Champions League preview: Man City vs RB Leipzig, Paris Saint Germain vs Newcastle
Man City vs RB Leipzig
With four wins from their four Champions League games so far in this campaign, City have already qualified for the knockout stage.
With little riding on the outcome of this match, Pep Guardiola will surely rest players; City only need a draw to guarantee the top spot in their group.
But with an enviable squad depth, the hosts will be hopeful of recapturing that winning feeling. After the minor setback of back-to-back draws from their last two Premier League outings.
Marco Rose’s Leipzig have also already qualified for the next round. The side’s only loss in their CL campaign so far came at the hands of City, who won the reverse fixture 3-1.
Leipzig have already played City at the Etihad once this year, too. The sides met in this competition back in March; the home side won 7-0, with Erling Haaland scoring five goals.
City hosted Leipzig back in 2021 as well, and it was another goal-heavy affair; on that occasion Christopher Nkunku hit a hat-trick for the visitors that wasn’t enough to prevent City winning, with the final scoreline 6-3.
The Citizens are currently unbeaten in 18 matches in Europe too, a record for English sides. Haaland may not figure in this match, but chances are the City juggernaut will keep rolling along here.
Given City’s record, you’ve got to figure this could be another occasion when the goals flow. Over 3.5 goals is a 5/4 shot.
Paris Saint Germain vs Newcastle
In contrast to the above game, there’s still all to play for in Group F, with fourth place Newcastle still capable of leapfrogging second-placed Paris Saint-Germain with a win at the Parc Des Princes.
Are the Magpies a good bet for the away result, though? Newcastle are yet to win in their previous two away games in the CL so far in this campaign.
Eddie Howe’s side did do a job on PSG in the reverse fixture, winning 4-1 at St James’ Park, a mite surprisingly – but since then they’ve lost home and away to Dortmund.
Paris were very much having an off day in their first encounter with Newcastle – which isn’t exactly unheard of for the Ligue 1 club.
Still, the side have won both their home games in this CL campaign without conceding a goal; in Kylian Mbappe, Paris boast one of the world’s greatest players too. He may have gone missing last time he faced this opposition, but has four goals in his last two league games and is an obvious danger.
Luis Enrique’s side are heavy favourites to dominate at home. But Newcastle have reason to be hopeful, having made short work of Chelsea this weekend in the Prem when they won 4-1.
Look beyond this season, and PSG’s home form isn’t always reliable – they were held 1-1 by Benfica last season. But Newcastle’s own form on the road saw them lose to Bournemouth earlier this month. So expecting the visitors to conquer the Paris team in their own backyard seems optimistic.
Mbappe has scored in each of Paris’s two home wins in the CL in this campaign. Back Mbappe to score and PSG to win in a double at 49/50.
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