Neymar PSG
Neymar PSG

PSG are once again in a fine run in the Champions League and after beating Bayern Munich, they are definitely one of the favourites to win the tournament.

The French side take on Manchester City in the semi-final, the first leg of which will be played at the Parc des Princes this week. PSG will be looking to take revenge for the 2015/16 Champions League quarter-finals when Man City knocked them out of the tournament.

The Parisian side go into this match at the back of three straight wins in the Ligue 1 but Manchester City are a totally different beast and Mauricio Pochettino will be well versed with that given his time in England.

The manager primarily uses a 4-3-2-1 system but on Wednesday, Pochettino might opt for a 4-3-3 formation with three solid defensive-minded midfielders in his starting line-up.

PSG team news vs Manchester City:

Juan Bernat is officially ruled out for the first leg meaning Kurzawa will play at left-back against Manchester City.

Marquinhos was an absentee for PSG’s 3-1 win over Metz on Saturday but the defender is going to come back into the side and slot straight into central defence alongside Kimpembe.

Paredes and Verratti will keep their place from the weekend’s game but Ander Herrera should be moving back to the bench as Idrissa Gueye is expected to come back into midfield.

Angel Di Maria came off the bench on Saturday but he’s a guaranteed starter for the first leg, playing on the right flank while Neymar operates on the left-hand side.

Kylian Mbappe scored a brace against Metz but was taken off the pitch after receiving a heavy knock. The manager though was quick to make it clear that the injury is not serious and he will be fit to play against City.

“It’s a blow to the quads,” Pochettino told Canal Plus, as quoted. “I don’t think it’s much, we hope it’s not serious. I don’t think he’s in danger for Wednesday. It’s just a blow. It does not give us that impression [that he’ll miss the City game].

“Kylian was calm at the time of his substitution, even though the blow was painful.”

The fact that Mbappe is fully fit means he is the one who’s likely to play as the centre-forward for PSG on Wednesday. While Pochettino does have options like Icardi and Moise Kean, the manager will stick with Mbappe up front since the French international has already played in that position 18 times this season.

PSG’s predicted line-up vs Manchester City:

Possible Starting Line-up: Navas; Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Kurzawa, Florenzi; Verratti, Paredes, Gueye; Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, De Maria.

PSG predicted XI vs MCFC

Read: Man City’s predicted XI vs PSG – Champions League.

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