Champions League news: How Man City and PSG could line up

9:17am on Monday 3rd May 2021
By Nicholas Hughes

Manchester City and PSG will do battle for a spot in the Champions League final on Tuesday night, with City holding the advantage after their 2-1 first-leg victory in Paris.

PSG are out to avenge the demons of last season’s defeat against Bayern Munich in the showpiece, while City are yet to ever make the final of the competition.

City defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 on Saturday and might have been crowned champions had Liverpool beaten Manchester United on Monday, but the game was forced to be postponed as fans stormed inside Old Trafford in protest against United’s ownership.

Pep Guardiola rotated heavily for the Palace win and there should be room for a host of changes with key players coming back in for this crucial second leg.

The back four could take a very different look with Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and John Stones all likely to come back in. The latter is still serving a suspension in domestic football but will be available for the Champions League.

Rodri should continue in midfield while Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are likely to return alongside.

Kevin De Bruyne was deployed as a false nine in the first leg and could return in that position on Tuesday, with Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez making it an unchanged XI from the Parc des Princes.

PSG will be without Idrissa Gueye for the match after his harsh challenge on Gundogan last Wednesday night.

Mauricio Pochettino is likely to play a similarly familiar line-up to the first leg, with the back four remaining the same – Alessandro Florenzi and Mitchel Bakker were given a rest against Lens on the weekend.

Ander Herrera will be the probable replacement for Gueye at the base of midfield, alongside Marco Verratti who should resume in the middle rather than out on the left.

Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar should form an attacking midfield trident in support of Moise Kean up top, with PSG needing away goals to try to get back in the tie.

Widely seen as the stronger side of the Champions League draw, both coaches know that a win and a spot in the final will give them a big chance of lifting the trophy, and both will do all they can to ensure it is their team in Istanbul at the end of the month.