The UEFA Champions League knockout phase gets underway this week and several of the last-16 ties ahead of us have the potential to be a classic. None more so than Tuesday’s mouth-watering showdown between three-time winners, Manchester United and French giants, Paris Saint Germain. Here at InterBet we preview all of this week’s first leg games, providing the latest match odds.
Manchester United vs Paris Saint Germain
When the last-16 draw was made this tie was seen as a formality for the French side. Under former manager, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United had made their worst ever start to a Premier League season and barely scraped through their group behind Juventus.
However, Mourinho has since been sacked and under caretaker boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United look completely transformed. Since the Norwegian’s appointment, United have won ten and drawn one of their eleven games in all competitions. That run includes wins against both Arsenal and Spurs.
Solskjaer seems to be getting the best out of record signing, Paul Pogba, whilst Marcus Rashford looks the real deal playing as centre forward ahead of Romelu Lukaku. United opted to rest several first team players for the weekend’s Premier League win at Fulham. Those who sat out the trip to Craven Cottage are all expected to return against PSG at Old Trafford on Tuesday. United are set to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Rashford flanked by Anthony Martial and either Jesse Lingard or Alexis Sanchez.
Special European Nights
United manager, Solskjaer, scored one of the most iconic Champions League goals of all time back in 1999, helping The Red Devils complete an unprecedented treble. Now back at Old Trafford as manager, the Norwegian has called on his side to create another “special” European night.
Solskjaer explained, “Both the players and the supporters have been looking forward to some of these nights because they have always been special.”
United caretaker boss, Solskjaer, added, “I just want my players to go into this game confident and embrace it.”
PSG Injury Woes
The English side’s chances have been boosted by a double injury blow to their French opponents. Already without Neymar for both legs of their last-16 tie, a hip injury has now ruled out Edinson Cavani for the first leg.
With two thirds of their frontline missing through injury, PSG’s chances lay firmly on the young shoulders of Kylian Mbappe. The French World Cup winner is PSG’s top scorer this season but manager, Thomas Tuchel, has insisted he will not place an extra burden on the 20-year old superstar.
Tuchel explained, “You can’t place all the burden on Mbappe. It’s not his job to replace Cavani and Ney[mar].
He has to be free to play his game. I want us to provide him with the right kind of support. He needs to play with a good mindset and to be positive.”
Tuchel added, “We are here to score, perhaps more than one.”
History Favours The Hosts
Incredibly Tuesday’s meeting at Old Trafford will be the first ever competitive game between Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain. However, history does suggest a home win could be on the cards on Tuesday. Manchester United’s record at home to French opposition in Europe is impressive. The Red Devils are unbeaten in all ten games against French clubs at Old Trafford.
In contrast, PSG have won just once in ten visits to these shores. That single victory, a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the 2015/16 season is also the last time the big-spending Parisians have progressed through a Champions League knockout tie.
Thomas Tuchel was recruited to end a dismal run in the Champions League. Despite starting each of the last two seasons amongst the pre-tournament favourites to win the Champions League, PSG have been dumped out at this last-16 stage.
In 2016/17, PSG amazingly threw away a 4-0 first leg lead and were eliminated by Barcelona, losing the second leg 6-1. There are suggestions that defeat has affected PSG psychologically. Many are questions whether the French champions believe they can win Europe’s top prize.
Only Manchester City have scored more goals than PSG across any of Europe’s top five leagues this season and even without the firepower of Cavani and Neymar they remain a potent threat in front of goal. If Manchester United are to progress they will more than likely have score a few at Old Trafford. Bet on over 3.5 match goals with InterBet at 17/10.
Match Odds
Manchester United – 127/100
Draw – 12/5
Paris Saint Germain – 207/100
To Qualify
Manchester United – 107/100
Paris Saint Germain – 67/100
AS Roma vs FC Porto
With respect to Roma and Porto, this meeting in Rome will see two of the lesser-fancied sides go head-to-head for a place in the quarter final.
Roma come in to the game under pressure after a disappointing first half of the season. The Italians are currently sixth in Serie A, a massive 25 points behind runaway leaders, Juventus. They are now neck and neck on 38 points with bitter cross-city rivals, Lazio and were on the wrong end of a 7-1 Coppa Italia defeat at the hands of Fiorentina.
Roma made it to the semi-finals last year but another summer of big-name departures has left manager, Eusebio Di Francesco, with a major rebuilding job ahead of his. They have recruited several of Europe’s hottest prospects, including Ante Coric, Patrick Schick and Justin Kluivert (son of 1995 Champions League winner, Patrick).
It may be one or two seasons too early for them to lead a serious challenge in the Champions League. But having been handed a favourable draw against two-time winners, Porto, Roma could again reach the latter stages.
Porto have seen their lead at the top of the Portuguese Primeira Liga cut from five points to one after being held to back-to-back draws at Vitoria Guimaraes and Moreirense within the space of five days. Those two defeats and the increasing pressure being applied by Benfica domestically is hardly ideal preparation as they attempt to avoid being eliminated at the last-16 stage for the third consecutive Champions League campaign.
Coincidentally, Porto’s manager, Sergio Conceicao, won the Serie A title with Roma’s bitter rivals, Lazio back in 2000. The ex-Portuguese international has admitted he is excited about returning to the Stadio Olimpico but remains focussed on the challenge ahead.
Conceicao explained, “Obviously entering this stadium brings back memories of happy years and the many titles I won at Lazio. It’s always emotional coming to Rome, but my focus is this game.”
Porto will be without top scorer, Moussa Marega, for the trip to Rome and will hope to still be in with a chance of progressing when they go back to Portual for the second leg. Bet on under 2.5 match goals at 10/11 with InterBet.
Match Odds
AS Roma – 99/100
Draw – 237/100
FC Porto – 69/25
To Qualify
AS Roma – 21/25
FC Porto – 22/25