French champions Paris St. Garmain (PSG) and their English opponents Manchester City have impressed domestically in recent times, but both are looking to improve their Champions League records.
There is equal importance to the game for PSG as they bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since big-spending owners Qatar Sports Investments completed their buyout in 2011.
PSG have dominated domestically and wrapped up the Ligue 1 title last month with a 9-0 battering of Troyes.
There has been little let-up from Laurent Blanc’s men and they routed Nice 4-1 on Saturday, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at his brilliant best with an inspired hat-trick – leaving the Sweden international needing just one goal to beat Pauleta’s record of 78 goals in all competitions at the Parc des Princes.
For PSG, knocked out by Barcelona at the quarter final stage last season, the main aim is now on competing with Europe’s elite and many consider them favourites to beat City.
Key Opta stats:
– Only once (in six games) has an English club beaten Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in European competition. It was Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in September 2004 (3-0).
– The last three Champions League knockout encounters between Ligue 1 and Premier League clubs have all seen the French team eliminate their English counterpart.
– PSG have been eliminated in the quarter-finals in each of the last three campaigns. Their last (and only) Champions League semi-final appearance to date was in 1994-1995.
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his last four Champions League games. Only twice before has he gone five in a row in the competition.
UEFA Champions League Preview: PSG vs Man City
