Champions League preview and odds: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid

Published on: 19/10/2015

Champions League preview and odds: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid

October 21, 2015 19:45pm Parc des Princes

Champions League

The top teams in Group A will wrestle for supremacy on Wednesday night when Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid clash at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League.

Paris unbeaten in eleven games

Paris Saint-Germain are level on six points with their rivals from Spain and could take control of Group A with a home win on Wednesday night. Laurent Blanc`s men kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 home victory against Swedish team Malmo FF and added another three points with a 3-0 triumph away to Shakhtar Donetsk. They are currently enjoying an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

The French side have become serial quarter-finalists in the last few years and will be hoping that their star-studded team can go further this term. This game gives them an early chance to test themselves against one of the tournament favourites. They have only made it to the semi-final stage once, back in the 1994/95 season.

In their 12 previous home games against Spanish teams, the team from Paris have only lost twice having won six and drawn four. The more recent of those defeats came last season when they were beaten 3-1 at home by Barcelona at the quarter-final stage.

Real Madrid on the hunt for title No. 11

Real Madrid have also had a perfect start to their campaign having brushed aside Shakhtar Donetsk at home by four goals to nil before earning another three points on the road with a 2-0 win in Malmo. They are currently unbeaten in their last eight away games in this competition.

The ten-time winners are seeking to grab their 11th crown after falling to Juventus at the semi-final stage last year. They have reached the penultimate stage in the last five editions of the tournament.

Rafa Benitezs team have not lost any of their last seven meetings against French sides having won five and drawn two. In this game, Real Madrid will be coming up against former player Angel Di Maria who featured in their successful 2014 Champions League campaign and was named man-of-the-match in the final.

Benitez has enjoyed previous success in this competition having led English club Liverpool triumph in 2005 and to another final in 2007. He also led Spanish club Valencia to victory in the 2004 UEFA Cup final and won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2013.

Team news

Paris have reported injuries to defenders David Luiz and Presnel Kimpembe, and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Meanwhile, Marco Verratti is nursing a calf injury and remains doubtful for this game.

For Los Blancos, Dani Carvajal and James Rodriguez are both out injured while Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Pepe and Sergio Ramos are all on the doubtful list.

Recent form (All competitions)

PSG: WWWWW

Real Madrid: WDWDW

Betting odds and tips

This game promises to be a great battle between two heavyweights of European football. However, it is unlikely that the result will have much impact on either teams qualification hopes. Rafa Benitez knows his way around European football and may take a more pragmatic approach to this game than his opposite number - especially considering the current injury crisis at Madrid.

For PSG, this game represents a chance to show that they are closing in on the established elite of European football and they may be tempted to take the initiative in this game.

Both teams have yet to concede a goal in this years competition and that fact should also be considered when predicting the outcome of this game. Paris have the home advantage but Madrid have the tournament pedigree and a draw would suit both teams. You can back the stalemate at 5/2 with Betvictor or a correct score of 1-1 at 7/1.

Published on: 19/10/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (19/10/2015 13:22:38) but are subject to change.