PSG vs Real Madrid: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
By Tom Gott
The first leg of the battle for custody of Kylian Mbappe will get underway on Tuesday when Real Madrid travel to France to face PSG in the Champions League last 16.
Both sides sit top of their respective domestic league and are among the favourites to win the whole tournament, so there promises to be a whole lot of excitement on show. That's before you even consider the transfer narrative surrounding Mbappe.
The 23-year-old is in the final six months of his PSG contract and is expected to wait until this tie is over before making his decision on whether to stay put or jump ship to Real. So both teams will be keen to use this as an audition to prove to Mbappe that he should be playing for them.
Here's all you need to know about this one.
How to watch PSG vs Real Madrid on TV/live stream
When is kick off? Tuesday 15 February, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Parc des Princes
TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 3 (UK), fubo TV (US)
Highlights? BT Sport YouTube channel
Referee? Daniele Orsato (ITA)
VAR? Marco Di Bello (ITA)
PSG team news
Neymar has been back in training after overcoming a nasty ankle injury but the chances of him starting this one are slim, given he has not played competitively since November. Expect minutes off the bench.
A thigh injury could keep Ander Herrera out, while Sergio Ramos will be denied the chance to face his former employers because of a calf problem.
Idrissa Gueye is back and available after his heroics with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, but Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed he will not start.
Real Madrid team news
Carlo Ancelotti is sweating over the fitness of Karim Benzema, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury. He is part of the travelling squad but had not trained with the team before landing in Paris and will face the latest of late fitness tests. Currently, the feeling is positive.
Left-back Ferland Mendy has been passed fit and could return to the starting lineup in place of Marcelo, who struggled greatly last time out against Villarreal's Samu Chukwueze.
PSG vs Real Madrid head-to-head record
These two sides have actually met a fair bit over the past few years. Since 2015, they have been drawn against each other three times in the Champions League, the most recent of which was in the 2019/20 group stage.
PSG came out on top overall after winning the first game 3-0 in Paris and holding Real to a 2-2 draw away from home. Los Blancos actually threw away a two-goal lead in the final nine minutes of that second game.
Real won the meeting before that, at this stage of the 2017/18 tournament. A 3-1 win at home was followed by a 2-1 win on enemy soil were enough to get the job done.
PSG vs Real Madrid score prediction
So much of this hinges on the fitness of Benzema. Without him, Real have looked a little toothless in attack, which is to be expected when you lose your Ballon d'Or contender. Ancelotti needs him.
If Benzema makes it back, Real will fancy themselves here. PSG have obvious star power but still look a little disjointed under Pochettino, although things are slowly starting to trend upwards. Real, on the other hand, are a true unit.
With the Frenchman at the top of their team, Real could get the job done. Without him, it's anyone's guess.
Prediction: PSG 1-2 Real Madrid