Micah Richards says one Manchester City player will be especially ‘crucial’ in tonight’s game

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BBC Sport pundit Micah Richards says Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker will be “crucial” in tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

Pep Guardiola’s charges face Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital tonight, with the return leg at the Etihad Stadium next Tuesday.

City’s opponents boast some of the best attacking players in world football, with Kylian Mbappe fit to spearhead the PSG attack despite limping off against Metz last time out.

Likewise, Neymar and Moise Kean are available, the two boasting 30 goals and 10 assists between them for the club this season.

Richards is confident that City can get past PSG and reach their first Champions League final, but he stresses they must be “absolutely spot on” defensively.

And the former Etihad defender believes Walker will be especially important given his pace when up against Mbappe.

“City have been solid at the back for most of the season but we saw in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea that their high defensive line can be caught out by fast counter-attacks,” he told BBC Sport.

“PSG will try to do the same, and they have a lot more quality up top.

“Kyle Walker’s pace is going to be crucial in coping with Kylian Mbappe on the break, but ideally City won’t leave themselves exposed at all in that sense because that is the only way I see PSG hurting them.

“I want City to make sure there is always a midfielder sitting in front of the defence, who can engage Mbappe when he starts to go at them, rather than leaving him space to build up speed.

“Do that, and keep him quiet, then City should win. They should control the game in terms of possession and create chances; they just have to take them.”