Looking to add to their league titles this season, PSG and Arsenal face off in Budapest in the final of the Champions League at teatime on Saturday.
Five days on from officially being crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, Arsenal rounded off their Premier League campaign with a 1-2 victory away at the Conference League champions, Crystal Palace – on an afternoon when I landed a winner.
Mikel Arteta’s men are looking to create more history in the Hungarian capital on Saturday, as they are looking to get their hands on the Champions League trophy for the very first time, with this being their first final since the 2005/06 season.
After breezing through the league phase with a 100% record, the Gunners have squeezed past Bayer Leverkusen (3-1 Aggregate) and both Sporting CP, and most recently Atletico Madrid (1-0 Aggregate).
PSG, on the other hand, finished outside the top eight of the league phase and had to navigate themselves past fellow Ligue 1 side Monaco, before breezing past Premier League duo Chelsea and Liverpool.
After edging a nine-goal thriller in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich, Luis Enrique’s men secured a 1-1 draw in Bavaria a week later, meaning they are on course to retain their Champions League crown.
The Parisians also came out on top domestically this season, as they finished six points clear of nearest challengers Lens, which is their fifth consecutive Ligue 1 crown and their 14th overall.
How the bookies view it: PSG favourites
PSG are favourites to retain their Champions League crown, with bet365 pricing them at 4/6 To Lift the Trophy, with the win inside 90 minutes 13/10.
Arsenal are 6/5 to win their maiden Champions League title, with the win inside regulation time priced at 11/5.
Head to head: Gunners looking for revenge
These two clubs have met on seven occasions, with both teams winning twice, and the other three resulting in draws.
However, both of PSG’s wins against the Gunners came in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, before thrashing Inter in the final.
Players to watch: More magic from Kvaradona?
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a man in tremendous form right now, with him scoring 10 goals and providing four assists across his previous 13 appearances for the reigning champions.
The Georgian winger has provided a goal contribution in each of his previous seven appearances in this competition (seven goals & three assists), and is good value at 13/10 at PaddyPower to Score or Assist in Budapest on Saturday.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Achraf Hakimi appears to be a major doubt for PSG on Saturday, whilst Ousmane Dembele is also a doubt.
Arsenal will be without the injured Ben White, whilst Jurrien Timber and Noni Madueke are doubts.
Paris Saint-Germain: Safonov, Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Vitinha, Neves, Ruiz, Doue, Kvaratshkelia, Dembele
Arsenal: Raya, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Odegaard, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Havertz
Anything else catch the eye?
Arguably, the best attack in Europe takes on the best defence, and I’ve a feeling this could prove to be a low-scoring encounter.
Arsenal’s six knockout ties produced just eight goals, with Under 2.5 Goals landing on each occasion – and given the same has landed in three of PSG’s last four continental clashes – the 5/6 on offer at William Hill for a repeat appeals.
Whilst this could prove to be a tight and cagey contest, I do think the Parisians’ extra quality will shine through, and whilst they are too short To Lift the Trophy, they are a backable 13/10 to get the job done inside 90 minutes.
GambleAware