PSG vs Man City Stats Pack, Bet Builder Tips and Predictions

Man City’s form has noticeably improved of late, with Pep Guardiola’s side now unbeaten in 6 games after an unprecedented run of 9 defeats in 12 games in all competitions. Even through that poor run of form, however, the reigning Premier League champions regularly breached the 5 shot on target mark, only failing to do so in 6 of those 12 games.

They have had at least 5 shots on target in 6 of their last 7 games heading into this crucial clash with PSG. City have only failed to have a minimum of 5 shots on target in 8 of their 30 matches in all competitions this season, hitting the target 5+ times in 5 of their 6 Champions League games.

PSG are the dominant force in France, so it is rare for teams to have this many shots on target against them, but it certainly can be done, with the reigning French champions having allowed 5 or more shots on target in games against Bayern Munich and Arsenal in this competition, as well as fellow Champions League sides Lens and Monaco in Ligue 1.

No Premier League side takes more corners than Man City, who have averaged 7.91 corners per game in their domestic league this season. That has carried over to their European games as well, with City topping the Champions League corner charts with an average of 8.83 corners per game, a full 1 corner per game clear of second-placed Bayern Munich, who average 7.83.

In all competitions, City have had at least 4 corners in 29 of their 30 competitive fixtures this season, and have taken the 5 or more corners that would see this selection land in 24 of their 30 games. City have cleared this line in 7 of their last 10 games, and have taken at least 5 corners in 5 of their 6 Champions League games this season, only failing to do so against Inter Milan back in September.

PSG have generally been good at preventing corners this season, but we expect this game to be an open contest, with a draw unlikely to be enough for either side as both face the prospect of a group stage elimination.

As noted in the previous selection, the necessity of gaining all 3 points should mean an increase in chances for both sides, as they are forced to throw players forward in search of a goal. For that reason, we are looking into the shot markets and one of the selections that offers the most value is Nuno Mendes to have a shot.

PSG have averaged 18.3 shots per game in the Champions League this season, and left-back Nuno Mendes has played his part in that, having taken at least one shot in 5 of their 6 European games. Mendes averages 1.19 shots per 90 in the Champions League, and after failing to shoot against Girona on matchday 1, has now taken a shot in 5 straight games in this competition. He has also had multiple shots in 2 of these 5 matches.

Across his last 14 PSG starts in competitive fixtures, Mendes has taken a shot in 11. City have allowed double-figure shot tallies in 13 of their last 18 games in all competitions, which suggests Mendes will find time and space to strike at some point during this game.

Mateo Kovacic has been an underrated goal threat for Man City this season, which he demonstrated yet again with a clinical low strike into the corner against Ipswich on Sunday. The Croatia international is averaging 1.97 shots per 90 in the Premier League, where the vast majority of his gametime has been.

Kovacic has taken 2 or more shots in 4 of his last 5 Man City starts, and has now taken at least one shot in 12 of his last 13 City starts in all competitions (with multiple shots in 8 of these 13). Sitting on the edge of the penalty area, Kovacic is in the perfect position to sweep up loose balls and to take the shot on when his teammates drag defenders into the box with their runs.

With City looking like they have regained some attacking intent, PSG will likely be penned back for long stretches, which opens the door for Kovacic to shoot. With 9 shots in his last 5 starts, this is unlikely to be an invitation he turns down, and a price of evens looks great value for the Croatian midfielder to have at least 2 shots yet again.