5 Players to watch as PSG face in-form Man City in the Champions League

PSG and Manchester City, between them, have won three of the last four Champions Leagues, and tonight’s Group stage encounter is the first time that the two sides will face off since early 2025, a PSG win in Paris that almost seemed to represent the starting point of their incredible run of form that has seen them win two Champions Leagues in a row while becoming one of Europe’s most unstoppable teams.

Manchester City have been far more inconsistent over that period, failing to win either a European title or a Premier League in the year and a half since, but have starting this season in red hot form, winning each of this first six Premier League games and currently sitting at the top of the Premier League.

However, Enzo Maresca’s and his side have had their season overshadowed by the guilty verdict which has been established in relation to some financial irregularities that could see them be emphatically punished in the coming weeks or months, with some suggesting a major points deduction or downright expulsion could be on the cards.

PSG on the other hand have been in worse form than tonight’s opponents, failing to really kick into gear in the opening games of their domestic calendar so far, although perhaps it is a good omen that their most impressive performance so far has come in the Champions League, in their opening game, a 5-0 rout of Slovan Bratislava. One less good omen for the Parisians is that the last time they faced off against a side managed by Enzo Maresca was in the Club World Cup final in 2025, perhaps the worst defeat Luis Enrique has suffered since becoming PSG manager, a 3-0 beating at the hands of Chelsea. Enrique will be plotting his revenge tonight. Here are 5 players to watch.

Five players to watch ahead of the Champions League between City and PSG

Ousmane Dembélé: For this man and the next on the list, it has been a frustrating season so far. Both of them are among the players in the top 5 leagues to shoot the most without scoring this season, and Dembélé’s fine form in front of goal over the last two seasons seems to have slightly dissipated over the last few months. However, it was Dembélé’s electric performance that made the difference in that aforementioned previous clash against City, and a similar performance tonight could have the same effect: kickstarting both improved team performances and an impressive personal run.

Desiré Doué: While his performances have been broadly better than Dembélé’s so far this season, for club and for country, Doué has also flattered to deceive in front of goal so far in 2026-27, and a dominant performance tonight would surely do him the world of good.

Jeremy Doku: A man who on his day can be among the best attackers in the world has been, overall, inconsistent since he joined Manchester City back in the summer of 2023. He has had some truly star making performances in that time, including last weekend’s display against Liverpool, but if he were to follow that up with a great game against PSG tonight he would be surely starting to make the step towards being one of the best in his position in the world.

Marquinhos: A big game tonight for the PSG captain, as he will have to deal with some of Erling Haaland, Doku, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo, all of whom have looked sharp this season. Marquinhos will be hoping to marshal what has been a frankly inconsistent PSG defence this season to what would be a very impressive clean sheet.

Enzo Fernandez: Final player on the list is Enzo Fernandez, the man signed by Enzo Maresca from Chelsea. Perhaps this game is Fernandez’s biggest European game of his career so far: a chance to really show his worth in a big game against a midfield that has been the best in Europe over the last two seasons. Were the Argentine to provide a match winning performance, it would make him even more popular than he already is with City fans, after quite a strong start at his new club.

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