Paris Saint-Germain Women will look to secure their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals when they face Real Madrid Femenino on Friday.
The visitors, who sit in third position, are currently two points adrift of second-placed PSG, and they will be unable to progress to the knockout rounds if they lose to the French side.
Match preview
© Reuters
Since losing 1-0 to Chelsea in their first group game, PSG have embarked on a nine-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
During their impressive run of form, they have drawn 1-1 with Real Madrid and claimed two comfortable victories over Vllaznia, including a 4-0 away win over the Albanian side last week.
Kadidiatou Diani scored a first-half brace before goals from Ramona Bachmann and Magnaba Folquet wrapped up a commanding win against Vllaznia, which leaves the French side in second place.
They celebrated another victory at the weekend, with an 87th-minute strike from Diani guiding PSG to a crucial 1-0 victory over Lyon, ensuring that the Parisians moved above their title rivals to finish the weekend as the Division 1 Feminine leaders.
After winning their last six games in all competitions, PSG will now focus on Friday's home meeting with Real Madrid, where they have the chance to book their place in the knockout rounds with a win.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are two points adrift of their opponents after failing to win their last three European games.
They began the group with a 2-0 away win over Vllaznia, but they had to settle for a point in their home meeting with PSG, before they were beaten by Chelsea on matchday three.
Caroline Weir gave Las Blancas the lead in last week's reverse fixture against the English champions, Real Madrid conceding just before the hour mark when a Guro Reiten penalty hit the post and rebounded into the net off the back of Misa Rodriguez.
Like Friday's opponents, Real Madrid claimed a crucial 1-0 victory at the weekend, beating their local rivals Atletico Madrid thanks to Kathellen's 83rd-minute winner.
That result extended Real Madrid's unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions, and although they will be eliminated from the Champions League if they lose against PSG, a win would lift them into the top two.
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- L
- D
- W
- L
- W
- W
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
The hosts are unable to call upon the services of Paulina Dudek and Marie Antoinette Katoto, who both miss out through injury.
After beating their title rivals Lyon at the weekend, PSG boss Gerard Precheur could be tempted to name an unchanged lineup.
Diani will look to add to the 13 goals that she has scored in all competitions this season when she leads the line on Friday.
As for the visitors, Alberto Toril has the majority of his squad available to him, and he is likely to select the same starting XI that began the derby win over Atletico.
Kathellen scored the winner against Real Madrid's local rivals, but she will be focused on her defensive work when she partners Rocio Galvez in the backline.
Esther Gonzalez has scored 12 competitive goals this season, and she will have the chance to add to her tally against PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain Women possible starting lineup:
Bouhaddi; Lawrence, Ilestedt, De Almeida, Karchaoui; Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Hamraoui; Baltimore, Bachmann, Diani
Real Madrid Femenino possible starting lineup:
Misa; Robles, Kathellen, Galvez, Carmona; Toletti, Zornoza; Del Castillo, Weir, Feller; Gonzalez
We say: Paris Saint-Germain Women 2-1 Real Madrid Femenino
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw when they met on matchday two, but PSG are in imperious form after winning their last six games in all competitions, and we think that they will claim a narrow victory over Real Madrid on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
