PSG vs Haifa – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | UCL 2022-23

Lionel Messi of PSG
Lionel Messi of PSG - IMAGO / Le Pictorium

Paris Saint-Germain will look to secure their place in the next stage of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) when they welcome Israeli side Maccabi Haifa to Parc des Princes this Tuesday.

Venue: Parc des Princes ( Paris) 

Key Statistics

Paris Saint-Germain are among three clubs across Europe’s top five leagues still unbeaten across all competitions (W13, D4) in 2022/23.

The hosts have just one loss across their last 32 home UCL group stage outings (W25, D6).

They have kept three clean sheets in their last five games.

Kylian Mbappé has opened the scoring in PSG’s five previous UCL home matches.

Maccabi Haifa are winless in three European visits to France (D1, L2). 

In fact, across their history, Maccabi have never won a single UCL group stage away game (D1, L6).

The visitors are the lowest-ranked side in the UCL this season.

They have lost four of their last five away games in all competitions (W1).

Head to head

The first leg of this tie was the first and only meeting between both sides. PSG won the tie 3-1. 

Latest performances in all competitions

PSG: W-W-D-D-D

Haifa: W-W-W-L-L

PSG

Paris Saint Germain will return to Champions League action looking for a third win in a row in all competitions with a clash against Maccabi Haifa at the Parc des Princes.

Les Parisiens followed up their 1-0 win over Marseille last two weeks with another impressive 0-3 win over Ajaccio in the French Ligue 1 last weekend. Kylian Mbappe continued his impressive start to the season, and opened the scoring for Christophe Galtier’s side in the 23rd minute, following a defence-splitting pass from Lionel Messi. 

PSG continued to dominate in the first half, but could only find their second goal after the break, through Lionel Messi this time, who rounded the keeper to score into an empty net following a nice combination with Kylian Mbappe. 

The duo combined once more to devastating effect for the third goal, with Lionel Messi once again threading a beautiful pass for Kylian Mbappe to apply the finishing touch to make sure PSG did not miss Neymar, who was absent due to suspension. 

PSG are yet to taste defeat in any competition this season and come into this game level on points with Benfica in Group H of the UEFA Champions League. Christophe Galtier will be keen to see his side go clear at the top as they secure their spot in the next round of the UEFA competition. 

And having been touted as one of the favourites to go all the way to the final, the Paris-based outfit will be keen to avoid any complicated draws by finishing top of Group H. 

Possible PSG starting line-up

Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Nordi Mukiele, Marquinhos, Juan Bernat; Fabian Ruiz, Renato Sanches, Vitinha; Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Hugo Ekitike.

Injured: Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe, Timothee Pembele, Danilo Pereira, Sergio Rico, Marco Verratti

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Maccabi Haifa

Maccabi Haifa, on the other hand, will come into this game in search of their fourth win in all competitions and their second consecutive win in the Champions League for the first time this season.

The Greens had to dig deep to secure a 2-3 win against Ironi Kiryat Shmona in their last game in the Israeli PL. 

Barak Bakhar’s side twice took the lead through Frantzdy Pierrot and Tjaronn Chery, but Ironi Kiryat Shmona kept clawing back. However, Dylan Batubinsika stepped up to score the winner to hand Barak Bakhar’s side all three points as they extended their lead at the top of the table in the Israeli PL.

Maccabi Haifa now come into this game in search of their second win in the Champions League, having stunned Juventus to win 2-0 in their last outing in the competition. 

With their chances of making it to the next round of the Champions League all but over, the Israeli side will be keen to secure a place in the Europa League by beating Juventus to third place, with both teams level on points in third and fourth place, respectively.

However, Barak Bakhar’s side face a mountainous task going up against Group H leaders and one of the competition’s favourites, but following their impressive win over Juventus last time out, the Israeli side will be confident of getting a positive result against the French heavyweights. 

Possible Maccabi Haifa starting line-up

Josh Cohen; Daniel Sundgren, Stan Goldberg, Ofri Arad, Pierre Cornud; Neta Lavi, Ali Mohamed; Omer Atzili, Tjaronn Chery, Din David; Frantzdy Pierrot.

Injured: Mahmoud Jaber

Doubtful: Suf Podgoreanu 

Suspended: None 

Prediction

PSG 3-1 Haifa