PSG vs Tottenham: Time for revenge for the Spurs?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Tottenham Hotspur: Vengeance is burning in the Spurs' veins
Tottenham Hotspur returns to the European spotlight with a familiar adversary standing in their way: Paris Saint-Germain.
This fixture is not just another UEFA Champions League night. For Spurs, this is their only chance to exact revenge on a side that trampled their dreams in the UEFA Super Cup.
The incident happened three months ago under the bright lights of Bluenergy Stadium - Stadio Friuli (Italy) with Spurs losing 4-3 on penalties after a nail-biting 2-2 draw in regular time.
It was also Thomas Frank's first competitive match in charge as head coach, as he failed to clinch his first major silverware in his 17-year managerial career.
While revenge is on their minds, the Lilywhites are lacking momentum - the one thing needed to execute the plan. Over the weekend, they were outsmarted 4-1 against table-toppers Arsenal in the North London derby. That extended their winless run to games. To make matters worse, they've won one of their last five outings (D1, L3).
Regarding their run in the current UEFA Champions League, they have made a promising start and have yet to suffer defeat in their last four matches, recording two wins and two draws. Their recent match was a 4-0 thrashing of Denmark's FC Copenhagen at home. Brennan Johnson, who opened the scoring for his side in that match, won't be available this Wednesday after being shown a red card in the 57th minute.
Paris Saint-Germain: Parc des Princes ready for another victim
Paris Saint-Germain remains a powerhouse in European football despite some hiccups this season.
After a 5-0 final routing of Inter Milan in last season's UEFA Champions League to clinch their first-ever silverware in the tournament, it hasn't been the best start for the French giants as reigning champions in the current campaign.
The distance between Les Parisians and the pinnacle in the league phase standings is a three-point deficit. After four games, they are positioned in seventh place with nine points.
Luis Enrique's men find themselves in this position because of Bayern Munich, who occupies the top spot in the league phase standings. A 2-1 home defeat was their last match against this team in this competition, ending a perfect run of three consecutive wins.
Returning to winning ways shouldn't be a problem, especially considering they are playing at home. The Parc des Princes has been a nightmare of a venue for visiting teams. Only Bayern Munich emerged unscathed.
They have a 6-1-1 record, which is quite impressive, and our experts expect them to win, as explained in our PSG vs Tottenham prediction, now available. Notably, they have recorded one defeat in their last six UEFA Champions League home games when playing against English opposition (W4, D1).
Struggling Randal Kolo Muani faces his parent club. Is this the night he impresses?
Randal Kolo Muani joined Tottenham Hotspur on September 1st - the final day of the summer transfer window - on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, hoping to elevate his career and stand out.
However, the 26-year-old forward, who was considered a misfit at Parc des Princes and also complained about a lack of game time, has yet to make an impact for Spurs.
He has made nine appearances for the English club and has no goals to show for it during this stretch. The contributing factor to his struggles this season has been injuries, and as a result, he has failed to establish himself as a regular starter.
Wednesday's matchup against parent club Paris Saint-Germain is an opportunity for him to showcase his talent and impress head coach Thomas Frank that he is good enough to be a regular starter as a forward.
