PThis is a big game for both teams. They are undefeated in the new season and haven’t conceded a single goal in their Champions League group. Their squads are filled with superstars and internationals, so Blanc and Benitez have many good choices. This is how the teams should look on Wednesday night.
| Paris Saints Germain | Real Madrid |
|
Goalkeeper |
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| Salvatore Sirigu | Keylor Navas |
| Sirigu should start ahead of Kevin Trapp. The Italian was on goal in the last game against Bastia and appears that he reclaimed the starting role. | Navas have played every single minute this season and conceded only two goals. He also recorded six clean sheets. |
|
Right Back |
|
| Serge Aurier | Danilo |
| Aurier is a clear favorite to start at the right-back position after he pushed Van Der Wiel to the bench following his arrival from Toulouse. | Dani Carvajal is injured and Alvaro Arbeloa is a third right-back choice, so I think Danilo will get a start. However, Rafa Benitez could give a chance to his player from the Liverpool days. |
|
Centre Back |
|
| Thiago Silva | Raphael Varane |
| The Brazilian defender is an obvious starter in first XI. He played all the games for Parisians this season and captain is simply the spine of the team. | Varane played all the games this season and in the absence of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, he is the most reliable player at the back. Consider him as a sure starter. |
| Marquinhos | Nacho |
| Marquinhos will start alongside his Brazilian compatriot after he took the role from the injured David Luiz. | Nacho got the opportunity to play in the first XI following above-mentioned injuries and he will get another start against PSG on Wednesday. |
|
Left Back |
|
| Maxwell | Marcelo |
| Maxwell is competing for the left-back position with Kurzawa, but the 34-years-old will probably start due to his experience. | The crafty Brazilian is a certain left-back and he doesn’t have the real competition at this moment. |
|
Defensive Midfielder |
|
| Thiago Motta | Casemiro |
| The combative Italian will get a starting nod over Stambouli for the same reason as Maxwell over Kurzawa. The experience in this clash against the ten times European Champions will be crucial. | Casemiro will probably start at DM position because of Isco’s deployment at the right wing, so the place in the team opened for former Porto midfielder. |
|
Central Midfielder |
|
| Blaise Matuidi | Mateo Kovacic |
| Matuidi is a certainly the first choice for this role, he played every minute thus far in the CL. He also has the ability to score. | The Croatian is an important player in midfield; especially after Modric’s injury. I expect him to get another start. |
| Marco Veratti | Toni Kroos |
| I expect the young Italian to play with Matuidi in midfield like he did in the first two games of the elite European competition. | Kroos is established playmaker and his passing and creativity are crucial for Real Madrid. |
|
Right Wing |
|
| Angel Di Maria | Isco |
| The priciest acquisition of the French champions started to play like two seasons before. He regained his form and scored three goals along with four assists in eight games. | Isco is being moved to this position following James and Benzema’s injuries. He is a natural midfielder, but can play wider as well. |
|
Central Forwards |
|
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Ronaldo |
| Ibra has his place in the team cemented and it’s obvious why. One of the best forwards in football already scored six goals in the league but hasn’t scored in the CL yet. This game will be a great chance for that. | Ronaldo will serve as a striker in this game like he did lately, the position is very familiar to him and one of the best players in the world can play it with ease. |
|
Left Wing: |
|
| Edinson Cavani | Gareth Bale |
| Maybe is playing a second fiddle behind Ibrahimovic, but Cavani is a team’s top scorer with eight goals and has every right to be a certain starter. | Bale will continue to play on left-wing in partnership with Ronaldo. He is another obvious starter for Benitez’s Real Madrid. |
