Champions League: What to expect tonight

Football
By Clinton Nyabuto | Mar 06, 2019
The Belgian has found the back of the net four times in his last three matches [Courtesy]

Champions League - Play Offs Today at 11pm
Paris SG vs Manchester Utd
FC Porto vs AS Roma

The Champions League continues tonight with two matches on the plate.

Manchester United will look to forget their 0-2 first leg defeat to the French side Paris Saint-Germain in February as they play the second leg of the fixture at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

The Red Devils enter the tie with an injury crisis as Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, Anthony Martial, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian are all sidelined due to injury.

Ole Gunnar’s side faces a further blow as their key midfielder Paul Pogba misses the action due to suspension.

However, United could be relieved by the current soaring form of striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has found the back of the net four times in his last three matches.

Thomas Tuchel’s side have received a boost as key striker Edison Cavani is expected to return to the squad after missing the first leg due to injury.

The French side talisman Kylian Mbappe remains the key man in the tie and he is expected to cause havoc in United’s defence having netted a goal at Old Trafford.

PSG will, however, miss the services of their playmaker Neymar. The Brazilian remains sidelined due to injury.

The French side talisman Kylian Mbappe remains the key man in the tie and he is expected to cause havoc in United’s defence having netted a goal at Old Trafford [Courtesy]

The French giants have set one foot at the quarterfinals with a 0-2 away advantage but Thomas Tuchel warned his men saying that they should be ready for anything.

"Everything can happen, it is always possible that a team like Manchester in a last-16 tie can score the first goal and we must be ready for that and ready to show a reaction,” Tuchel said.

"These guys will be ready for everything. They will believe because it's a strong club with a strong history, with a very strong record under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so we must prepare for the best Manchester United," Tuchel added.

Perhaps, this will be a battle of the giants only the strong one to survive as Ole Gunnar’s men array for a comeback in Paris.

Elsewhere FC Porto will be hosts to AS Roma at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal.

The Dragons face an uphill following a 1-2 away defeat to Eusebio Di Francesco’s side last month.

Porto has a chance to redeem themselves as a 1-0 win will see them through in regard to their away goal at the Stadio Olimpico.

Share this story
Arteta urges Arsenal to seize destiny in crucial Spurs showdown
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal F.C. to “write their own destiny” in the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. after slipping in the Premier League title race.
Title-hungry Leopards seek to bounce back to winning ways
AFC Leopards will be aiming to return to winning form this weekend as the SportPesa Premier League resumes with a decisive round of fixtures.
Magical Kenya Open: Jastas Madoya reveals what fuels his passion for golf
The spiritual player advises young people to cultivate discipline if they want to reach the lofty heights of playing in the MKO in future.
NOC-K signs strategic MoU with Japanese Olympic Committee
The deal aims at strengthening high-performance systems, athlete development, sports science collaboration, and leadership education between Kenya and Japan.
Youthful Kinoti Kiara crowned African fencing champion
Kiara beat Egypt’s Hamza H. Abuhalwa, Mohamed El Bounjaimi of Morocco and Togo’s Ilan Tchaa Arou to the continental title.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS