The most intriguing Matchday 8 match-up of the Champions League league phase arrives from Germany as Paris Saint-Germain visit VfB Stuttgart.

This is a straight shootout to secure a play-off berth, although both teams will book their place in the next phase with a draw on Wednesday night. Such a scenario is one UEFA have been keen to avoid given the potential for collusion.

Nevertheless, PSG bolstered their chances of progression after they fought back from 2-0 down to beat Manchester City 4-2 last week. It was the high point of Luis Enrique’s reign thus far, and it would be very PSG if they were beaten in Germany here to exit the competition.

Stuttgart are level with the French champions on ten points through seven games, with back-to-back victories over Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava seeing them climb into the top 24. Sebastian Hoeness’ side have started 2025 in excellent form, but they were beaten by Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Qualifying for the play-offs would be an excellent result for the hosts on their first outing in this competition since 2009/10.

Here is 90min’s guide to Stuttgart vs PSG in the Champions League.

Stuttgart vs PSG head-to-head record

This is the first competitive meeting between Stuttgart and PSG.

Current form (all competitions)

There’s bound to be a big opportunity for former Burnley defender Ameen Al Dakhil at the heart of Stuttgart’s defence with Anthony Rouault suspended due to yellow card accumulation,

Enzo Millot ranks among the stars of Stuttgart’s campaign thus far, and he’ll be back in the starting XI on Wednesday having missed Saturday’s defeat to Mainz.

El Bilal Toure, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Luca Raimund Justin Diehl are all sidelined for the hosts.

Stuttgart predicted lineup vs PSG (4-3-3): Nubel; Vagnoman, Al Dakhil, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Keitel, Stiller, Millot; Leweling, Undav, Fuhrich.

Enrique made several changes to his starting XI at the weekend, with new arrival Khvicha Kvaratskhelia making his debut. The Georgian superstar isn’t eligible to feature on Wednesday night but will be registered in time for their play-off fixtures, if PSG progress.

Joao Neves and Bradley Barcola, the two PSG protagonists in their 4-2 win over City, were handed rests at the weekend. Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi also weren’t involved in the draw with Reims, while Willian Pacho joined Barcola in coming off the bench.

The visitors will be without the suspended Nuno Mendes, so Lucas Hernandez will likely start at left-back.

PSG predicted lineup vs Stuttgart (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hernandez; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Dembele, Ramos, Barcola.

Only a miracle would fail to see both teams into the play-offs if they draw on Wednesday night, but we shouldn’t expect to see any scenes akin to the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ in Stuttgart.

Both teams will be motivated by knowing that victory would see them claim a higher seed in the knockout round play-off draw, with neither team owing the other a favour. PSG have struggled on their trips to Germany, and the hosts have rallied in recent weeks after a stop-start opening to 2024/25.

They’ll make life tough for the visitors, who’ll be buoyant after last week’s result, and although Stuttgart may threaten to dump Les Parisiens out of the competition, Enrique’s side should find a way to snatch the positive result they require.

Prediction: Stuttgart 1-1 PSG

READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE