Group A's two unbeaten sides will once again clash in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Real Madrid welcoming Paris Saint-Germain to the Bernabeu in a glamour tie.
The two European giants played out a goalless draw in the reverse group match in Paris on October 21, but with top spot in the section on offer, this is a huge game in the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid
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Real Madrid have been without a number of key players for a large part of the season and when taking their problems into account, it has been a very impressive start for head coach Rafael Benitez, who has still not been beaten in any competition this season.
The Spanish giants are going very well in La Liga, with a 3-1 win over Las Palmas at the weekend seeing them top of the table on 24 points. They have drawn three of their 10 matches in the league, but seven wins have seen them top the pile with a goal difference of plus 20.
It has also been plain sailing in the Champions League, with comfortable wins over Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo followed by a goalless draw in Paris last time out. As a result, they head Group A on goal difference from PSG. Los Blancos have won all three home group games in their last two Champions League campaigns campaigns – scoring 10 goals each time.
The La Liga outfit have also won 19 of their last 22 European games on home soil, while they have a strong record against French opposition – winning three of their last four games against Ligue 1 sides. In fact, they have not lost in their last eight against French opposition, winning five times in the process.
Even more impressive, Real Madrid are currently competing in the Champions League for the 19th consecutive season, which is the longest ever run. They have never failed to make it out of the group stages and lifted their 10th European Cup in the 2013-14 campaign. What's more, they have made it to at least the semi-finals of this competition in each of the last five seasons.
Only an incredible turnaround would see Real Madrid fail to qualify from Group A, but topping the section is vital due to the number of strong teams in this season's competition. Benitez's side have been very strong at home this season and will be looking to continue that on Tuesday.
Recent form: WLDWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WDWDWW
PSG
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While Real Madrid are going nicely in their domestic league this season, PSG are blowing away the competition in theirs. After 12 games of the Ligue 1 campaign, Laurent Blanc's side sit top on 32 points – 11 clear of second-place Lyon. With league matters fairly straight-forward at the moment, more concentration can be placed on cracking the Champions League.
Like Real, PSG won their first two games in Group A, first beating Malmo before winning 3-0 at Shakhtar. The draw with Los Blancos would have been seen as a disappointing result such was the away side's injury problems, but it ensured that they remained level on seven points. Tuesday provides the perfect chance to take control of the section and sent out a statement in the process.
PSG are currently in their eighth group-stage campaign, but they have gone out in the quarter-finals in each of the last three seasons. In fact, the French champions have not gone beyond the last-eight stage of the European Cup since the 1994-95 season. The club's incredible investment was with a view to claiming this famous competition and they are expected to challenge in this campaign.
PSG's record in Spain is not too strong, however, losing on five of their 11 visits. They were also knocked out by Barcelona in the quarter-finals last season, which included a 2-0 loss in Spain. Their last success away to La Liga opposition came in the 2012-13 campaign when Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore both netted in a 2-1 win against Valencia in the round of 16.
Sharing more parallels with Real, PSG are also unbeaten in all competitions this season, winning 13 and drawing three of their 16 fixtures. They will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 win at Rennes on Friday and they have only conceded one goal in their last four matches.
Either way, PSG should qualify from this section, but winning at the Bernabeu would sent out a real statement of intent. They are among the favourites alongside Real, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and many believe that this could be a memorable season for the capital side.
Recent form: DLLWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WWWDWW
Team News
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Real Madrid are expected to be boosted by the return of Keylor Navas and Sergio Ramos, who both missed the win over Las Palmas, while James Rodriguez has returned to the squad following a lengthy period on the sidelines.
Neither Gareth Bale nor Karim Benzema trained on Monday, however, and they are expected to miss out along with Dani Carvajal, although Benzema has been given a chance of featuring by Benitez.
Luka Modric is fit despite coming off at the interval of the clash with Las Palmas, while Cristiano Ronaldo is once again expected to lead the line with support from Isco and Jese Rodriguez.
As for PSG, Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos is struggling with a thigh problem, while David Luiz will face a late fitness test. Should neither feature, Serge Aurier is expected to start in central defence alongside Thiago Silva.
Pastore is also expected to miss out through illness, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return after not featuring at the weekend. There will also be a Bernabeu return for former Real Madrid attacker Angel di Maria.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Navas; Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Casemiro; Isco, Ronaldo, Jese
PSG possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Van der Wiel, Aurier, Silva, Maxwell; Verratti, Motta, Matuidi; Di Maria, Ibrahimovic, Cavani
Head To Head
Last week's goalless draw in Paris was the fifth meeting between the two teams in European competition.
PSG had won two of the previous four, losing just once in the process. Their previous meetings were all in the knockout stages of European competition and it was PSG that eliminated their Spanish rivals on both occasions.
In the 1992-93 season, PSG beat Real Madrid 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup and one season later, the French club were 2-1 aggregate winners at the same stage of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
We say: Real Madrid 1-1 PSG
We are once again finding it difficult to separate the two teams. Real Madrid will enter as the slight favourites, but PSG are now a different prospect in this competition.
It would not be a surprise to see Real Madrid take the lead on home soil, but PSG's wealth of attacking talent should be enough to claim a point in the key Group A fixture.
Matt Law
