Champions League
2025-03-05 - Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Last 16 First Leg
Wednesday 5th March 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Paris Saint-Germain
No one will be surprised by the fact that Paris Saint-Germain are on course to finish the season as French Champions again, but the improvements in the Champions League as the season has progressed are exciting for the fans and the board. A change in approach means Paris Saint-Germain are looking at hungry, younger players than the superstars they have used in recent years and Luis Enrique looks the perfect manager to guide this squad.
Crushing domestic rivals Brest in the Champions League Play Off Round last month has kept the positive approach moving forward for Paris Saint-Germain, although they are in the tougher half of the Knock Out Bracket. All the team can do is focus on the ties as they come and Paris Saint-Germain have won 5 Champions League games in a row after flirting with an early elimination.
Paris Saint-Germain are not only unbeaten in 22 games in all competitions since their narrow 1-0 defeat at Bayern Munich, but they have really picked up serious momentum thanks to 18 wins in 20 fixtures played, including the last 10 in a row. They were held to a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes by Reims, but that is the only failure to win in 8 home games in all competitions.
The squad looks healthy and you have to believe that the manager is going to ensure his key players are well rested in between the two Legs of this Last 16 tie.
Liverpool
Losing in the FA Cup Fourth Round at Home Park means Liverpool's hopes of winning every trophy have been dashed, although that also means they have had plenty of time to rest and prepare for the return of the Champions League. Winning the Group Stage should have meant Liverpool earned an 'easier' route through the Knock Out Rounds, but they have landed on the 'wrong' side of the draw with 2nd placed Barcelona benefiting instead.
Arne Slot may choose to take a different approach to the Champions League Group Stage next season, although the performances have not held Liverpool back in the Premier League and League Cup this season. They have a chance to win the first piece of silverware awarded in England in a couple of weeks time, but the focus for Liverpool is finding a way past Paris Saint-Germain into the Champions League Quarter Final before turning their attention to Newcastle United and Wembley Stadium.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions since losing at Plymouth Argyle and they have won 3 of their last 4, which has seen the team take a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League. However, The Reds had failed to win any of 3 away games in all competitions before the 0-2 victory at Manchester City.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are set to miss out, but this is an otherwise strong squad travelling to the French capital.
Head to Head
This will be the fifth time Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are meeting in a competitive fixture and all 4 previous games have been won by the home team.
The most recent meetings between the clubs took place in the 2018/19 Champions League Group Stage and Paris Saint-Germain were able to win 2-1 at the Parc des Princes.
Prediction
The First Leg of any Knock Out Round tie can sometimes be tight, cautious affairs with neither team really wanting to take the risks that would put them in a big hole before the Second Leg is played.
While that is going to be the case for Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool this week in the French capital, it is also clear that Luis Enrique and Arne Slot are overseeing styles that leads to creating chances and scoring goals.
It would be a huge surprise if this is not an attacking affair with all things being equal.
Paris Saint-Germain will certainly feel they need some kind of lead to take to Anfield next week when the Second Leg is played and this is a young, vibrant team that has been in magnificent form for some time now. They get forward and score goals, but most impressive is the willingness to work for one another and Paris Saint-Germain are looking dangerous.
Manchester City found that out here last in January when being blown away after taking a 0-2 lead as they were eventually worn down and beaten 4-2.
With all due respect to Pep Guardiola's team, Liverpool are much more well rounded than the current English Champions and the week between games to rest and recover comes at a good time for them. There has been one or two defensive vulnerabilities around this Liverpool team, but Mo Salah continues to play at a Ballon D'Or level and they have rode through difficult moments to score the goals needed.
We have seen that in 2-2 draws at Everton and Aston Villa and Liverpool will certainly feel they can play their part from an attacking sense in this First Leg.
Paris Saint-Germain will feel the same and it may be a fixture that produces fireworks with both teams capable of scoring goals, while perhaps not always being the most secure at the back.
At odds against, backing at least four goals to be shared out looks the right play and the tie should still be in a competitive position when they renew the battle next week at Anfield.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 Liverpool
