Paris Saint-Germain resume their seemingly never-ending quest for Champions League glory in Israel this week as they travel to Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday.
They got off to the perfect start by beating Italian giants Juventus in Paris in the opening round of games in Group H and they are the heavy favourites to get another three points at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Maccabi, who will be hosting their first Champions League game in 13 years, are unlikely to make it easy for them, but Christophe Galtier should have more than enough talent at his disposal to win the match.
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – The Italian saved a penalty against Brest last week, so he will be hoping for an easier time of it in this one.
CB: Danilo Pereira – Pereira is probably more of a midfielder but he has dropped into a three-man defence impressively of late.
CB: Marquinhos – The Brazilian was a substitute last time out against Brest but expect him to step back in for the injured Presnel Kimpembel.
CB: Sergio Ramos – In what promises to be a hostile atmosphere, Ramos is either going to be a colossus or get himself sent off. It will be fascinating to see which one he chooses.
RM: Nordi Mukiele – The jury is definitely still out on Mukiele, but he should get another chance to impress.
CM: Marco Verratti – There feels like a good chance that one of Veratti and Vitinha will be rested for this one, but Galtier will probably want Verrati’s experience on the pitch.
CM: Fabian Ruiz – The Spaniard has been restricted to just nine minutes of football for PSG since his summer move from Napoli. It’s surely time for him to get an opportunity to stake a claim.
LM: Nuno Mendes – The Portuguese youngster is just really settling in at PSG, but he has impressed so far.
AM: Lionel Messi – However partisan the Maccabi Haifa crowd may be, I guarantee you they will be more scared of Lionel Messi than he will be of them.
CF: Kylian Mbappe – Mbappe already has two Champions League goals to his name this season. He’ll probably add to that in this one.
CF: Neymar – However frightened the Maccabi Haifa crowd might be of Lionel Messi, I guarantee you Neymar will think they should be more scared of him.
