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These two teams are deemed by many to be the favorites for the Champions League. Manchester City has the historical upper hand on PSG in terms of victories. However, the French has the best squad in the club's history.
Paris-Saint-Germain: a group of individuals still learning to become a team.
PSG's squad quality can not be denied. Indeed, they have recruited players that are suppose to take the club one step closer to winning the biggest European title. With little spending PSG managed to sign former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, Milan defender Achraf Hakimi, Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum but most notably Barcelona's number 10, considered as one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's manager, said : "They are an exceptional team. I don't know how to beat them for sure".
The front 3 at PSG, Messi, Neymar and Mbappe seems unstoppable on paper. It's hard to find any teams with this quality upfront. However, they also represent one of PSG's biggest weaknesses. Those three players are known for their lack of defensive efforts.
Ander Herrera, the parisian midfielder, explained that PSG had players that coulwin game but in order to win against this game they needed and that he was happy to do the work. This was highlighted in their first Champions League game where there were a lot of gaps in the midfield allowing the Belgian youngsters to create many occasions for themselves.
It is fair to say that if this is not rectified Manchester City would be able to develop their game plan with ease.
Manchester City: a more complete package
They look like the team to beat at the moment in Premier League. Despite starting their season with a loss against Tottenham, they seem to have rectified their issues and became more of a collective.
But, they do not want to be too confident against the french side despite winning against them in Semi-finals of Champions League last year. They started their European Campaign with a dominant win against RB Leipzig 6-3. This victory highlighted in a way City's defensive problems.
Guardiola said yesterday that they did struggle defensively in previous years. However, they seem to have found a solution. Indeed, they faced Chelsea 3 days ago and won 0-1 at Stamford Bridge. They erased all the spaces that the Chelsea strikers could use. We saw an exceptional performances from City's Portuguese defenders Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias.
Finally, Phil Foden and Kevin De Brunye are both getting stronger from their injuries. They are both key players of the English side that this makes them more threatening.
Pace from the wings with Foden and Mbappe, battle of the midfield between De Brunye and Wijnaldum, defensive duels with Dias and Ramos. Messi meets Guardiola again.
This game is promising, definitely worth the watch. Perfect with a morning cup of coffee.
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