PSG vs Man City Preview and Betting Tips

The best version of Man City turned up on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. We were on Chelsea to win to nil but unfortunately, it ended up the other way round. Jesus netted the only goal and Chelsea didn’t even have a shot on target. Now, City and Pep’s focus switches to the Champions League and Paris for the Oil Money Derby. It is Qatar vs Abu Dhabi and some of the finest talent in world football will be on display. Hopefully we get a game that is worth watching, check out our PSG vs Man City preview and betting tip below.

PSG

Domestically, it has been a perfect start to the season for Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG side. Eight matches have yielded eight wins and while they haven’t been fully convincing on a couple of occasions, the results have been excellent. However, there is definitely room for improvement in some areas. PSG have only kept two clean sheets this season so they have plenty to work on defensively.

In their opening UCL match PSG were held to a 1-1 draw at Brugges. It wasn’t an ideal start in such a tricky group and they will desperately want to avoid defeat tonight. Against Brugges, Pochettino started the big three up top. Messi, Neymar and Mbappe failed to fire and their only goal was scored by Ander Herrera.

Messi is available for selection but he has yet to score or assist in his three games so far. Not only does he need more time to get used to his new team-mates, they also have to get used to him. With the talent they have on the pitch, you can never write PSG off. However, at this moment they haven’t yet gelled as a team and it could be difficult night for them vs City.

Man City

Up until Sunday it was either a feast or a famine with Man City this season. They either scored a hatful of goals or none at all, but against Chelsea they looked like the City of old. They had almost 60% possession at Stamford Bridge and the hosts could never get a foothold in the game. Chelsea had zero shots on target and they created no big chances. City pressed high, penned Chelsea in and the goal felt inevitable when it came in the early stages of the second half.

PSG will pose a very different threat in comparison to Chelsea. They are not as tactically rigid as Tuchel’s side so Guardiola may well tweak his approach. In their Champions League opener City beat RB Leipzig 6-3 in a pulsating clash at the Etihad. Leipzig gave City a decent game but in truth, the hosts never looked like losing.

This is the second game in what was billed as a crucial week for City. They cleared the first hurdle on Saturday, they have PSG on Tuesday and then they play away at title rivals Liverpool on Sunday. They at least have a full four days to recover before their trip to Anfield so Pep may not have to make a lot of changes. A win in Paris would solidify their position at the top of this Group and if they repeat the level of performance they produced at Stamford Bridge, you wouldn’t bet against them.

PSG vs Man City Possible Lineups

PSG: Navas, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo, Herrera, Paredes, Wijnaldum, Messi, Mbappe, Neymar.

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Ake, Dias, Cancelo, Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Grealish, Sterling, Jesus.

PSG vs Man City Betting Tip

All the talk ahead of this game is whether Messi will be fit. He has been named in the squad so presumably he will start. Mbappe, Neymar and Messi all played against Brugges but they didn’t set the world alight. Even players of their quality need time to gel but is it possible to be a successful side with three players in the team who aren’t exactly fond of working hard when they don’t have possession?

Maybe PSG will prove me wrong and they’ll go and win the Champions League. However, I think Pochettino is facing a thankless task as it is hard to see how he can fit those three players into a fully functioning ‘team’. It would be a super line up in a testimonial or an exhibition but having three players in your starting eleven that don’t like tracking back is not a recipe for success at the highest level.

I much prefer the claims of Man City on Tuesday night. They are a well oiled and well drilled unit and for City, it is all about the collective rather than the individual. Last season, City took a while to find their stride and it looks like it is a similar story this time. The signs were very good against Chelsea and if they produce a similar display in Paris, they can win this match. With the attacking talent they have, you would expect PSG to score so the recommended bet is Man City to win and both teams to score at odds of 3/1.

PSG vs Man City Betting Tip: Man City/Both teams to score @ 3/1

PSG vs Man City Predicted scoreline: PSG 1 Man City 3 (18/1)

Key Manager Quotes

Mauricio Pochettino: “PSG are always under pressure and big stars feel pressure for different things but the most important thing is that we are so happy with the squad that we have built. Now we need time.”

Pep Guardiola: “They combine so well, the talent cannot be stopped. We have to do it as a team. Individually, we cannot stop it. We have to do it as a team, be compact, help each other, know we are going to suffer. They are so good these kind of teams, you have to be able to suffer 90 minutes.

-DaveStevos