Salah And Dembele Face Off In Anticipated Champions League Clash Between PSG And Liverpool

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Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, two of Europe's top teams, will clash in the Champions League last-16 first leg at Parc des Princes. Both teams are dominating their domestic leagues, with PSG having a 100% chance of winning Ligue 1 and Liverpool holding a 98.7% probability of clinching the Premier League title according to Opta's supercomputer. While PSG recently defeated Lille 4-1, Liverpool had a break after their FA Cup exit.

PSG's recent form has been impressive, scoring 21 goals in their last four matches, including a 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in the play-offs. This feat made them the first team in Champions League history to have seven different scorers in one match and three substitutes scoring in the same game. However, facing Liverpool will test Luis Enrique's theory about PSG's strength without Kylian Mbappe.

Mohamed Salah has been exceptional for Liverpool this season, contributing to 52 goals across all competitions. He has scored 30 goals and provided 22 assists, outperforming his expected goals (xG) by around four goals. Despite underperforming his xG in the Champions League league phase, Salah remains crucial for Liverpool's success.

Ousmane Dembele has finally found his form at PSG after struggling at Barcelona. This season, he has scored 26 goals and provided six assists for PSG. His performance has exceeded expectations with an xG of 19.49, showcasing his improved finishing skills. Dembele's current form is vital for PSG as they face Liverpool.

This encounter marks only the third time PSG and Liverpool meet in the Champions League. Their previous meetings were during the 2018-19 group stage, where each team won once. The last time they faced off in a knockout stage was during the Cup Winners' Cup semi-final in 1996-97, with PSG advancing on aggregate.

Liverpool have struggled against French teams away from home recently but remain favourites to progress from this tie with a 58.3% chance according to Opta's simulations. For this first leg, PSG are slightly favoured with a win probability of 39.8%, while Liverpool stands at 35.1%.

Players to Watch: Hakimi and Salah

Achraf Hakimi is a key player for PSG, leading all defenders in chances created (24) and assists (four) under pressure in the Champions League this season. His ability to create opportunities from open play makes him a significant threat that Liverpool must manage carefully.

Salah holds the record for most goal involvements by an African player in Champions League knockout stages with 20 contributions (12 goals, eight assists). Despite not being as clinical as expected during the league phase, he remains a pivotal figure for Liverpool against PSG.

Liverpool's recent struggles in knockout stages have mostly been against Real Madrid; however, they remain strong contenders overall with a 19.2% chance of winning their seventh European crown compared to PSG's likelihood of securing their first at 9.5%. As both teams prepare for this exciting clash, fans can expect an intense battle between two formidable sides aiming for European glory.