For so long it has been said that the ‘Holy Grail’ for Paris Saint-Germain was to win the Champions League and, yet, it seems further away than ever this season.
Despite years of heavy investment from the club’s Qatari owners – and the best efforts of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe – the trophy has never landed in the French capital.
A new approach, with the focus on homegrown players, hasn’t really worked and Luis Enrique’s side go into tomorrow night’s home game with Manchester City in 25th place in the expanded table. Should they finish there after matchday eight, they will be out of the competition and the wait would go on for another year.
A look at their two remaining games shows that this is a distinct possibility.
First up are a City side seemingly back on track after a woeful run of form before Christmas. The English champions are languishing in 22nd place and in need of wins themselves if they are to secure a playoff spot. Their 6-0 demolition of Ipswich at the weekend and, perhaps just as important, the swagger they showed at Portman Road suggested Pep Guardiola has found a fix and they should finish the season strongly.
After City comes a trip to a Stuttgart side that sit fourth in the Bundesliga and who will likely be scrapping for points.
PSG v Manchester City Team News
PSG defender Marquinhos could return from a groin problem and Ousmane Dembele is fit after illness.
New signing Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia is not eligible.
Nathan Ake missed the weekend clash with Ipswich due to injury and his availability is not known. Ruben Dias is back but John Stones remains sidelined.
Kyle Walker is in the process of negotiating a move away from the Etihad, meaning Matheus Nunes could start again at right-back.