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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will host Club Brugge in their final UEFA Champions League group stage encounter at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday (December 7). The result of the clash will not affect PSG's standings in Group A but Mauricio Pochettino will want his side to go into the knockout rounds on a positive note.
The Parisians strengthened their squad in the summer but are still far from perfect. PSG have won two, drawn two and lost one game in five Champions League games so far this campaign.
Their defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Matchday 5 means the French giants will have to settle for a second-place finish in their group. PSG have also been poor recently in Ligue 1, having drawn their last two league matches.
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Club Brugge, on the other hand, have lost three games in a row in the Champions League. However, a win against the French side might help them register a place in the Europa League. The Belgian side held PSG to a 1-1 draw when the two teams last met.
Ahead of the encounter, here's a look at five players who could decide the outcome of PSG's fixture against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
#5 Angel Di Maria | PSG
Angel Di Maria has been one of PSG’s creative hubs since his move to Ligue 1. However, the Argentine winger has taken a backseat recently, due to the arrival of numerous stars in the squad.
Despite his limited chances, Di Maria has shown his caliber when operating from the right flank. The 33-year old has been the fulcrum of the team, bagging three goals and three assists in the French top flight this season.
Di Maria is yet to make an impact in the two Champions League appearances he has made. However, the technically gifted Argentine has the ability to have a say in the outcome of PSG's match against Club Brugge with his versatile skillset.
#4 Simon Mignolet | Club Brugge
Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was one of the main reasons for PSG's inability to defeat the Belgian side in their previous meeting. Brugge will once again rest their faith in the veteran goalkeeper when they face the formidable French giants in their final group stage encounter.
With the Ligue 1 side boasting a game-altering set of players who can find the back of the net for fun, Mignolet will have huge responsibility on his hands. However, the former Liverpool keeper is no stranger to strong opposition and will want to help his team keep a clean sheet.
The result will massively depend on how Mignolet performs between the posts.
#3 Bas Dost | Club Brugge
Club Brugge striker Bas Dost will surely want to make life difficult for PSG when his side travel to Paris for a vital Champions League affair. The Dutchman is in sensational form, having played a pivotal role in Brugge's latest victory in the Belgian top flight. Dost scored a brace to help his side secure a 3-2 win against RFC Seraing.
However, Dost is yet to make an impact in the Champions League, with his chances being limited in Europe. The centre-forward has already bagged nine goals across all competitions so far this campaign and will want to add to that tonight.
Dost will be desperate to prove a point and his ability to find the net might help Club Brugge register a point or three against PSG. The former Wolfsburg striker is a classic poacher who has a penchant for being in the right place at the right time. Dost will likely cause problems for PSG considering his stellar recent form.
#2 Lionel Messi | PSG
Lionel Messi joined PSG in the summer after Barcelona could not gather the funds required to renew his contract. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was expected to perform exceptionally well in Ligue 1 after his highly anticipated move to Paris.
However, Messi is yet to hit the ground running with PSG and has found it difficult to be a matchwinner for his new club.
Messi has scored only one league goal in nine appearances for PSG. His best performances have come in the Champions League, where he has racked up three goals in four appearances.
PSG will hope Messi can replicate the performances which helped them register victories against Manchester City and RB Leipzig in this season's Champions League.
#1 Kylian Mbappe | PSG
After an explosive start to the new campaign, Kylian Mbappe's performance levels seem to have dropped in recent weeks. Regardless, the Frenchman has been PSG's best player so far this season ahead of the likes of Messi and Neymar.
It would be foolish to count someone like Mbappe out as he can decide the final outcome in any game with his skillset.
Mbappe has found the net only twice but has already registered five assists in the Champions League. The 22-year old has been decisive in the final third for PSG while also operating as the chief creator of his team. He will look to increase his tally in Europe against Club Brugge and help the Ligue 1 giants win the game.
