Some cracking Champions League last 16 ties to look forward to this week and it’s difficult to know where to start.
The highlight over the coming days is unquestionably Real Madrid versus Manchester United on Wednesday but elsewhere in Spain Valencia take on PSG 24 hours previously and I expect plenty of goalmouth action.
PSG have soared to the top of Ligue 1 thanks to 13 wins in 14 matches in all competitions and an extremely talented squad is being assembled in the French capital.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi leading the line, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are likely to cause any of the remaining Champions League hopefuls problems going forward and Valencia are no exception.
PSG topped a fairly weak group to reach the knockout stages but they did so in style with five wins, scoring 14 goals in the process, and are improving all the time under their wily Italian manager.
Grabbing an away goal is deemed crucial these days in an era of far less cagey two-legged encounters and, much better on the front foot, I expect PSG to go for it.
Valencia qualified behind Bayern Munich from their section at the expense of BATE and Lille and they, too, were free-scoring notching 12 times while amassing 13 points.
Much like their opponents, Valencia thrive in the final third and Ernesto Valverde will be all too aware that taking a lead to Paris is vital.
This could be a really open contest and, with Valencia having kept just one clean sheet in their previous 12 home matches in all competitions, I think there is value in both sides to find the net.
It is evens with Coral and I think that underestimates its likelihood.
Twice in their last eight matches at the Mestalla the hosts have conceded five, to Real Sociedad and Real Madrid, and surely they will be susceptible again to such a potent strike force.
PSG have scored 16 goals in their previous five away matches and will surely find a way through a far from watertight home defence.
3pts Back Both Teams to Score (Valencia vs. PSG) @ 2.00 (Coral)