DECRYPTION – Everything you need to know before the clash of the seventh day of C1 between Paris-SG and Manchester City.
Before the seventh day of the Champions League, PSG occupies 25th place in the standings. Position synonymous with elimination. Luis Enrique’s players face Manchester City this Wednesday (9 p.m.), at the Parc des Princes. Match broadcast on Canal+ and to follow live with commentary on our site.
Can PSG be eliminated this Wednesday?
No. More after Tuesday night’s games. For this, it would have been necessary to witness a combination of nine unfavorable results, in addition to a Parisian defeat against the Sky Blues. Bruges’ draw against Juventus (0-0) and Monaco’s victories against Aston Villa (1-0) and PSV Eindhoven in Belgrade (2-3) did not do Paris’s business. Seeing Benfica leading 4-2 against Barça in Lisbon, there was reason to tremble. The Catalan comeback and Raphinha’s winning goal allowed the Rouge et Bleu to breathe. The Lisbon club is stuck at 10 points. He would still be within reach of PSG on the last day, even in the event of a setback against City.
The results of Real (against Salzburg), Celtic (against Young Boys), Sporting (against Leipzig), Feyenoord (against Bayern) and Dinamo Zagreb (against Arsenal) will be of particular interest to Parisians this Wednesday evening. One thing is certain: PSG will still be able to believe in qualifying for the play-offs when they arrive in Stuttgart on January 29.
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How did PSG end up there?
The Rouge et Bleu have only won two matches, against Girona (1-0) and Salzburg (3-0), with a draw against PSV Eindhoven (1-1). They lost to the three big names they faced, Arsenal (0-2), Atlético (1-2) and Bayern (0-1). Seven points in six games. City has only one more and remains in three games without a victory, defeats in Turin (2-0) and on the ground of Sporting (4-1), as well as a draw that looks like a defeat against Feyenoord (3-3).
Before that, the Citizens had shared the points against Inter (0-0) and taught a lesson to Slovan Bratislava (4-0) and Sparta Prague (5-0). Two cards which could count when doing the calculations in terms of goal difference. Note that City are doing better since their fall slump: six games without defeat and a card at Ipswish (0-6) on Sunday in the league. One thing is certain: if successful this Wednesday, PSG would overtake Manchester City and de facto join the Top 24 before the last day.
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Paris and City, what history?
The two teams have crossed swords seven times, the first time in 2008. Always in C1. Four victories for the English club, two draws and only one Parisian success. Note that the knockout confrontations turned to Man’s advantage. City, the quarter-final in 2016 (2-2, 0-1) and the semi-final, in 2021 (1-2, 0-2). The last time the two teams faced each other at the Parc, it was Paris who won: 2-0, goals from Gana Gueye and Léo Messi.
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Guardiola and Luis Enrique, fraternal twins?
The two coaches share the same admiration for Johan Cruyff, coach at Barça in the 90s, their mentor. Two promoters of the Barcelona-style game, two coaches who are governed by the same dogma, possession, pressing, short passes… The same dogma, with a few differences. Pep Guardiola coached Barca from 2008 to 2012 and Luis Enrique from 2014 to 2017. They both won the C1 in Catalonia. In terms of direct confrontations, two victories everywhere. It was during Luis Enrique’s time at Barça, against Bayern (2015) and City (2016). Two former club and national teammates, two friends in the city.
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PSG-City, more than one match?
Necessarily. A “Golfico” between Qatari PSG and City under the Emirati flag. Doha and Abu Dhabi, two regional rivals, often competitors, sometimes enemies. The United Arab Emirates was one of the states that imposed an embargo on Qatar in 2017. Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the hatchet was buried at the beginning of 2021, but Qataris and Emiratis have never stopped looking at each other in earthenware dogs. A shock? A derby.
