Citizens have the Edge in first leg encounter on Wednesday night

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City

Updated: 11/12/2024

UEFA Champions League semi-finals 1st leg preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City – Parc des Princes, Paris – Wednesday, 28 April 2021 – 20:00hrs. BST

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester City Preview

Continental giants Paris St Germain and Manchester City lock horns in the first leg of their semi-final of the Champions League at the Parc des Princes, Paris on Wednesday night, April 28th.

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While PSG managed to overpower champions Bayern Munich on away goals, Pep Guardiola's City beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 on aggregate to end their quarter-final hoodoo in the Champions League.

Both sides found success on the domestic front this weekend with City bagging their fourth consecutive EFL Cup title by beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at the Wembley stadium while PSG enjoyed a 3-1 win over Metz in a Ligue 1 encounter.

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Team News

There was anxiety in the PSG camp as Mauricio Pochettino was forced to pull out an injured Kylian Mbappe midway through the game against Metz. The 22-year-old forward's injury is not believed to be serious and he could be well in line for a start on Wednesday night.

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas and central midfielder Marco Verratti have made returns from injuries and both are expected to be in the starting XI.

Left-back Abdou Diallo could replace Layvin Kurzawa if he were to be declared fit. Rafinha seems to have recovered from a back ailment but Pochettino may choose not to give him a start. While Juan Bernat remains the only long-term absentee for PSG, striker Mauro Icardi could step in if Mbappe were to opt out at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Guardiola has a fully fit squad at his disposal for the Paris trip after Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero both made the squad for Sunday's EFL Cup final.

John Stones, who missed the Cup clash owing to a suspension could come back to fill in at the back at the expense of Aymeric Laporte despite the latter having scored the winning goal against Tottenham.

Goalkeeper Ederson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus who were unused subs in the EFL Cup final, are almost certain of starts on the 28th. The likes of Benjamin Mendy, Ferran Torres and Bernardo Silva will also be pushing for starts in the first leg clash.

Paris Saint-Germain probable starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation:

Navas (goal); Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Gueye, Paredes, Verratti; Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe

Manchester City probable starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation:

Ederson (goal); Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Silva, Foden

PSG's performance of late at the Parc Des Princes can be described as shaky at the best, having won only three of their last eight competitive games at the home venue.

Manchester City's form away from the Etihad stadium has been exceptional with their only loss from their previous 22 outings being a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea at Wembley last weekend.
Given their dominance on the road, City will feel confident of securing a first-leg advantage. Moreover, PSG have looked suspect at the back in both legs against Bayern although the return of Marquinhos could help steady the ship as far as their defense goes.

PSG will look to soak up City's pressure on Wednesday and use the speed and guile of Mbappe and Neymar on the counter to get the goals they require although their English rivals seem more than capable of earning a first leg win in Paris on the 28th.

History too is on the side of City. Wednesday's first leg will be the fourth meeting between these two with PSG failing to beat their forthcoming opponents in any of the previous three fixtures since 2008.

Bookmakers Odds

All odds taken from the leading bookmakers online and were correct as of 27/04/2021.

  • Manchester City to win: 13/8
  • PSG to win: 13/5
  • Draw: 13/10

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Correct Score Odds

  • Draw 1-1: 6/1 (probable score line)
  • Man City 2-1: 8/1 (predicted score line)
  • Man City 1-0: 9/1
  • PSG 2-1: 10/1
  • Man City 2-0: 11/1
  • Draw 2-2: 12/1
  • PSG 1-0: 11/1
  • Draw 0-0: 14/1
  • Man City 3-1: 14/1
  • PSG 2-0: 18/1
  • Man City 3-0: 18/1
  • Man City 3-2: 20/1
  • PSG 3-1: 22/1
  • PSG 3-2: 25/1
  • PSG 3-0: 33/1

Anytime goal scorer Odds

  • Kylian Mbappe: 5/4
  • Neymar: 8/5
  • Gabriel Jesus: 8/5
  • Mauro Icardi: 8/5
  • Raheem Sterling: 7/4
  • Moise Kean: 7/4
  • Riyad Mahrez: 21/10
  • Phil Foden: 21/10
  • Ilkay Gundogan: 8/5
  • Kevin De Bruyne: 7/4
  • Angel Di Maria: 13/5

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