Paris Saint Germain vs Galatasaray
PSG has no agenda other than completing the Champions League group stage in the final match. They will act as host when facing Galatasaray. The opportunity is expected to make them remain optimal to close this phase without defeat.
PSG is still playing until Saturday (7/12) against Montpellier in Week 17 of Ligue 1 France. They won 1-3 in this match, in fact the hosts’ only goal was Leandro Paredes’ suicide (41 ‘). These results ensure the team remain on top with a distance of five points from Marseille in second place.
More than that, yesterday’s trip also increased the unbeaten record since early November to 5 wins and 1 draw in various competitions, including two UCL matches against Club Brugge (1-0) and Real Madrid (2-2). This trend also helped PSG lead the top of Group A with 13 points, five points ahead of Los Blancos as runner up. So, this midweek match is only a formality.
Meanwhile, Galatasaray has just returned to winning ways thanks to a narrow score against Alanyaspor in the local league. This time the execution of Younes Belhanda’s penalty (20 ‘) was enough to stop the crisis since the end of last month marked by 2 draws and 2 defeats from various events.
In contrast to PSG, Galatasaray is still struggling to qualify for the Europa League by a point difference from Club Brugge in rank 3. They also hope that the host can do a little good to share the numbers, let alone two players confirmed to be absent in this match, while the other four his fitness doubts, including Ander Herrera, Marco Verratti, and Layvin Kurzawa. This problem also hit representatives of Turkey where at least there will be three players who are certain to be absent for the same reason.
The inaugural meeting at the Parc des Princes goes back to 2001 at the same event. At that time PSG managed to win two goals through Brace Christian. However, with already confirmed tickets qualify as group winners, it does not rule out the possibility they can face a little variety of Galatasaray.
Our Prediction: 1
Odds: 1.16