Two of probably the most in-form sides in world soccer will go head-to-head on Wednesday as Paris Saint-Germain hosts Liverpool FC within the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Spherical of 16. Liverpool sits 13 factors clear in first place within the Premier League, while in addition they completed with the perfect file out of all of the 36 groups that competed within the UEFA Champions League league section with 21 factors from a doable 24. And in two weeks—5 days after the second leg in Anfield—they’ll have an opportunity to win their first trophy of the Arne Slot period as they tackle Newcastle within the EFL Cup Ultimate.
As for Paris Saint-Germain, they’re clicking on all cylinders beneath Luis Enrique and sit 13 factors clear atop the Ligue 1 desk, while they can even tackle Ligue 2 aspect USL Dunkerque within the Coupe de France semifinal—in the event that they win, they’ll face both fourth-tier Cannes or Reims, who’re hovering above the Ligue 1 relegation zone after dropping their final 4 league fixtures.
PSG have received every of their final 10 matches, while they’ve additionally subjected Brest to a humiliating 10-0 mixture victory within the earlier spherical. But when they’re to get previous Liverpool and are available away with a first-leg victory, they’ll want a ten/10 efficiency from all of their gamers. At this time, we’re looking at 4 of the largest particular person battles to look at on the Parc des Princes.
Alexis Mac Allister vs. João Neves
João Neves has emerged as a significant cog in PSG’s midfield since becoming a member of from Benfica in the summertime of 2024, offering a relentless supply of creativity—solely Lyon’s Rayan Cherki (9) has registered extra assists in Ligue 1 than him (8)—constantly seeking to obtain beneath strain, orchestrate play, and carve out possibilities. He’s additionally an lively contributor out of possession, consistently main the press and likewise wanting undaunted in aerial duels regardless of his brief body. Nevertheless, he may simply meet his match in Alexis Mac Allister.
Mac Allister is a supervisor’s dream—he’s somebody who can glide out of strain and wreak havoc in between the strains, who has the imaginative and prescient and execution to interrupt the strains with a killer by way of ball, and who has a penchant for making clandestine runs into the sting of the field and getting on the top of a cutback or a cross, having scored in opposition to Everton and Newcastle final month.
“There are a lot of footballers who assault effectively, many who defend effectively, however there aren’t many like Alexis who assault and defend effectively,” acknowledged his father, .
To be able to restrict Mac Allister’s artistic affect, they’ll want Neves to stay vigilant and dedicated towards marking the Argentine out of the sport. Since transferring to Paris, he’s earned loads of reward as one among Europe’s prime likelihood creators, however on Wednesday, he’ll possible have to showcase the opposite aspect of his recreation much more so and present a willingness to do the soiled work, shortly react to hazard, and assist PSG come out on prime in unfastened balls and 50-50s.