VfB Stuttgart and Paris-Saint Germain square off in a huge Champions League showdown at the MHP Arena on Wednesday night.
Ahead of the final round of league phase action, neither of these two sides have managed to rubber stamp a guaranteed place inside the top 24.
In fact, Stuttgart head into this crunch clash occupying 24th spot in the standings following last week’s 3-1 success away at Slovan Bratislava.
Sebastian Hoeness’ side saw their three-game winning run in the Bundesliga come to an end on Saturday when slumping to a 2-0 loss away at Mainz.
As for PSG, they are also precariously perched inside the top 24 of the league table, though last week’s stunning 4-2 comeback win over Man City means that their fate is in their own hands heading into matchday eight.
With one eye on this crunch clash, Luis Enrique rang changes at the weekend, a decision that slightly backfired as his side laboured to a 1-1 draw at home to Reims.
How the bookies view it: PSG to prevail
The bookmakers are struggling to separate the pair, with PSG marginal favourites at 17/10 on Boylesports.
VfB Stuttgart are slight outsiders at 21/10 on Boylesports, while the stalemate can be backed at 8/5 with the same oddsmaker.
Head to head: A first-ever encounter
VfB Stuttgart and PSG will make history when they meet for the first time on Wednesday night. The visitors have already tasted defeat on German soil in this season’s Champions League, losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich on matchday five.
Players to watch: Dembele to deliver?
Ousmane Dembele’s goal against Man City helped me deliver a full house of winners at the Parc des Princes last Wednesday night. The French forward is a tempting 5/2 on Boylesports to make the net bulge at the MHP Arena.
Jamie Leweling struck twice for Stuttgart in Bratislava last week. The German forward is 7/2 on Boylesports for an anytime strike on matchday eight.
Predicted line-ups
Enzo Millot is expected to come back into the Stuttgart starting XI after missing out against Mainz at the weekend due to a suspension.
PSG will be unable to field new recruit Khvicha Kvaratskhelia until the knockout round, that is of course if they seal their passage to that stage of the competition.
VfB Stuttgart: Nuebel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chabot, Stergiou; Karazor, Stiller, Rieder, Millot, Fuehrich, Leweling
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Hernandez, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Dembele, Ramos, Barcola
Anything else catch the eye?
While PSG are worthy favourites on Wednesday night, I’m more attracted to the 6/5 on offer with Boylesports for the away team to score two or more goals during this contest.
The French heavyweights have fired in a combined total of 12 goals across their last two Champions League matches, including four against Man City last midweek.
With little margin for error on Wednesday night, Enrique’s star-studded side carry the necessary attacking threat to strike twice against a Stuttgart side that have failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their opening seven league phase assignments.
This UEFA Champions League match between VfB Stuttgart and PSG will be played on Jan 29, 2025 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best VfB Stuttgart vs PSG prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
