All you need to know about Paris v. Real Madrid!

A BIT OF HISTORY...

It's the 11th competitive fixture between the two teams, with a head-to-head record of three wins, three draws and four defeats for Les Rouge et Bleu. In the last two clashes, which were in the group stage of the 2019-20 edition, Paris ran out 3-0 winners at the Parc des Princes on 18th September 2019 before drawing 2-2 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on 26th November 2019.

Just one club has crossed paths with the capital club more often in Europe: FC Barcelona, with 13 matches played.

Paris Saint-Germain have played 34 competitive fixtures against Spanish clubs in their history, including against Real Madrid (ten matches), FC Barcelona (13 matches), Deportivo La Coruña (four matches), Sevilla FC (two matches), Athletic Bilbao (two matches), Valencia CF (two matches) and Racing Santander (one match). The head-to-head record stands at 13 wins, nine draws and 12 defeats.

At the Parc des Princes, Real Madrid have a rather mixed record: just one win to go with three draws and four defeats, not only in competitive fixtures and friendlies against Paris Saint-Germain but also against the French national team (to whom they lost 3-1 in a friendly on 19th August 1975) and FC Nantes (a 1-1 draw in a friendly on 25th November 1980), not forgetting a 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the European Cup final on 27th May 1981.

12 players have played for both clubs: Nicolas Anelka, Alphonse Areola, David Beckham, Angel Di María, Lassana Diarra, Achraf Hakimi, Gabriel Heinze, Jesé, Claude Makelele, Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos and Pablo Sarabia.

THE STAKES...

It's a clash between two European heavyweights – since 2012, Paris and Real have always made it through to the last 16 of the competition, a performance matched only by Bayern Munich.

Paris Saint-Germain are taking part in their 30th European campaign since making their debut in the European Cup Winners' Cup during the 1982-83 season.

It's also the tenth time in Les Rouge et Bleu's history that they have taken part in a Champions League last-16 tie, making it through on six occasions and bowing out on three. Paris have reached the last 16 of the various European competitions on 18 occasions, getting through on 12 of them and going out on six.

Against Los Blancos, Paris Saint-Germain will be playing their 134th match in the UEFA Champions League, with 72 wins, 25 draws and 36 defeats. The capital club will also be playing their 246th European encounter*, with 128 wins, 55 draws and 62 defeats.

THE KEYS TO THE MATCH...

Paris Saint-Germain will be aiming to continue their run without conceding in competitive fixtures at the Parc des Princes, with five consecutive clean sheets against Monaco, Brest, Reims, Nice and Rennes. It's Les Rouge et Bleu's longest run in this respect since December 2021 – February 2021, when they kept out Lorient, Strasbourg, Brest, Montpellier and Nîmes.

Paris Saint-Germain will also be able to rely on their captain, Marquinhos, who is now the capital club's record appearance maker in Europe with 71 matches played, putting him just ahead of Marco Verratti, who has made 70 appearances in Europe for Paris. The Brazilian defender is also in line to wear the captain's armband for the 100th time for the capital club this evening. Keylor Navas, meanwhile, is set to play his 100th competitive fixture for Les Rouge et Bleu tonight.

With 30 goals scored, Edinson Cavani remains Paris's top scorer in the Champions League, but Kylian Mbappé is getting dangerously close. Paris Saint-Germain's man in form has scored 21 times in competitive fixtures this season, including four in the UEFA Champions League, and now holds an overall total of 25 goals in the competition.

*These figures take the UEFA Super Cup into account but not the Intertoto Cup.