Manchester City face Paris Saint-Germain in a heavyweight Champions League clash on Wednesday, with the English club’s perfect domestic record and the fallout from their Premier League financial case forming the backdrop to the match at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The match begins at 8pm local time, or 7pm GMT, as both sides look to build on victories in the opening round of the competition’s league phase.
City were found guilty by an independent commission of almost all of the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations relating to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. They were also found guilty of three of four charges concerning a failure to co-operate with the investigation.
The club denies wrongdoing and has lodged an appeal. No punishment has yet been imposed, although a failed appeal could lead to a significant points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League and the possibility of three titles being removed.
Man City and PSG arrive in strong form
City have won all six of their Premier League matches this season. Their only defeat in any competition came against Arsenal in the Community Shield in mid-August.
They strengthened that run with a victory over Liverpool at Anfield and then opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 away win against Porto.
PSG, the reigning European champions and two-time holders, began their campaign with a 6-1 home victory over Slovan Bratislava. They are fifth in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Barcelona, while City are ninth in the Champions League league-phase standings after the opening round.
The two leading eight teams at the end of the league phase will qualify directly for the knockout rounds, which begin with the last 16.
Wednesday’s meeting also brings together two of the competition’s most prolific forwards. City striker Erling Haaland has scored eight goals in all competitions, while Ferran Torres has seven for PSG after making a quick start to his new spell in France.
Torres scored a hat-trick in PSG’s opening Champions League fixture and also struck the extra-time goal that secured Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph. Haaland has scored six times in the Premier League, making him the division’s leading scorer, while City team-mate Rayan Cherki has contributed five goals and two assists in all competitions.
PSG captain Marquinhos remains an important presence in defence and has scored three times this season. Senny Mayulu is unavailable for the French side because of a thigh injury and is not expected to return until late October.
City hold the edge in previous meetings
City have won four of the clubs’ seven Champions League meetings, compared with two victories for PSG and one draw.
The Manchester club are unbeaten at home against PSG, with three wins and a draw. They have also eliminated the French side in the quarter-finals in 2015-16 and the semi-finals in 2020-21.
PSG, however, have not lost in their last 11 matches against English opponents, recording eight wins and three draws. They have also won their last three matches in England, including a 2-0 victory at Liverpool in last season’s quarter-final second leg.
The Opta supercomputer gives City a 44.1 per cent chance of victory, with PSG on 32 per cent and the likelihood of a draw put at 23.9 per cent.
City are expected to have a fully fit squad. Their predicted line-up is Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Marc Guehi, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez; Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo; and Erling Haaland.
PSG are predicted to start with Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Dro Fernandez, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Maghnes Akliouche, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ferran Torres.
