French Ligue 1 champions will be looking to return to winning ways in their Champions League campaign in Group H, after two consecutive draws against Benfica, and seal qualification in the process when they host Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT at the Parc des Princes.
Match Preview
Can PSG Seal Qualification with a Match to Spare?
The Parisians will be looking to wrap up the qualification job in Group H with a win in an easy-looking fixture against the side at the bottom of the group.
Christophe Galtier will urge his side to lose any complacency and show Maccabi all the due respect at the Parc des Princes as he sets his eyes on qualification with a match to spare.
PSG will focus on a performance full of energy, dynamism, tempo, and discipline as they look to dispatch Maccabi and return to winning ways. Galtier and his charges will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season.
Can Maccabi Get a Shock Result and Bolster their Chances of Qualification from Group H?
The Israeli side were always the minnows of Group H once the draw was revealed. However, they scored their biggest result in Europe this term so far when they beat Juventus at home to get an unlikely three points.
Barak Bakhar and his side will be keenly aware that the odds are against them when they face the fancied and star-studded PSG team at the Parc des Princes. However, Bakhar will urge his charges to show PSG all due respect without fearing them.
Maccabi will focus on a disciplined but brave performance against one of Europe’s bonafide giants.
Form Guide
PSG
PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1; they have won ten times and drawn twice in their 12 outings this season as they have stormed to the top of the table and opened a five-point gap at the top from second-placed Lens.
Galtier’s side are also unbeaten in their Champions League Group H campaign; they have won twice and drawn twice; they top the group with eight points, level with second-placed Benfica.
PSG have scored seven times and conceded four times. This shows that they need to tighten their defensive structure as they look to seal qualification and go deep into the competition this season.
Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi have won just once in their four outings in Group H. The win came in a shock result win against Juventus, a 2-0 win against the Italian giants.
The three losses came against Benfica (2-0) on matchday 1, PSG (1-3) on matchday 2, and Juventus away from home (3-1).
Maccabi have scored four times in their group stage fixtures while they have conceded 8 goals in the process.
Barak Bakhar will need to tighten their defensive structure, especially when playing PSG away from home. The balance between attack and defence will be essential in bolstering their chances of taking something from that clash on Tuesday.
Possible Starting Lineups
PSG
G. Donnarumma; J. Bernat, Marquinhos, N. Mukiele, A. Hakimi; R. Sanches, M. Verratti, F. Ruiz; C. Soler; K. Mbappe, L. Messi
Maccabi Haifa
J. Cohen; D. Sundgren, D. Batubinsika, S. Goldberg, P. Cornud; O. Atzili, N. Lavi, A. Mohamed; T. Chery, F. Pierrot, D. David
Players to Watch
K. Mbappe
The 23-year-old French international has grabbed 10 goals in 11 appearances for PSG in Ligue 1. Mbappe has also scored four times in the four appearances he has made for PSG in Group H.
The striker will be essential for PSG on Tuesday as the Parisians look to seal qualification from the group with a win.
O. Atzili
The 29-year-old Israeli attacking midfielder is a central cog for the Maccabi team. His importance is highlighted by the six goals he has scored in nine Israeli Premier League appearances this season. Atzili has added another two goals in the Champions League this season.
The midfield will provide the cutting edge for Maccabi against PSG on Tuesday as they seek to pull off an upset against the French champions.
Prediction
PSG will play on the front foot. They will dominate possession, build up with patience from the back, and seek to use their movement and passing to open up the Maccabi defence.
Maccabi will seek to be compact, solid, and pragmatic. They will use counter-attacks and set pieces as the main routes to put pressure on PSG.
PSG will have too much for Maccabi; they will win the match and the three points.
Make sure to bet on PSG vs Maccabi with 22Bet!