Threatened with a pitiful elimination in the first phase of the Champions League, Paris SG hosts Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes (9:00 p.m.) for a costly clash between ambitious but poorly ranked clubs.
“I would like to play the Champions League in February”benignly underlined French international Ousmane Dembélé in reference to the round-trip barrage if PSG gets out of the rut. An elimination in the first round of the premier competition would be unprecedented since the arrival of Qatari Sports Investment in 2011.
For now, after Tuesday evening's matches, PSG has fallen to 26th place with 7 points. Only the first 24 will continue the adventure. The capital club is anything but assured of being there after having burned cartridges against PSV Eindhoven (1-1) and Atlético Madrid (2-1 defeat at the Parc on a last second goal).
Erling Haaland, the Manchester City scorer, in training on the eve of the match against PSG in the Champions League on January 21, 2025 at the Parc des Princes / Oli SCARFF / AFP/Archives
Opposite, with 20 goals scored in the last four Premier League matches, City are emerging from a very difficult period which almost ruined their chances in the championship and compromised their European future (the English club is currently 24th). In C1, the « Citizens » took an edifying defeat against Sporting Portugal (4-1), wasted a three-goal lead against Feyenoord at home (3-3) and were soundly defeated by Juventus (2-0).
“It’s a match that comes for both teams at a complicated time for the ranking. But at the same time they will try to deploy their best weapons”anticipated PSG coach Luis Enrique.
Virus
For his part, Pep Guardiola sees Paris “one of the best teams in the world”. “From what little I've seen this season I love it, it's a very young team, with a lot of quality, very dynamic, it's never easy to win here”explained the star coach at a press conference at the Parc des Princes.
The confrontation is all the more unique as it also marks the reunion of two former FC Barcelona teammates who have become talented coaches. While he pulled the rug out from under him when he was compared to ex-Barça coach Xavi last season, Luis Enrique this time gave back to Pep what is Pep's. “It’s a great joy to see him again. (…) For me, Barça's perfect 4-3-3 is Guardiola. He innovated, I am lucky to be his friend, he also opened up a way of playing in England and opened the door to other coaches. »
Pep Guardiola at a press conference on January 21, 2025 at the Parc des Princes on the eve of the Champions League match against Paris SG. The French club, said the Manchester City coach, is “one of the best teams in the world” / FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Archives
-Guardiola returned the courtesy on Tuesday to the man with whom he maintains a “incredible relationship”brushing aside a question about the model he would have been for Luis Enrique: “I just started earlier, I’m a little older. (…) He is not a copy and paste, this success belongs to him, this way of making his teams united, of fighting. »
Wednesday evening, the battle for possession of the ball promises to be terrible since the two teams chase it as soon as it is lost: “Everything starts with the ball, we do everything to have the ball, more than the opponent, to have it in the opposing half. It’s very difficult to take the ball from a PSG player but also from a City player”said Luis Enrique.
“Paris will always be one of the best teams, with an excellent coach at the moment, it’s going to be a great match”said Manchester City star center forward Erling Haaland.
Fabian Ruiz (left) and Achraf Hakimi (right) training with PSG on January 21, 2025 in Poissy on the eve of the C1 match against Manchester City / FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Archives
Like the English club, after its bad European run, Paris reassured itself with a 3-0 victory in Salzburg, a qualification for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France or even victories in the championship against Monaco and Lens, in particular.
But PSG sometimes appears borrowed in the game and clumsy in front of goal, and Luis Enrique continues not to start a center forward in favor of a « faux 9 ». He will count on the regained form of wingers Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola.
Dembélé scored in the last four matches he played before catching a virus which forced him to rest for a few days. “I project myself much more in front of goal. I'm a lot calmer too, which leads to scoring a few.”confided the person concerned. Barcola, for its part, ended a drought of twelve matches without scoring against Espaly in the Cup then Lens in L1.
To increase its meager total of six goals in six C1 matches, PSG will not be able to play its new recruit, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, made official on Friday, before the end of the first phase of the Champions League, under the rules of the UEFA. For the Georgian to play in this competition this season, Paris will have to qualify.
Related News :