UCL SF 2020/21 | Man City Vs PSG

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The real final.

PSG vs City. Poch vs Pep. Delicious.

CBarca wrote:The real final.

PSG vs City. Poch vs Pep. Delicious.

You forgot UAE vs Qatar.

If there was a record for most clear cut chances missed in a tie this match might be able to break it.

@S rename thread to Oil Clasico.

It will be about how Pep tries to control the game and how to contain Neymar/Mbappe, and how PSG get catch Man C out. After watching this game vs Dortmund where it was pretty boring I certainly hope for a more entertaining tie. PSG should do much better than Dortmund, better overall and better coach in Poch.

Interesting that basically nobody has been able to defend Mbappe, could Walker do it? At least hes very fast and strong and I imagine Pep will keep him deep. Stones vs Mbappe I imagine would be a disaster though

Over 2 legs, PSG only can beat themselves I think. Only thing is, I would say the same about Man City.

I dont know what solutions Pep has for Mbappe and Neymar, they may not exist. City would have to be super efficient with the ball, with counter pressing and probably number 1 is rest-defence.

That moment City lose the ball will decide the tie, finishing aside.

If PSG are able to make those 3-5 passes to escape the pressure, Ney and Mbappe will do what they do.

I dont think City stepping off the high pressure is any better, sitting in a 442 and playing conservative is less risky for sure but I dont think you can go against what brought you to this point, this late in the day. Becoming passive isn't the answer.

I hope Pep finally wins his first CL outside of Barca but kinda expect Neymar & Mbappe to kill them on the counter. Undoubtedly it will be a fantastic match up.

The most important area against PSG is the one opposite Neymar/Mbappe on the right...  the teams that do well defend the right side with 1 midfielder and have 2 midfielders+striker help on the left.  The idea is to have Neymar/Mbappe both always face 2 defenders, if not 3.  

Di Maria is going to decide whether City will need to respect the right side (just like Keane did against Barca).  If Di Maria fails, then there won't be much space for the two superstars.  If he creates a lot of danger, then City are in trouble.

I'm not sure if City gameplans this way... Pep may not want to compensate.  If he doesn't, PSG will win. Mbappe destroys traditional defending let alone if Neymar is there with him.

City don't have a great 9... just like Bayern didn't have one with both Gnabry and Lewa out.

PSG can play aggressive defense as a result.  

Also, Verratti and Florenzi were missing in leg 1...  in leg 2, Marquinhos, Verratti, Florenzi didn't play while Diallo went out early.  

IF PSG can line up their regular defense and midfield, it will make a huge difference. Defense isn't great generally because of the fullbacks. So they can't compensate more than they usually have to. Injuries have a much bigger impact.

I want Manshitty to make it to the final and lose against whoever it is Zidane or Tuchel. What a day it would be if Zidane wins it again with this team which is almost towards the end of its era or even Tuchel winning will be a good hipster troll of the decade as he was sacked by PSG for whatever reason and wins CL immediately in the next season

KDB went off with an ankle injury today. Good chance he misses this tie.

Official Lineups:

PSG:
Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Bakker; Gueye, Paredes; Di Maria, Verratti, Neymar; Mbappe

City:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo; Mahrez, KDB, Foden

The Franchise wrote:Over 2 legs, PSG only can beat themselves I think. Only thing is, I would say the same about Man City.

I dont know what solutions Pep has for Mbappe and Neymar, they may not exist. City would have to be super efficient with the ball, with counter pressing and probably number 1 is rest-defence.

That moment City lose the ball will decide the tie, finishing aside.

If PSG are able to make those 3-5 passes to escape the pressure, Ney and Mbappe will do what they do.

I dont think City stepping off the high pressure is any better, sitting in a 442 and playing conservative is less risky for sure but I dont think you can go against what brought you to this point, this late in the day. Becoming passive isn't the answer.

IMO try and choke Mbappe out in the final third and funnel to Neymar if either of the two. Neymar is going to do what Neymar is going to do anyway but the man has turned into a bonafide choker and in front of the net in a CL semi I don't know if I trust him to bury the shot he needs to bury. Mbappe will do it cuz the kid is a killer

And I don't really trust anyone else on that PSG team to finish clinically, so I'm not really that concerned with the rest.

To some extent I'm kidding and just shitting on Neymar, but also the guy has had shocking finishing in the CL over the last two seasons.

How Pep replied in his interview yesterday regarding what he learned from the Lyon defeat:

“We will try to impose our game. I learn from my experience in this competition that as much as you are close in the latter stages to who you are, the more chance you have to go through.”

So no experimental lineup. This is City's strongest lineup on form. He's going for as much control as possible unlike previous years. He's also fielding midfielders as his forwards who ironically are his best finishers too.

I think given his team this is the best lineup he can field in the CL. My only problem is all the attackers want the ball to their feet. They will lack threat from in behind. Sterling and Jesus are on awful form and suck at finishing so they've been benched.

I think the key areas will be the wings. From City's perspective, Poch tends to let his fullbacks defend 1v1 so overloading the wings and making underlapping runs will be crucial. From PSG's perspective it's about hitting them on transition. Pep's best bet is to play inside fullbacks. They'll get torched on the counter if they play wide.

Verratti playing as a 10 will help PSG hold the ball. Him and Paredes need to be composed under the City press to launch counters for Mbappe and Neymar.

City will probably defend and press in a 442 shape similar to the one they fielded against MSN in 2017. If they build in a 3-2 shape Dias is kind of awkward as a LCB which might impact the build up. Maybe Laporte and Dias would've been a better option in that regard but Laporte chokes in these moments and Stones has been amazing this season.

This is going to be an interesting game and I think it'll come down to finishing. PSG are my favourites because they have way more firepower, but if they constantly miss 1v1s like they have been doing then City will be very much in this.

I think it comes down to PSG's midfield tbh

PSG should have been more clinical but Bayern had plenty of opportunities and though they lost to PSG, they did control much of the first game (didn't see the second) and created a lot of good chances. They arguably shouldn't have lost that game based on quality and quantity of chances.

If City dominate the game, PSG is not amazing defensively and they are not amazing in the midfield. City could choke them out and win 1-0, 2-0. I think City's best bet is going to be defense by controlling the ball.

If PSG's midfield plays above where they have been and can successfully transition, City are in trouble. Both teams will have chances though so of course it's not wrong to say that the tie will be whoever is more clinical -- but that can said in many ties.

Massive PSG fan tonight

Allahu Akbar!

oh wait

Wish there was a way for both these teams to lose.

PSG lesser evil i guess

Hapless_Hans wrote:Massive PSG fan tonight

Allahu Akbar!

oh wait

too soon

Neymar - most talented and best in the world

GET IN!!!!

Lol, free header, Pep still doesnt know how to defend at all.

Marquinhos is PSG's Ramos. He is an immense figure for them.