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October 20, 2020. 22:00. France. Paris. Parc des Princes Stadium
UEFA Champions League. Group H. 1st round
Paris Saint-Germain (Paris) – Manchester United
Where to look: “Soccer 2”, “beIN SPORTS 1”, MEGO
Injured: Bernat, Kerer, Verratti, Paredes, Icardi, Marquinhos (?), Draxler (?) – Maguire, Bayeux, Greenwood
PSG – Manchester United: bookmaker odds
Group H has given us a great showdown right from the start: Manchester United returns to the Champions League and will be immediately put to the test by the finalist from the last draw. However, the formidable status of the Mankunian rival is softened by a completely new history of relations between the two clubs.
Few believed in the success of Manchester United, even in Manchester itself, when the Briton last faced PSG in March 2019 in the second leg of the round of 16 following a 2-0 home loss at Old Trafford. Nonetheless, a 3-1 victory in Paris secured a place for the Red Devils in the quarter-finals, and Marcus Rashford’s controversial 94th-minute penalty was one of the highlights in Manchester United history since the Sir Alex’s departure. At least in Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching career, this penalty (and this result in general) played a decisive role. In England, many are sure that it was after this feat that the club’s leaders decided to leave the Norwegian permanently.
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During the year and a half that Solskjaer has been in charge of the team, he has repeatedly found himself under pressure, and the next round of tension happened recently, following a 1: 6 home loss to Tottenham in early October. For their teams, the “red devils” did not part in good spirits, leaving Manchester United vegetating in the lower half of the Premier League table, and the Norwegian specialist had to work on errors in two weeks. Could a big win in the first after a break against Newcastle on Saturday (4-1) indicate progress? Partly yes, but in reality, the Mancunians, having continued to play well on the road (four wins in four official matches, 13 goals scored), three of the four goals at St. James’s Park were spent after 85 minutes. You cannot speak of a comfortable advantage.
Also, let’s not forget that Manchester United’s farewell to the Champions League a year and a half ago was painful: the Mancunians have lost four of the last five games of the tournament. The only exception is that memorable visit to Paris. Manchester United are at risk of losing three times in a row for only the second time in Champions League performance history, although in the opening match of the group stage, the “red devils” were inferior only twice all the time. (“Juventus” in the 1996/97 season, when, by the way, Solskjaer debuted, and PSV in the 2015/16 season).
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For PSG, the three-time European champion’s visit is yet another reminder of one of the many heartbreaking failures that accompany his journey to the European summit. The latter occurred less than two months before the start of the new campaign: former Parisian player Kingsley Coman scored the only goal in the August final for Bayern Munich.
Reaching the final was undoubtedly a breakthrough for PSG. The capital club, apparently, overcame the psychological block that prevented it from passing the quarterfinals. However, losing the jackpot while it was in your grasp can hurt even more than a 1/8 drop. So the PSG players will be determined to get back to the final and this time to write their names in history. Surely Thomas Tuchel’s charges are aimed at winning the group, for which it would be good to start with a victory, regardless of the opponent’s status.
Paris have lost just seven of their 53 Champions League games at home and have won the last four in the dry (i.e. all at the Parc des Princes after Manchester United’s visit). Since December 2004, the Parisians have never lost at home in the Champions League: 19 wins in 24 games.
PSG also continues to dominate the domestic arena. After overcoming the consequences of an incredibly short pre-season preparation, a Champions League hangover and the loss of many key players in the first weeks of the season, the capital great started his favorite activity in League 1. After minimal defeats for Lance and Marseille (twice, 0: 1), Tuchel’s team won five consecutive victories and scored 16 goals, conceding just one. Even with a semi-reserve squad, without shifting to an upshift, PSG defeated Nîmes (4: 0) last Friday. However, the early elimination of the hosts played into the hands of Paris.
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Manchester didn’t have a very good memory, even though we had a great result at Old Trafford. We did amazing things last season and gained more confidence. Our challenge will be not to think too much about the exit from two years ago. You will have to show all your qualities to win this difficult group. In high-level sports, you must always prove your status, win again and again. Manchester United has changed a lot, new players who have experience have appeared. Paul Pogba remains one of the best midfielders in the world. If we can stop it, then this will be the key to success. There is also Bruno Fernandes, who helps a lot from the depths. Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are three very fast hitters. All this makes “Manchester” one of the best teams in Europe for the speed of the transition to attack. It will be necessary to extinguish their counterattacks in time, and we must impose our own style. Manchester United are strong in established positions, so you have to be careful
Thomas tuchel
PSG – Manchester United: indicative lineups
According to Le Parisien, Tuchel intends to use a 4-3-3 formation with Portuguese rookie Danilo Pereira at the heart of the game. This will be the first game for a midfielder in the PSG jersey. Marquinhos, who returned from Brazil with an adductor injury, is available again and could pair the center-backs with Kimpembe. If the Brazilian does not have time to recover, he will be replaced by Abdou Diallo, who played well against Nîmes. Of course, Manchester United a priori is capable of giving the defender more difficult tasks, but probably Tuchel also remembers that Borussia did not concede a single goal in the Champions League when Abdou entered the center of defense.
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On the right, another newcomer Florenzi checked in on defense, but on the left flank Tuchel wavered in the choice between Mitchell Bakker and Leven Kurzawa. The Frenchman is more experienced, but his form is questionable: The defender has been serving a suspension since September (he received six matches for a fight in Classico).
In midfield, Danila will be accompanied by former Manchester United player Ander Herrera and Ghana Gueye. Given that Verratti and Paredes are injured, and Rafinha has not yet reached optimal condition, there are not many options. Ahead we will see the classic trident, formed by Neymar, Kilian Mbappé and Angel Di Maria. The Argentine, suspended four games for spitting on Álvaro, has not played since September 27, but the Argentine has always had a professional approach in training. Sarabia, Keene and Draxler, if there is no relapse, will remain on the sidelines.
PSG request: Navas, Rico, Letelier – Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Kurzawa, Diallo, Florenzi, Bakker, Dagba, Pembele – Rafinha, Danilo, Sarabia, Herrera, Geye, Ruiz Atil, Fadiga – Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria, Keene, Draxler
The main intrigue in the composition of the guests for some time remained the participation in the party of Cavani. Solskjaer cut the intrigue, that is, in the bud, without including the Uruguayan in the extended application. Quite a logical step, considering that Matador has yet to play a single minute for the “Red Devils” since his arrival in early October. Eddie was forced to serve a two-week quarantine, prolonging the already long downtime. Cavani last played Borussia Dortmund in March, and 7 months without matches is too long considering the forward has already turned 33.
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The Manchester Evening News also reports that Manchester United captain Harry Maguire will not play in Paris. In a duel with Newcastle, the center-back was injured, and this area may become the Achilles heel of the British, as we do not see second main center-back, Ivorian Eric Bailly, on Solskjaer’s roster. Phil Jones was once the main here, who wasn’t included in the tournament at all …
The line of attack, in addition to Cavani, lacks one more unit. Mason Greenwood stayed home due to minor damage. Like Jesse Lingard, although his coach hasn’t spoiled him lately.
Manchester United App: de Gea, Henderson – Van Bissac, Fossou Mensa, Tuanzebe, Lindelef, Shaw, Telles, Williams – Pogba, Mactominey, Fernandez, Fred, Matic, van de Beck – Pellistry, James, Mata, Rashford, Martial, Igalo.
PSG – Manchester United: author’s forecast
PSG can rely on the star duo in attack, which I think will make this match. Kiljan Mbappé has become an even more mature forward this season, with not just 3 goals in the new Ligue 1 season, but also 4 assists. Neymar did not play against Nîmes on Friday, having received a day off for his Brazilian exploits: a hat-trick against Peru allowed Junior to surpass Ronaldo on the list of the national team’s top scorers. Manchester United, to put it mildly, do not act convincingly on defense, so I have no doubt that the hosts will win.
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Frequently asked questions
🥇 What time does the game start?
The match will start at 22:00
🥇 What is the best place to bet?
It is best to place a bet on the Parimatch website with odds of 1.55.
