Attention once again turns to the Champions League this week as we enter the knockout stages of the competition. Manchester United will be taking on PSG at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening in what has now become a very interesting match since Solskjær's appointment.

Current Form

Manchester United

Manchester United have been in great form since Solskjær took over from Mourinho at Old Trafford. The club have since gone an unbeaten run that has seen them win 4 and draw 1 in their previous 5 games.

Manchester United qualified for the knockout stages of the competition having finished in 2nd place in Group H behind Juventus.

PSG

PSG are once again running away with the league in Ligue 1. They currently sit in 1st place in the league table, clear of 2nd placed Lille by 10 points, and still have 2 games in hand. In their previous 5 games, they've won 4 and lost 1.

PSG qualified for the knockout stages of the competition by finishing 1st in Group C ahead of 2nd placed Liverpool.

Analysis

Manchester United

Had this game come about a few months ago, the majority of football supporters around the world would have given Manchester United no chance of getting a positive result. However, following a great run of form under Solskjær, there is a feeling that Manchester United now have a slim chance of proving the doubters wrong. This is heightened by the fact that both Neymar and Cavani are set to miss the first leg at Old Trafford, significantly reducing PSG's attacking power.

Strategically, Manchester United need to put a lot of energy into this game. Sitting back and trying to defend isn't good enough for the home leg of this tie, and the onus is on Manchester United to take the game to PSG with the sound of the home supporters behind them. Things could be more difficult in Paris, so this is a chance for Manchester United to make a statement. PSG will still have Mbappe within their starting 11 so Manchester United will need to be careful in defence, but the midfield will be the key to success here. If the likes of Pogba and Matic can have an influence in the midfield battle then there will be opportunities for Manchester United to spring forward into attack throughout the 90 minutes.

PSG

There is no doubt that the PSG squad is full of top class talent. Although they finished in 1st place in Group C, however, they did fail to impress at times and there is a feeling that this team are made to look better than they are due to playing in a poor quality league. With Neymar and Cavani out, PSG will be looking to Mbappe to make the difference on the night and he certainly has the ability to do so.

Strategically, PSG should look to play their normal attacking game against Manchester United. Although they are on a great run at the moment, they haven't really been tested at the back too much since Solskjær was appointed as manager and looking at the defensive players they have at their disposal, this is definitely a weak link in the team. What PSG cannot afford to do, however, is to allow complacency to creep into their game. Manchester United have had a rollercoaster of a season but are still dangerous and could easily take something from this game.

Predictions

Had Neymar and Cavani been fit to play then I would have predicted a comfortable win for PSG. As this is not the case, however, I am inclined to think that this is an opportunity for Manchester United to continue to ride their wave of positive results.

Prediction: Draw

Score Prediction: Manchester United 2 - 2 PSG

Betting Picks

Despite my prediction, I have opted to back PSG simply because the odds are too tempting for me to pass on for a team of that quality.

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