Clash of Titans in Paris
Forget about Godzilla vs King Kong, that’s nothing compared with what the UEFA Champions League has prepared. The Round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday with Real Madrid visiting Paris Saint-Germain. Many believe that the winner of this series will be the champion.
Playing at home and having a team full of stars, PSG dominates the soccer lines at even money. In other words, Real Madrid comes in as a very tempting underdog, especially with the team’s top scorer coming back.
PSG: Main Goal
There’s no doubt that PSG will capture the Ligue 1 title. However, we all know that its main goal has always been winning the Champions League. That’s why the front office spared no effort in building a dream team.
With Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe leading the charge, the Parisians finished as the runners-up in Group A. I didn’t mention Neymar because the Brazilian has been struggling with injuries since the beginning of the season. Even so, PSG averaged 2.1 goals during the Group Stage.
Most recently, they defeated Rennes 1-0 in a crucial Ligue 1 game. They suffered more than expected, but Mbappe came to the rescue with no time left on the clock. The game was on Friday, so you can expect PSG’s top players to be well-rested.
The Parisians remain unbeaten when playing at home in the UCL. They even defeated Manchester City 2-0. We often talk about PSG’s offensive power, but the defense also deserves some love, especially after finishing with a clean sheet in four of their last five games. It’s not just a dream team, it’s a balanced dream team.
I do believe PSG deserves to be the betting online favorite, even with Neymar out. Messi and Angel Di Maria have developed an enviable chemistry. Plus, other than Neymar, there are no major injuries to report.
PSG’s predicted lineup: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe, Thilo Kehrer; Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti, Georginio Wijnaldum; Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria.
Real Madrid Walking on Thin Ice
Lately, Real Madrid hasn’t played particularly well. Los Blancos won only two of their last five games and got eliminated from the Copa del Rey. On the bright side, they’ve learned to suffer. You need a lot more than talented players to win the UCL.
Last weekend, Real Madrid drew 0-0 to Villarreal. Karim Benzema didn’t play in order to be ready for this match. The French striker is the team’s top scorer in all competitions with 24 goals. He alone should be enough for you to consider including Real Madrid in your soccer picks, Especially at +265. You would win $365 per every $100 bet on Los Blancos.
Regarding the UCL, Madrid finished the previous stage atop Group D. Yes, they lost to Sheriff, but also defeated Inter Milan twice. No other team allowed fewer goals during the Group Stage. Thibaut Courtois had a lot to do with that, regaining his place as one of the best in the world.
If that’s not enough for you, Los Blancos also won all their road games by a 9-0 aggregate. They aren’t afraid of anything or anyone.
Besides Benzema, head coach Carlo Ancelotti also recuperates Ferland Mendy. The left back is having a great season. He beat out Marcelo for the starting position and never looked back. In such an important game, the more the merrier.
Real Madrid’s predicted lineup: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro; Gareth Bale, Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema.
PSG vs Real Madrid Head to Head
- Previous Matches: 10
- PSG Victories: 3 (14 goals)
- Real Madrid Victories: 4 (13 goals)
- Draws: 3
If there’s something you can expect from these two, it’s goals. They drew 0-0 only once and it was five seasons ago. The last time they met, it ended 2-2 after PSG overcame a two-goal deficit in the last 10 minutes.
Things were very different the last time they met in Paris. The home side won 3-0 with Di Maria as Man of the Match after scoring two goals. Curiously enough, Mbappe and Neymar couldn’t play, and Messi was still playing for Barcelona.
PSG vs Real Madrid Game Information
Date: Tuesday
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Parc des Princes, Paris
PSG vs Real Madrid Live Stream: fuboTV
PSG vs Real Madrid Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| PSG | -½ Ev | Ev | 3 +105o | 1½ -130o 1½ Evu |
| Real Madrid | +½ -120 | +265 | 3 -125u | 1½ +160o 1½ -200u |
| Draw | +280 |
PSG vs Real Madrid Prediction
It’s not a secret than PSG’s main goal has always been to win the UCL. Eliminating Real Madrid would be exactly the dose of motivation they need to finally go all the way. It won’t be easy, though. We’re talking about the team that has won this competition 13 times. The visitors will definitely put up a good fight, especially with Benzema coming back.
That being said, you can expect goals, especially from the home side. The online gambling favorites need to take the reins right from the start, like they did against Manchester City. If they want to keep hope alive, they need to visit Madrid at least with a one-goal advantage.
Score Prediction: PSG 2, Real Madrid 1
