In our Big Game Focus today, we take a look at the massive Champions League clash between Paris St. Germain and Napoli in Group C.
Napoli currently top the group on four points following their dramatic late win over Liverpool on match-day two, while the Reds are tied with PSG on three points each.
Tonight’s clash in Paris will be followed by the reverse fixture in Naples in a fortnight. This of course gives a bit of an advantage to Liverpool, who could very well take firm control of the group with two back-to-back victories over Crvena Zvezda. From that perspective, defeat is almost unthinkable for either PSG or Napoli tonight.
Here is our match preview, including betting tips, team news and likely line-ups.
Betting tips
It will be a unique occasion for Edinson Cavani tonight as he faces Napoli in a competitive match for the first time since he left the Italian club to join PSG in 2013. The Uruguayan forward scored 104 goals in 138 matches for Napoli and will undoubtedly relish facing them. He already has five goals in seven appearances this season, including a goal in the Parisians’ last Champions League match. He is valued at 1.75 to score at any time here.
PSG matches have been an endless source of entertainment this season – every single one of their 13 games so far (including the 4-0 win over Monaco in the Trophée de Champions at the beginning of the season) has produced three or more goals. Over 2.5 Goals has also occurred in five of Napoli’s last six matches in all competitions. Odds for Over 2.5 Goals are at 1.45 here.
Thomas Tuchel’s charges have won their last two matches by a score line of 5-0. Eight of those ten goals have all been scored in the second half. Eight of Napoli’s last 11 goals have also been scored in the second half. Bet on Second Half With Most Goals at promising odds of 2.05 here.
While both these sides are in pretty good form, PSG will feel have the upper hand by virtue of playing at home. Liverpool beat them 3-2 in their first Champions League match of the season, but that remains to be the only time they have failed to win in any competition so far.
Napoli, on the other hand, have stumbled a few times. They could only muster a 0-0 draw against the unfancied Crvena Zvezda and were on the wrong end of a 3-1 spanking from Juve in Serie A a few weeks ago. A Home Win for PSG is valued at 1.50 here.
Team news
Thiago Silva sat out PSG’s 5-0 win over Amiens on Saturday, but should be available for the match tonight. Gianluigi Buffon will serve the final match of his suspension following his red card against Real Madrid whilst appearing for Juventus last season. Full-backs Dani Alves and Layvin Kurzawa are still absent through injury.
Lorenzo Insigne did not feature for Napoli against Udinese over the weekend, but should be fit to return to the line-up. Faouzi Ghoulam has also been working his way back to full fitness and might finally be available for selection. Long-term absentees Vlad Chiriches and Amin Younes are still out.
Likely line-ups
PSG: Areola; Meunier, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Bernat; Rabiot, Diarra; Mbappé, Neymar, Di Maria, Cavani
Napoli: Karnezis; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Rui; Allan, Zielinski, Hamšík; Callejón, Mertens, Insigne