappointment for the club. Especially as they had progressed past the quarter-finals for the first time since 1994/95.
Seeing the biggest prize in European club football slip through their grasp, however, could inspire them. PSG head into Tuesday’s showdown on the back of five successive wins. The effects of their short pre-season appear to be over.
Last Friday’s 4-0 win away to Nimes even saw Tuchel rest several star players, including Neymar. Despite this choice, PSG still ran out as comfortable winners. In fact, they’ve scored 16 goals and conceded just once in their last five games.
Angel Di Maria’s return to the fold after a domestic suspension, meanwhile, is another boost for the Ligue 1 champions. Although Tuchel has confirmed that Mauro Icardi and Marco Verratti are both unavailable.
Key Team Stats
- Won their last five league games.
- Won to nil in their last four Champions League home games.
- Four clean sheets in their last five league games.
- Not lost a group game at home in the Champions League since December 2004.
Manchester United Form & Stats
The visitors bounced back from their humiliating defeat to Tottenham by overseeing a comfortable 4-1 victory at Newcastle on Saturday. They’ve won all of their last nine away games in all competitions.
Such an impressive stat should leave United in a buoyant mood for their trip to Paris. Victory in the French capital would set them up beautifully in Group H ahead of games with RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir.
Solskjaer will also be wary of the upcoming clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League. Both these encounters are at Old Trafford, where they haven’t fared so well recently. A morale-boosting win over PSG, therefore, would be welcome.
Losing five players for the match, including Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, and Edinson Cavani, is an unfortunate blow though. As Ole pointed out, it’s left United ‘a little bit deflated’.
Key Team Stats
- Won four of their last five games in all competitions.
- BTTS in their last three league games.
- Over 2.5 goals in their last six games in all competitions.
- Only lost two Champions League curtain-raisers in history (Juventus in 1996/97 & PSV Eindhoven in 2015/16).
- Lost four of their last five Champions League games.
Team News
PSG
Out: Juan Bernat, Thilo Kehrer, Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti, & Mauro Icardi.
Doubt/s: Marquinhos & Julian Draxler
Manchester United
Out: Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood, Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, & Jesse Lingard.
Doubt/s: N/A
Predicted Line-ups
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Head-To-Head Record
Match Facts
Betting Tips
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