Everything on Paris - Manchester City!
History, what’s at stake and the keys to the match! Discover everything you need to know before kick-off in the semi-final first leg of the UEFA Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at the Parc des Princes!
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY...
Paris Saint-Germain will take on Manchester City for the 4th time in European competition: previously the clubs have faced in the group stage of the UEFA Cup, on December 3 2008 in Manchester (0-0) then in the 1/4 finals of the Champions League (2-2 at the Parc des Princes on 06/04/2016, 0-1 in Manchester on 12/04/2016).
It's also the 24th time Paris have faved an English club in competitive play (8 matches with Chelsea, 4 matches with Arsenal, 4 matches with Liverpool, 3 matches with Manchester City, 4 matches with Manchester United). The record is balanced, with 7 wins, 8 draws and 8 defeats.
Against the Mancunians, Paris Saint-Germain will play their 126th UEFA Champions League match (69 victories, 23 draws and 33 defeats). The capital club will take part in their 238th European match *, with a record of 125 victories, 53 draws and 59 defeats.
6 players have worn the colours of both clubs: Nicolas Anelka, Ali Benarbia, Djamel Belmadi, Sylvain Distin, Alioune Touré and George Weah.
WHAT'S AT STAKE...
Paris Saint-Germain will take part in their 7th European semi-final and the record is balanced with 3 qualifications and 3 eliminations.
The Parisians are the third French club to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League two seasons running, following on from Saint-Etienne (1974-1975 and 1975-1976) and Marseille (1989-1990 and 1990-1991).
Marco Verratti could play his 344th competitive match for Paris Saint-Germain, to equal Paul Le Guen and Safet Susic. The midfielder would then get into the leading trio of Paris appearances, behind Jean-Marc Pilorget (435 matches) and Sylvain Armand (380).
THE KEYS TO THE match...
Paris Saint-Germain will be able to count on the effectiveness of Kylian Mbappé in the UEFA Champions League. He's scored 8 goals in his last 5 European matches for the Rouge et Bleu, and 14 goals in his last 11 matches in all competitions for the capital club.
Angel Di Maria could write himself even more into Paris Saint-Germain folklore: the Argentinian midfielder has 102 assists to his name for the club, and he's only one behind the club record held by Safet Susic.
The Parisians can count tonight on their magic double act of Kylian Mbappé - Neymar Jr : of the 21 goals scored by the Rouge et Bleu in the UEFA Champions League this season, the two players have been decisive 20 times: 8 goals and 3 assists for Mbappé, 6 goals and 3 assists for Neymar Jr.
*These numbers take into account the UEFA Super Cup but not the Intertoto Cup