The first of two matches in what should be the battle for top spot in Group A commences on Wednesday, when Paris Saint-Germain host Real Madrid in what should be an entertaining Champions League match at the Parc des Princes.
Both PSG and Real Madrid have, expectedly, taken six points each from their first two matches, with the latter currently ahead on goal difference.
While Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo are decent teams, they are not expected to pose enough problems to threaten the top two places in Group A, which means this match, and the one that comes after that at the Bernabeu, will be about which of PSG and Real Madrid finish top of the group, and with it avoid a potentially tricky last-16 encounter.
"This match will be special and great for the prestige of our club -- we're playing against one of Europe's greatest clubs," PSG manager Laurent Blanc waxed lyrical on Real Madrid. "When you compare our squads, it's difficult to say it's equal.
"Just look at their trophy room -- Madrid are a top team in Europe, Paris are not there yet.
"But we can win -- because we're at home, because we have quality, because we have already beaten one of Europe's greatest – Barcelona. We need to respect our opponents but we can do it. It's not a decisive match, although winning our group is a very important objective, but it's not decisive yet."
While PSG come into this match without a whole host of injury problems – Blanc is missing David Luiz, with Kevin Trapp and Marco Verratti doubts -- the same cannot be said of Real Madrid, who will be without James Rodriguez, Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, who picked up that calf problem, yet again. Sergio Ramos is expected to play, but only after taking painkilling injections.
Cristiano Ronaldo, most of the time, is enough alone to beat any side, but there is no doubt that Rafa Benitez will miss the services of Bale, Benzema and Rodriguez considerably.
"Losing a player of his ability is a blow, but the team did well in the second half and won the match, which is what matters most," Benitez said of Bale missing out in this match. "He wasn't fully right coming into the dressing room. His stats during the first half look good to us and perhaps exhaustion played a role somehow [in the injury]."
While Ronaldo will be expected to star for Real Madrid, the other side will be all about (no, not Zlatan Ibrahimovic) Angel Di Maria, as the midfielder plays against his former club for the first time since moving in the summer of 2014.
Di Maria will definitely be up for this game, and it would be far from a surprise if the Argentine ends up scoring the winner on Wednesday.
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PSG vs Real Madrid is scheduled for a 8.45 pm local time (12.15 am IST, 7.45 pm BST, 2.45 pm ET) start. Ten Action will broadcast the Champions League match live in India, with the online live streaming option on Ten Sports Live.
Viewers in UK can watch the Champions League Group A game live on BT Sport Extra, while the match can also be watched via live streaming online on Watch BT Sport or by downloading the BT Sport app.
Fox Soccer Plus is the place to be to watch Real Madrid vs PSG in the US, while the UCL game can also be live streamed online on FoxSoccer2Go.
Viewers in Canada, Spain, Australia, Middle East and North Africa can watch the Champions League game live on Bein Sports and Bein Sports Connect, while audience in France can watch the game live on Canal+.
