SM
Friday, November 8
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Five talking points ahead of PSG's Champions League semi-final with Man City

:Headline: Five talking points ahead of PSG's Champions League semi-final with Man City:
Rival bosses Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino know each other well.
Sports Mole

Manchester City face Paris St Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points ahead of the game.

Favourites collide

PSG have a reputation for attacking football (Martin Rickett/PA)

Neither City nor PSG have ever won the Champions League, having achieved just one final appearance between them, but they are the two favourites for the competition. Those who dislike the way the owners of both clubs have spent lavishly to join the elite may wish to look away but, putting those issues aside, it is expected to be an entertaining tie between two positive, attack-minded teams.

The long quest for glory

Both clubs have long coveted this title having been on similar trajectories for the past decade. City have become big players in the European game since their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 but success in this elite competition has been elusive. Despite participating in 10 successive seasons, they only have one previous semi-final appearance to show for their efforts. PSG, who welcomed their Qatari investors in 2011, found the quarter-finals or last 16 their limit until reaching the final last year.

Ones to watch

City will hope to keep Kylian Mbappe quiet (Martin Rickett/PA)

Attention will naturally focus on PSG's much-vaunted attack, led by the formidable duo of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. PSG arrive in fine goalscoring form having netted at least three times in seven of their last nine games, with Mbappe alone having bagged 35 this season. City's success this season has been a collective effort but Kevin De Bruyne is their key attacking figure while Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan are also in fine form.

Managers head to head

Mauricio Pochettino (left) and Pep Guardiola (right) face each other again (PA Archive)

City boss Pep Guardiola and opposite number Mauricio Pochettino know each other well, their rivalry dating back more than a decade to their time in Spain as respective managers of neighbours Barcelona and Espanyol. More recently they clashed in England during the latter's time with Tottenham. Guardiola has won 10 of their 18 meetings but Pochettino famously emerged victorious when his Spurs side beat City in the quarter-finals two years ago.

History

City do have history on their side having edged out PSG in the quarter-finals five years ago. The sides drew 2-2 in Paris before De Bruyne scored a late winner to send City through 3-2 on aggregate on the back of a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

body check tags ::

amp_article__445078 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-27 17:41:39:
html db last update - 2021-04-27 17:41:39 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
MC
Read Next:
Pep Guardiola wary of PSG's "incredible" attacking talent
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Pep Guardiola Mauricio Pochettino Kylian Mbappe Kevin De Bruyne Neymar Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Pep Guardiola wary of PSG's "incredible" attacking talent
Amad to the rescue: Ivorian stars as Man United beat PAOK in Europa League

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Felix, Nkunku net brace as Chelsea run rampant in demolition of FC Noah

1

FN

Messi MVP quest continues, but will Busquets play? Inter Miami predicted XI vs. Atlanta

2

MM

Neymar seeking Saudi exit in favour of return to former club?

3

NS

Dyche 'leaves door open' for Branthwaite exit amid Man United links

4

D'

Have Palmer, Rice made the cut? Lee Carsley's final England squad revealed!

5

HP

Amad to the rescue: Ivorian stars as Man United beat PAOK in Europa League

6

AT

Amorim or Guardiola? Man City 'seriously interested' in Man United-linked attacker

7

AO

Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PC

Team News: Three changes: Who starts for Man United against PAOK in Europa League?

9

TN

Preview: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PI


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .