Substitutes: Bettinelli, Rulli, Ndiaye, Kovačić, Aït-Nouri, Reis, Nunes, Bouaddi, O’Reilly, Allan, Foden, Lewis.
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Paris Saint-Germain: Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Doué, Dembelé, Akliouche.
Substitutes: Chevalier, Mouak, Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Kvaratskhelia, Ferran Torres, Digne, L. Hernández, Godts, Dro Fernández, Ndjantou, João Neves.
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Arbitrator: Sven Jablonski (Germany).
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Should we set the scene? Allow me to turn the floor over to Matt Hughes…
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…this is how the recent history of the winners of three of the last four editions of the Champions League is told. Opinions regarding his condition (no pun intended) may vary. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. Here we go!
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Key events
12 minutes: It wasn’t a penalty, but City got a free kick, because at the end of the phase of play Semenyo was fouled on the left. Fernandez sends the set piece towards the near post, where Safanov awkwardly bundles the ball around his post. From the corner, Safonov sends the ball onto his own crossbar, then Semenyo fires a shot over the bar from six meters! But Guehi is still penalized for pushing the goalkeeper.
10 minutes: Cherki bursts into the PSG area on the left. Marquinhos passes him a leg. Cherki passes. There is contact – and a VAR check – but it turns out Marquinhos touched the ball. No penalty.
8 minutes: Akliouche appears to have won a corner against Gvardiol on the right, but the linesman awards a goal kick. From the restart, Semenyo was a little careless and left the shot to Zaire-Emery. Donnarumma takes care of it.
6 minutes: Semenyo bursts into the inside right channel but his shot towards Cherki on the wing is not good. But this is City’s first outing on enemy territory.
4 minutes: It’s the PSG supporters who are making all the noise. The City fans are quiet, perhaps all exhausted after partying at Anfield.
2 minutes: Cherki is caught dozing by Dembélé, who sends Doué hurtling down a dead end on the left. Cherki will be delighted that Khusanov is there.
PSG, in its blue jersey with a red central yoke, kicks off in its usual rugby style. City in its blue sky.
The teams arrive on the field… one way or another. City left their visitors waiting in the tunnel for a few minutes. Then the theme of the Champions League, with the usual refrain of disgust. As strong as the opprobrium focused on UEFA usually is? Not sure; it’s almost as if City fans have another administrator-infused opponent in mind. In any case, the atmosphere seems a little subdued; everyone has been affected, in one way or another, in recent weeks. Of course, it will start in a minute when the match starts (lately).
Pep Guardiola is indeed in the house. He is seated behind City’s director of football Hugo Viana in the executive box. A mosaic in the stand: CTID. City until I die.
Enzo Maresca speaks to TNT. “It’s a special night… Champions League night against the best team in Europe… I hope we can win the game… I know Pep (Guardiola) will be there but he wasn’t at the training ground (earlier today) and I didn’t speak with him… showing my support for the club even when he’s not here, for sure it’s a special moment for him tonight too… he’s back home… also for the fans they will be happy to see Pep here tonight… to beat PSG you need a complete performance… with and without the ball… we will create chances and concede a few chances… we need to find the right balance.
A reminder of what happened the last time these clubs met.
A Guardian exclusive courtesy of Kiran Stacey and Matt Hughes.
Manchester City are going strong after their 3-0 victory at Anfield. Jeremy Doku, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol replace Iliman Ndiaye, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly in the starting XI. PSG is not as strong as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is only on the bench. But then again, he can get away with it later when everyone is a little exhausted, so it’s swings and roundabouts. Ferran Torres, formerly of City, is also named as a replacement.
The teams
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol, Anderson, Fernández, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland.
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Rulli, Ndiaye, Kovačić, Aït-Nouri, Reis, Nunes, Bouaddi, O’Reilly, Allan, Foden, Lewis.
Paris Saint-Germain: Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Ruiz, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Doué, Dembelé, Akliouche.
Substitutes: Chevalier, Mouak, Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Kvaratskhelia, Ferran Torres, Digne, L. Hernández, Godts, Dro Fernández, Ndjantou, João Neves.
Arbitrator: Sven Jablonski (Germany).
Preamble
Should we set the scene? Allow me to turn the floor over to Matt Hughes…
…this is how the recent history of the winners of three of the last four editions of the Champions League is told. Opinions regarding his condition (no pun intended) may vary. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. Here we go!
Gn sports
