PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has warned his much-fancied side that they must not be overconfident heading into the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

The French champions are looking to reach the semifinals of this competition for the first time in two decades but this is their fourth season running in the last eight, while City have never before been at this stage.

That has led many observers to give a polished PSG side, deserved winners against Chelsea in the last 16, the label of favorites to beat Manuel Pellegrini’s men after they were relieved to avoid being drawn against Barcelona, regular rivals in Europe in recent seasons.

“All the little details are important in ties like these and the experience we have accumulated in the last few years could play a part,” Blanc told a press conference at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

“What I see is that when the draw was made, everyone, including us, was satisfied to avoid the two ogres of European football at the moment in Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

“You could maybe include Real Madrid in that, so once we avoided these three teams I feel like the media and all the supporters thought, well it’s an easy draw, but it is absolutely not.

“The players mustn’t listen to anyone saying that because those people don’t understand anything about football.

“City’s project is sort of parallel to ours. They have talented players in every area, great quality and quantity of players.”

Those similar projects that Blanc talks about have seen extremely rich Middle

That led City’s French midfielder Samir Nasri — once of Marseille and who endured a difficult relationship with Blanc when he was in charge of France — to question how PSG would cope playing in the Premier League rather than in the less competitive environment of Ligue 1.

Blanc, however, insists the intensity of English football does not give the country’s clubs an advantage in Europe.

Real Madrid confident after Clasico win

Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says their El Clasico win over Barcelona has given the Spanish giants the perfect confidence booster for Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal, first-leg, at Wolfsburg.

Real used to have a terrible record away to German opposition in Europe, but their run to winning the 2014 final, when they claimed their tenth European crown, changed all that.

This time around, Zinedine Zidane’s Real are clear favorites for the quarterfinal first leg at Wolfsburg’s Volkswagen Arena, especially after Saturday’s 2-1 victory when Cristiano Ronaldo scored their late winner at arch rivals Barcelona with 10 men.

Ronaldo has found the net in all six knockout ties played against German sides and, with 13 goals to his credit this season, he is just four short of breaking his record in a single European campaign.

Madrid are in the quarter-finals for the sixth time in a row, while Wolfsburg are in the knock-out stages for the first time.

Real are on their best run of the season after ending arch rivals Barca’s 39-game unbeaten run with their sixth succesive win and are in no mood to suffer an upset in Wolfsburg.

“I said mentally this win (against Barcelona) puts us in a great position, but we have to keep working hard,” said Bale.

“The win builds confidence for the rest of the season.

“But there’s a long way to go in the Champions League and La Liga and we still have to keep fighting all the way,” he added with Real chasing an 11th European crown.

Brazil midfielder Casemiro said Real will take nothing for granted at Wolfsburg.

“In this round, there are no easy teams,” said the 24-year-old.

“Wolfsburg defend well, they have quick players in attack and we need to respect them, but we will respect them playing our football, playing well and being Real Madrid.”

Real’s top form is juxtaposed by Wolfsburg’s recent results with the German Cup holders winless in their last three games since beating Gent at home in the last 16.

They were thumped 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen last Friday, causing director of sport Klaus Allofs to confess they are not living up to the their Champions League status in Germany’s top flight.

Nevertheless, the hosts have a chance to pull off a shock victory in what coach Dieter Hecking has decribed as “the biggest game in the club’s history.”

“We are looking forward to the game, we have nothing to lose,” said Wolfsburg’s Germany midfielder Julian Draxler.