Champions League team news and prediction: PSG vs Man Utd
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United face off for the first time since that remarkable night in Paris in March 2019. Trailing 2-0 heading into the second leg, United ran out 3-1 winners at the Parc des Princes, scoring a controversial 94th-minute penalty to go through to the next round on away goals.
The result came at a time when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under pressure as United manager and he returns to France in a similar position. Ahead of the Champions League return, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place, including where you can watch the match, team news and scoreline prediction.
When is kick off?
Tuesday 20th October, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Parc des Princes, Paris
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 2
How they qualified
The 2019/20 Ligue 1 campaign was curtailed prematurely as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak but Paris Saint-Germain were still crowned champions. Thomas Tuchel's side were eight points clear with a game in hand on Marseille to secure a place in Pot 1 for the 2020/21 Champions League draw.
Lockdown came at an ideal opportunity for Manchester United, who recovered both Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to make a stunning charge for the top four. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side ended up finishing third in the Premier League and therefore securing a place in Pot 2 for the Champions League draw.
Team News
Paris Saint-Germain are without key midfielder Marco Verratti, as well as Juan Bernat, Thilo Kehrer, Leandro Paredes and Mauro Icardi for the welcome of Manchester United. Ex-United midfielder Ander Herrera will face is former club for the first time since joining PSG in 2019, while another former Red Devil in Angel Di Maria will also be in the starting XI. Thomas Tuchel has confirmed both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are fit to start, with Danilo Pereira expected to make his PSG debut at the heart of their midfield three. 20-year-old Mitchel Bakker will continue at left-back in Bernat's absence, with Marquinhos required at centre-back following Thiago Silva's departure in the summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken a depleted Manchester United side to Paris missing captain Harry Maguire, as well as other defenders Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly. Axel Tuanzebe could make his first United appearance since December 2019 as a result in a back three alongside Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw. Scott McTominay is another option, however, and actually played at the back in all three of Scotland's game during the October international break. Alex Telles will come in for is United debut, with both Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba expected to be recalled to the starting XI. Bruno Fernandes will captain the side with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford playing up front together. Ex-PSG striker Edinson Cavani is not ready for his United debut, missing out on the chance to return to his former home.
Probable XIs
PSG (433): Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Bakker; Gueye, Pereira, Herrera; Di Maria, Mbappe, Neymar
United (3412): De Gea; McTominay, Lindelof, Shaw; Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Pogba, Telles; Fernandes; Martial, Rashford
Key Battle: Kylian Mbappe vs Marcus Rashford
Kylian Mbappe has lavished praise on Marcus Rashford for his ability on the pitch an work off it in the build up to Tuesday's meeting and Rashford likely thinks the same of the PSG striker. These are two of the most exciting young forwards in Euorpe at the moment, though Mbappe's stock is significantly higher.
The France international, already a World Cup winner, has made a devastating start to the season with seven goals and assists in four league appearances. Potentially up against an untried back three of Axel Tuanzebe, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw, Mbappe will be licking his lips at adding to his goal tally.
Rashford, meanwhile, has endured a tough start to the season but at least hit peak form at the weekend in United's 4-1 win away to Newcastle. The England international played a direct hand in three of the four goals United scored and won the penalty from which Bruno Fernandes surprisingly missed. Rashford won't see as much of the ball as Mbappe so he has to make it count when he does.
