Will Bruges pull off a surprise coup in Paris?
Paris Saint-Germain have booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League before the final matchday of the group stage. However, the star ensemble from Paris no longer has a mathematical chance of winning the group. In their last group match, PSG lost their showdown against the Citizens and will therefore finish second in Group A.
The home match against Club Brugge has no special significance for PSG this week. It would therefore not be at all surprising if PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino opts for a B eleven against their Belgian group rivals. Club Brugge, on the other hand, are still fighting for survival.
FC Brugge are tied for last place in Group A with Leipzig. Since the direct comparison will be decisive in the event of a tie, FCB must score in Paris and also hope for support from Manchester in order to continue their international adventure, at least in the Europa League.
Betting odds beyond the 3.00 mark are already being offered for the minimal point win. Bettors who even want to bet on an away win for PSG vs. Brugge can currently pick up double-digit quotes in the event of success.
PSG – Statistics & current form
At the beginning of the season, PSG suffered a surprising defeat in the French Super Cup, but since then the star ensemble from Paris has been riding a wave of euphoria. After all, at national level they lead Ligue 1 by a comfortable margin over their pursuers, and PSG head coach Pochettino’s squad recently secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Because the sheikh club from Paris lost the most recent showdown against City, PSG will only enter the knockout phase as second in the table. In a worst-case scenario, the top club from the French capital is threatened with a hammer draw. One of the possible opponents is FC Bayern Munich.
For the time being, however, the last matchday in the group stage is still to come, which no longer has any special significance for PSG. It would therefore not be surprising if PSG coach Pochettino starts the rotation machine against Club Brugge and uses some reserves. Due to injury, several players – including Neymar – have to take a break anyway.
Loose out for PSG?
In the first leg, Paris Saint-Germain picked up a meagre draw at FC Brugge with their best line-up. It was the fifth time in the club’s history that PSG had lost to a Belgian side on the international stage. Previously, PSG had a record of 7-4-1 in twelve competitive matches against Belgian clubs, including two wins against FC Brugge.
It is quite possible that this record will be extended with a second guard. Since the 2012/13 season, the FCB has lost only once in a total of 29 home matches in the top flight. In return, there have been a total of 23 wins and five draws at the Parc des Princes during this period. PSG scored an average of 2.70 goals per game.
PSG won both of their home games in the current group stage of the top flight against the leaders from Manchester and also against their group rivals from Leipzig. It would therefore be all the more surprising if the “Rouge-et-Bleu” remained winless against the big group outsiders from Bruges.
Predicted PSG line-up:
Donnarumma – Dagba, Marquinhos, Diallo, Mendes – Rafinha, Gueye, Wijnaldum – Di Maria, Icardi, Mbappe
Last matches played by PSG:
Ligue 1
12/04 2021 – Lens 1 – 1 Paris Saint-Germain
12/01 2021 – Paris Saint-Germain 0 – 0 Nice
11/28 2021 – Saint-Etienne 1 – 3 Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League Grp. A
11/24 2021 – Manchester City 2 – 1 Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1
11/20 2021 – Paris Saint-Germain 3 – 1 Nantes
Bruges – Statistics & current form
FC Brugge have their backs against the wall. After the bitter defeat against Leipzig, last year’s champions from Belgium have finally squandered their good starting position in the group. In order to continue their international adventure in the UEFA European Cups, the FCB not only has to score in Paris, but is also dependent on support from Manchester City.
Meanwhile, with Club Brugge winning only two of their nine competitive matches against French clubs, there are few arguments to back PSG vs Brugge. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the FCB has hardly been convincing in its last away games.
In fact, Brugge have only won two of their last seven matches away from home. Especially the defence of the Belgian representative left a bad impression. Since the away win against RSC Charleroi in September 2021, FCB have conceded at least one goal in each of their last eight away matches.
Will FCB be overrun by PSG’s attack?
In the top flight, FC Brugge conceded a total of nine goals in their last two group matches. The FCB conceded five of the nine goals in the recent home defeat against RB Leipzig, with four of them ringing in the blue-blacks’ box before half-time. It is quite possible that the next defensive debacle will follow against PSG.
In the last eleven away games against French teams, Club Brugge has conceded a total of 28 goals anyway – an average of 2.54 goals conceded per away game. If you want to bet on PSG vs. Bruges, you can get odds of up to 10.00 if you are successful.
FCB head coach Philippe Clement will be able to draw on a full complement of players in Paris. Only Ruben Providence will have to take a break due to injury. Compared to the starting eleven that was last in action in the Jupiler League, only minimal changes are to be expected.
Predicted line-up of Brugge:
Mignolet – Mata, Hendry, Nsoki, Sobol – Rits, Balanta, Vanaken – De Ketelaere, Dost, Lang
Last matches played by Brugge:
Jupiler Liga
12/04 2021 – Club Brugge 3 – 2 RFC Seraing
Cup
12/01 2021 – KRC Genk (3)3 – 3(5) Club Brugge Jupiler Liga
11/28 2021 – KRC Genk 2 – 3 Club Brugge
Champions League Grp. A
11/24 2021 – Club Brugge 0 – 5 RB Leipzig
Jupiler Liga
11/19 2021 – KV Mechelen 2 – 1 Club Brugge
PSG – Brugge Direct comparison / H2H balance
These two clubs have met three times on the international stage. PSG remained unbeaten against Brugge in all three competitive matches. In the group stage of the 2019/20 top flight, Paris Saint-Germain beat FCB in the first and second legs. This time, surprisingly, there was only one draw (1-1) between the two clubs in the first leg of the current CL group stage.
PSG – Bruges Tip
PSG can finish the group stage of the top division. The star team from Paris has no chance of winning the group, but PSG have secured their ticket to the last 16. In the last group match against Club Brugge, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino therefore has room for rotation.
The visitors from Belgium, on the other hand, need to score in Paris to keep their chance of third place alive. Even with a potential away coup in the French capital, a jump to third place in Group A will only be possible for the FCB with support.
Because PSG have lost just one of their last 29 home games in the top flight at the Parc des Princes, the Sheikh club will also approach their home game against the FCB with a potential second string with a broad chest. Among other things, a prediction on the home side is reinforced by the away weakness of the Belgian guests.
Club Brugge has won only two of its last seven away games. For PSG vs. Bruges, our betting odds of 1.83 are therefore “HT/FT: 1/1”. We have chosen a confident total of seven units for this bet.
