Event of the Day: Manchester United versus Paris Saint-Germain
Our event of the day is the exciting round of 16 clash in the UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford. Though United will be the underdogs going into the two-legged affair, their supporters will take some comfort from PSG’s current injury woes, with both Neymar and Edinson Cavani likely to miss out on the trip to England. Though the French outfit are the highest scorers in this year’s competition, only Borussia Dortmund have conceded fewer than United and Ole Gunnar Solskjær will once again be hoping his defence can step up. United are one of Europe’s form teams just now, with Solskjær yet to lose a game since taking the reins at Old Trafford. The Norwegian has won ten and drawn just one game in charge, but PSG will provide him with the stiffest test of his tenure thus far. Though the Red Devils never really got going in the group stages, an impressive away win at Juventus proved they can still ruffle a few feathers on Europe’s grandest stage, and they will be looking for yet another scalp this time round.
With the second leg not taking place until the beginning of next month, Solskjær will be desperate to take advantage of their home crowd in tonight’s titanic clash before taking on Chelsea and Liverpool next week in the FA Cup and Premier League, respectively. PSG have already faced English opposition in this year’s edition in the shape of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. On that occasion, Klopp’s side handed PSG their only loss of the group stage and Thomas Tuchel will be looking to avenge that loss as he returns to England for tonight’s tie. The French giants have been nigh on unstoppable this term, scoring 68 goals in 22 league matches, losing just the one game in Ligue 1. However, they will have to rely on the young Kylian Mbappe to prove himself once more on the European stage with both Neymar and Cavani likely to be sidelined for at least the first leg. It should be a thrilling night of European football.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA where the Philadelphia 76ers are taking on the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center. These conference rivals currently sit fourth and fifth in the East, respectively, and both look in good stead to secure playoff berths this term. Elsewhere, there is an intriguing clash in the EFL Championship as Darren Moore’s West Bromwich Albion welcome the inconsistent Nottingham Forest to the Hawthorns. There is more Champions League action taking place tonight, as Roma face FC Porto at the Stadio Olimpico. Across the pond, there is a jam-packed night in the NHL, where the St. Louis Blues will look to notch their seventh straight win as they welcome the struggling New Jersey Devils to the Scottrade Center. Finally, there will be plenty more snooker to enjoy at the Welsh Open today as Day 2 of the competition gets underway.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by UEFA; PSG