By Alex Roberts
Luis Enrique’s aspect are recent off the again of an edgy 2-1 win over RC Lens, the aspect Metropolis lately signed Uzbek centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov from – a participant we lately profiled right here. He didn’t function in that sport, however he did rating his one and solely purpose of the season towards the Parisian membership again in December.
Metropolis’s most up-to-date victory was just a little extra complete. Pep Guardiola’s lads travelled to Ipswich and pumped them 6-0, briefly re-entering the highest 4. Are they lastly again after a dismal first half of the season?
2 Phil 2 Foden
One participant who does look like again to his greatest is Phil Foden. Two consecutive Premier League braces towards Brentford after which Ipswich earned him two back-to-back Participant of the Match awards.
Up till now, the winger had struggled domestically, however discovered some solace on the continent, offering 4 purpose contributions in his 5 Champions League video games. That’s greater than in his earlier 16 Premier League video games earlier than the 2-2 draw with Brentford.
The previous six months marked his first actual dip in kind since breaking into the Man Metropolis first crew, which is sort of a outstanding feat. It doesn’t all the time occur, however typically the sequels are higher. Simply ask Vin Diesel.
A shift in coverage
Because the departures of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé, PSG have seemingly prevented huge title signings, as a substitute opting to construct what is sort of presumably one in every of, if not the, greatest younger squad in Europe. They usually stay unbeaten after 18 rounds of the Ligue 1 season.
New signing Khvicha Kvaratskhalia gained’t function on the left-wing towards Metropolis or their subsequent Champions League sport towards Stuttgart later within the month as they gained’t be capable to register him till the league section is over.
Up steps 19-year-old Désiré Doué. The teen has impressed since becoming a member of from Rennes in the summertime and began in PSG’s 2-0 defeat to fellow Premier League aspect Arsenal again in October. With one purpose and two assists in 706 Ligue 1 minutes, he has the flexibility to be a distinction maker.
Kyle Walker’s farewell tour
The veteran right-back appears to be like set to depart Man Metropolis imminently, with AC Milan the almost definitely vacation spot in accordance with stories. He’s a participant who has saved Metropolis time and time once more. Monitoring again has develop into his trademark.
Guardiola has by no means been significantly sentimental, and Walker has been unnoticed of Metropolis’s final three squads completely, however for what he’s achieved for the membership, he deserves a correct ship off.
Metropolis began Matheus Nunes at right-back within the win over Ipswich, and he carried out properly, and though Walker hasn’t been significantly spectacular this season, ongoing defensive damage points on the membership imply he could properly get the prospect to say bye.
Marquinhos will probably be a giant miss
Talking of defensive damage points, PSG have them too. Not fairly to the extent that Metropolis do, however they may seemingly be with out captain and central defensive stalwart Marquinhos for the conflict.
He’s been out of motion since PSG’s 1-0 Tremendous Cup remaining win over Monaco firstly of January with a groin damage, and, regardless of his standing on the membership and within the sport as a complete, he gained’t be rushed again.
Lucas Hernández, Willian Pacho, and Lucas Beraldo shaped a again three within the win over Lens, they usually impressed, however it can take some severe effort to fill the void left by the legendary Brazilian towards a aspect like Metropolis.
Prediction
Neither aspect have been in significantly good kind in Europe, sitting in 22nd (Man Metropolis) and 25th (PSG) respectively. For the quantity of expertise on show, and the significance of a win for each side, we predict a comparatively quiet sport, 2-1 to Man Metropolis.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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