A high-stakes Champions League fixture on Matchday 7 sees Paris Saint-Germain host Manchester City on Wednesday.
The pregame narrative: Both European giants desperately need a result, and I expect them to find the score sheet. To round out the parlay, I added player props on Bradley Barcola and Phil Foden.
Check out my PSG vs. Manchester City same-game parlay predictions for Jan. 22.
PSG vs. Manchester City predictions
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Parlay: Both teams to score + Barcola over 0.5 shots on target + Foden over 0.5 shots on target (+265)
Both teams to score (-223): If you predicted these two Giants would battle for tournament survival come January… I wouldn’t believe you.
But as it stands, City (2-2-2) sits in 22nd place at eight points, just one shy of the danger zone. Meanwhile, PSG (2-1-3) is outside the Top 24 with just seven points.
The Citizens are settling back into solid attacking form — albeit against poor defensive sides. Five different scorers contributed to the 6-0 thrashing of Ipswich Town on Sunday, indicative of a well-oiled machine.
With 14 goals in its last four league matches, Erling Haaland and co. should feel confident about scoring on a PSG backline, vulnerable to formidable attacks.
PSG has conceded in five of six Champions League matches, with the lone clean sheet coming off a putrid Salzburg side.
Offensively, the Parisians have scored in all their home fixtures this season. They also get back an important attacker in Ousmane Dembele, who missed the weekend match due to illness.
In a game with massive implications for the qualifying rounds, I expect these two sides to be on the front foot from the outset.
SGP legs
Barcola over 0.5 shots on target (-150): Since Kylian Mbappe’s dismissal from Paris, Barcola has evolved into a lethal scoring threat.
The 22-year-old winger is tied for second in Ligue 1’s scoring charts with 11 goals in 18 matches.
Barcola’s quick pace, superb dribbling and versatility have made him a standout for his domestic and national teams. And against a vulnerable City defence, the Frenchman could run amok.
Barcola has a shot on target in 17 of his last 20 matches across all competitions.
With former Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia soon arriving, the youngster will be determined to cement his place in Luis Enrique’s squad by finding the scoresheet in a critical game.
Foden over 0.5 shots on target (-150): Among the Citizens returning to scoring form is Foden.
After failing to net a goal in 12 Premier League matches to begin the term, the 24-year-old now has seven goals in his last five — and with 10 shots on target during the stretch.
Despite poor showings in domestic play, Foden has come through in the Champions League with goals in three of six league phase matches.
Pep Guardiola knows the club needs contributions from players not named Haaland, and Foden has finally answered his calling.
Picks made at 2:45 p.m. on 01/20/25.
