Paris Saint-Germain is preparing to experience a new major event on the European scene. Luis Enrique’s men challenge Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday evening, with the ambition of striking a big blow on this second day of the Champions League. For this poster, the Spanish technician should rely on a team close to his reference eleven in 4-3-3, with Matvey Safonov announced in the goals. In front of the Russian goalkeeper, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes would occupy the corridors, while Marquinhos and Willian Pacho would form the central hinge. A rearguard which will have to resist the offensive power of the Cityzens and in particular the presence of Erling Haaland in the area.
In the midfield, Luis Enrique should renew his confidence in João Neves, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz. The Parisian trio will be responsible for controlling the tempo, resisting Mancunian pressing and finding solutions to feed the offensive players. Up front, Désiré Doué should occupy the right side, with Ousmane Dembélé in the center and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left flank. The 2025 Ballon d’Or will be particularly anticipated after several mixed outings with the Blues and the capital club. With this eleven announced, PSG would be banking on heavyweight to put Enzo Maresca’s block in difficulty.
Maresca is not going to give any gifts
For its part, Manchester City should also bring out the heavy artillery to welcome the European champions. Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected in goal against his former Parisian club. In front of him, Matheus Nunes could be aligned on the right, with Rúben Dias and Marc Guéhi in the axis, while Joško Gvardiol would take his place on the left. The midfield should be centered around Anderson and Enzo Fernández, responsible for recovering the balls and launching the offensives. An always essential asset against the oiled Parisian collective and the pressing of Luis Enrique’s men.
The Cityzens will need to find the right balance to avoid suffering from Parisian rapid transitions while maintaining their ability to confiscate the ball. On the offensive side, Pep Guardiola could rely on a trio composed of Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki and Jérémy Doku, with Erling Haaland at the forefront. The former Lyonnais, Rayan Cherki, could thus play a central role, given his current form. The native of Lyon will be closely watched for his return against a French club. Semenyo and Doku will provide impact on the wings, while Haaland will pose a constant threat in the box.
