Manchester City Champions League match with Paris Saint-Germain, di back-to-back winners, na unmissable occasion even with di surrounding circumstances. All di Cityzens can do, as dem await di outcome of dia appeal to being found guilty of systematic financial fraud by independent commission, na to knuckle down and do dia work as if no dark cloud dey hang over dia head. Di situation na bizarre, but di show dey go on.
Their upcoming opponents PSG no be saints too. Back in 2014, dem and Man City negotiate with UEFA General Secretary at di time, Gianni Infantino, to receive reduced punishments for breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play rules. Di two clubs got away with slaps on di wrist, but di debacle show wetin come later. A strange, almost nefarious alliance form between di two clubs, which don dey forefront of European soccer for past decade.
While Luis Enrique don create juggernaut in Paris, Man City eventually get dia hands on di Champions League to complete historic treble in 2023. Pep Guardiola, di mastermind behind City dominance, expected to dey attendance on Wednesday night, as he continues to back di club hierarchy in dia quest to prove City innocence.
While di context hard to dismiss, dis should be belting match between two undeniably superb teams. PSG fail to relinquish dia grip on di trophy last season for a reason, and Man City don so far perfect under Enzo Maresca. Maresca seemingly add more strings to him coaching bow since arriving in Manchester, with di Cityzens performing with unique fluidity we seldom see from him Chelsea teams.
City don almost impossible to stymie so far, and dem go dey confident of bypassing PSG outfit wey tend to ease dia way into new season. Di Parisians dey sixth in Ligue 1, having win only half of dia six matches. Dem never hit dia stride, but dem so often find extra gear when lights shine brightest on European nights. Slovan Bratislava were put to di sword on Matchday 1, while Man City ease past Porto. Prediction: Man City 1–1 PSG.
Maresca set to get clean bill of health for PSG visit on Wednesday, but dat no mean say di Italian no go tinker with di team wey win so impressively at Anfield. Jérémy Doku change di game off di bench, having recover from calf injury, and likely to come in down di left flank. Phil Foden could also make him first appearance since dem send am off in di Manchester Derby. Foden no go displace Rayan Cherki, but he could combine with di Frenchman while drifting in from di right. Joško Gvardiol may replace Nico O’Reilly at left back, but other defensive alterations could be saved for di weekend, when Ipswich Town travel up to Manchester.
Erling Haaland dey aim to become di club outright leading goalscorer in dis competition on Wednesday; he currently level with Sergio Agüero on 36 goals. If he score twice against di Parisians, he go become di seventh-highest scorer in Champions League history. Man City predicted lineup vs. PSG (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Fernández, Anderson; Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Like dia hosts, PSG dey healthy heading into Wednesday game, which only add to di anticipation. Enrique offer extended breaks to Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes after di three-week international window, and PSG win in dia absence at di weekend. Both, however, ready to return to di PSG team on Wednesday. Désiré Doué exploits for France were praised by di manager, so he may get di nod in attack alongside Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Ferran Torres should also feature against him former club. Senny Mayulu, wey pick up injury on duty with France U-21s, set to be di only absentee. PSG predicted lineup vs. Man City (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves, Fabián; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia.
