Both Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have been reinvigorated by Middle Eastern investment in recent years with the two cash-rich clubs eyeing Champions League success as an end goal.
But neither of the two teams have been further than the quarter-final stage since ploughing huge sums into each club, making the last-eight showdown an intriguing contest.
Manchester City’s best European performances in the Manuel Pellegrini era have tended to arrive on the road with Roma, Sevilla and Dynamo Kiev brushed aside with consummate ease. The Citizens have in fact won six of their past 11 trips to the continent but City are now in unchartered territory.
There’s been a noticeable downing of tools since the announcement that Pellegrini would be replaced by Pep Guardiola for the 2016/17 campaign became public knowledge, although Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing at Bournemouth did provide City supporters with a degree of hope.
Kevin de Bruyne made a stellar return to action from a two-month layoff as the Citizens recorded only a third success in 11. And with Sergio Aguero striking 16 times in his past 18 Champions League encounters and David Silva providing the ammunition, there’s no doubt the visitors have the talent to grab a goal.
But that’s where the positivity ends. Yaya Toure doesn’t appear to fancy the challenge, Joe Hart remains a doubt despite returning to training and with skipper Vincent Kompany absent, the Sky Blues have looked anything but stable at the back. The Premier League outfit have recorded just two shutouts in 23 Champions League ties, including just one in 2015/16.
The visitors have W2-D3-L9 when taking on top-half teams domestically this term and were outclassed home and away by Juventus in European action. With a W1-D1-L4 record in knockout Champions League ties, an away success makes little appeal.
PSG wrapped up the Ligue 1 title in record-breaking time and Laurent Blanc’s men have now set their sights on the continental crown. Les Rouge-et-Bleu sauntered to a 4-1 smashing of Nice at the weekend with Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing a hat-trick, taking his tally to 30 league goals this season.
Blanc’s ability to keep his players focused and committed deserves great praise. He’s also become a fine tactician and I’d fancy the PSG head to outwit Pellegrini here. After all, Les Parisiens are defending a super strong Parc des Princes record in this competition (W25-D12-L1) since 2007.
The hosts have claimed top honours in 13 of their last 19 Champions League games in the French capital with only Real Madrid stopping the side from scoring. And although PSG boast the competition’s joint-best defensive record, it’s true their multi-million pound defence has creaked in recent weeks.
It’s just two clean sheets in nine matches cross all competitions – one of which came against rock-bottom Troyes in that famous 9-0 annihilation – and it’s also worth noting that Both Teams To Score has proven profitable in each of the past seven PSG’s knockout ties, five of which featured Over 2.5 Goals winners.
With Man City scoring in 10 of their past 12 road trips and PSG proving a little rickety at the back, I reckon the French side will land a first leg blow in a game involving both sides scoring. Therefore, a home triumph and BTTS makes most appeal at 3.50 on Wednesday night.