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Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 18, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

3-0

Di Maria (14', 33'), Meunier (91')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Combined XI: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Real Madrid

Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, Sports Mole selects its strongest combined XI from the two squads.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid meet in the Champions League on Wednesday, providing perhaps the most enticing match of the opening week of the group stage.

This is a repeat of the 2018 round-of-16 tie, when the Spanish side eased comfortably through on aggregate following a 2-1 second leg win in Paris.

PSG have been eliminated at the first time of asking in the knockout stages in each of the last three seasons, while Zinedine Zidane's squad fell well short of adding to the club's 13 titles last season, crashing out against Ajax.

With Galatasaray and Club Brugge making up the rest of the group, both sides will be confident of progressing irrespective of the result in their first test.

Here, Sports Mole has selected its strongest combined XI from the two squads, using only players available on Wednesday.



Combined XI: PSG vs. RMA

PSG keeper Keylor Navas moved to the Parc des Princes from Madrid in the summer, and while the Costa Rica regular would be an excellent choice between the sticks, the pedigree of Thibaut Courtois, the Belgium and former Chelsea shot-stopper he left behind, would probably prevail were most critics given the choice.

The hosts also have ample quality in defence, including 34-year-old Brazil favourite Thiago Silva at centre-back, but Madrid's redoubtable contingent makes up three-quarters of the backline.

Among a series of absentees for their trip to Paris, Madrid's freshest concern is left-back Marcelo, whose neck injury would provide an opportunity in a combined XI for Layvin Kurzawa, who has the distinction of being the first defender in the modern-day Champions League to have scored a hat-trick in the competition.

Casemiro, who clinched the win on the night for his side when they visited Paris last year, provides defensive steel in midfield, supported by combative Germany regular Toni Kroos.

That means PSG pair Pablo Sarabia and Angel Di Maria have the creative freedom to push forward, although it would be remiss not to mention that Eden Hazard and Luka Modric would take their places were they not missing through injury for this match.

Injuries also shape the look of the attack, which is missing Neymar through suspension for a number of unwise comments about the standard of refereeing, as well as the rehabilitating Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.

With 60 Champions League goals in his career so far, Karim Benzema is the fourth-highest all-time scorer in the competition, ahead of the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is a somewhat less experienced forward and is yet to score in Europe for PSG, but the former Stoke City striker has scored three times in two appearances this season while Neymar has been out of action.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

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QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


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