Everything you need to know about PSG
Paris Saint-Germain was founded in 1970, following the fusion of Stade Saint-Germain (created in 1904) and Paris FC, although the latter seceded from the arrangement in 1972.
Trophies: French League x 7 (including five of the last six), French Cup x 12, French League Cup x 8, French Super Cup x 8, European Cup Winners’ Cup x 1, International Champions Cup x 2.
Famous past players: David Ginola, Youri Djorkaeff, George Weah, Nicolas Anelka, Ronaldinho, Pauleta, Claude Makelele, Blaise Matuidi, Mamadou Sakho, Zlatan Ibrahimović, David Beckham.
Since taking charge last summer, Thomas Tuchel has tried numerous tactics, both at the back and up front – where he has plenty of talent competing for spots. Typically, Kimpembe and Silva are the two centre-backs, shielded by Marquinhos, but the young Brazilian drops back when Paris is not in possession to make a five-man-strong defence.
There was a setback later in the week when Verratti was unable to complete a training session, but the Azzurri international returned to the starting line-up for Saturday's 1-0 victory over Bordeaux, playing 59 minutes. Cavani and Thomas Meunier could now be sidelined, though.
Fun fact: The PSG squad includes five World Cup winners: Buffon (Italy, 2006), Julian Draxler (Germany, 2014), Kylian Mbappé, Presnel Kimpembe and Alphonse Areola (France, 2018).
PSG had a rocky start to 2019: eliminated from the French League Cup by Guingamp (who sit bottom of Ligue 1, with only three victories to their name), and losing both Neymar and Verratti to injury. They then suffered their first league loss of this campaign, against Olympique Lyonnais.
Yet this potent team should not be underestimated. They have won all five of their other matches in 2019, scoring a terrifying 22 goals while conceding just one in the process. They are top of Ligue 1, 10 points clear of their closest rival (with two games in hand).
They’ve only lost three matches this season in all competitions, including a last-minute 3-2 defeat at Anfield in September (before winning the reverse fixture 2-1 at the Parc des Princes). In fact, when the last-16 draw was made, this was their only loss of the season, and back then United was struggling, which prompted most French media to call it a great opportunity and flagging PSG as the clear favourites.
Of course, the tables have turned since and the general mood in France is that this will be a tough fixture for Tuchel's team.
While he’s only 20, Mbappe needs almost no introduction. After a few successful years in Monaco – where he turned professional a few months after Anthony Martial left to join United – the young forward enjoyed a good 2017/18 season in Paris, which earned him a regular spot in the France team. The rest is history: he then lifted the World Cup trophy, notably scoring a brace against Argentina in the last 16 and adding a goal in the final against Croatia, barely six minutes after Paul Pogba had made it 3-1.
His incredible pace and deadly finishing have already allowed him to contribute 36 goals this season in 29 matches (26 goals, 10 assists), including four in 13 minutes against Lyon in their 5-0 humbling back in October, plus a hat-trick in the 9-0 thrashing of Guingamp in their January Ligue 1 meeting.
Mbappe’s speed of achievement on the pitch is matched by his list of honours: elected in the Best XI of the Under-19s Euros in 2016, he was named Best Young Ligue 1 Player the following year and Best Young Player of the 2018 World Cup.
You probably remember the old poster starring Reds legend Eric Cantona: “1966 was a great year for English football. Eric was born.” Well, Mbappe was born in 1998, the year of France’s first World Cup triumph…