Paris Saint-Germain begin their 2024-25 Champions League campaign against tournament debutants Girona at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
While PSG have won sixth Ligue 1 title in the last seven seasons, their Spanish counterparts surprised many by finishing third in La Liga in the previous campaign.
Match preview
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Paris Saint-Germain are the only Ligue 1 team who boast a 100% record after four matches, after following up victories over Le Harve, Montpellier and Lille with a 3-1 comeback win at home to Brest last Saturday.
Luis Enrique's men fell behind just before the half-hour mark when Romain Del Castillo converted from the penalty spot, but Les Parisians valiantly fought back with Fabian Ruiz netting in between two goals from Ousmane Dembele to ensure that they came away with maximum points.
Already boasting an impressive +13 goal difference in the French top flight and understandably in high spirits after making a positive start to the new season, PSG are now gearing up for a busy fixture schedule of six games within a 19-day period across all competitions, including their first two Champions League contests against Girona and Arsenal.
The Champions League has been the holy grail for PSG's Qatari ownership since they took the reins back in 2011, but Europe's most prestigious trophy in club football has painfully eluded them - losing the 2019-20 final to Bayern Munich is the closest that they have ever come to glory.
PSG will be keen to make a strong start to the newly-expanded Champions League and will be confident of success against Girona, as they head into Wednesday's fixture having lost just one of their last 36 home games in the competition since the start of 2012-13 - a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in October 2020.
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After enjoying a historic 2023-24 La Liga campaign, Girona have since made a mixed start to the new season, accumulating seven points having won two, drawn one and lost two of their opening five matches.
The Blanquivermells recovered from a slow start to beat both Osasuna and Sevilla by an aggregate score of 6-0, but they could not pick up from where they left off after the international break, as they were put to the sword 4-1 by table-toppers and Catalan rivals Barcelona on Sunday.
Goals from Lamine Yamal (2), Dani Olmo and Pedri put a rampant Barca outfit firmly in control of proceedings at Estadi Montilivi, before veteran forward Christian Stuani netted a consolation strike 10 minutes from time.
After suffering the heaviest home defeat since his arrival as head coach in 2021, Michel will be keen to ensure that his players do not dwell on such a result and can motivate themselves for Girona's first-ever Champions League match on Wednesday.
Girona may be regarded as one of the underdogs in this season's newly-expanded Champions League, but they can take inspiration from the fact that the last three Spanish debutants in the competition have advanced to the knockout rounds (Villarreal in 2005-06, Sevilla in 2007-08 and Malaga 2012-13).
Team News
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PSG trio Goncalo Ramos (ankle), Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) and Lucas Hernandez (ACL) all remain long-term injury absentees, while first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is also ruled out with a thigh problem picked up in the win over Brest, so summer signing Matvey Safonov is in line to make his debut for the club.
Midfield duo Warren Zaire-Emery (calf) and Vitinha (ankle) - who both missed the win over Brest - are doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, meaning Lee Kang-in, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves could all keep their places in centre-midfield.
Enrique may ponder recalling centre-back duo Marquinhos and William Pacho at the expense of Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo, while Bradley Barcola - PSG's leading scorer so far this term with four goals in as many matches - could link up with Dembele and either Marco Asensio or Randal Kolo Muani in attack.
As for Girona, Ricard Artero (ankle) and Jastin (shoulder) remain sidelined with injuries, while Yangel Herrera missed the defeat against Barcelona due to an adductor problem and is a doubt for Wednesday's contest.
Oriol Romeu was ineligible to face his parent club Barca last time out, but he is available to return against PSG and will likely start in a three-man midfield alongside Ivan Martin and 19-year-old Jhon Solis, with Donny van de Beek once again providing cover on the substitutes' bench.
Abel Ruiz is set to continue as the central striker ahead of fellow new signing Bojan Miovski and Stuani, while Portu, Bryan Gil, Viktor Tsygankov and Arnaut Danjuma could all battle for starts on the flanks.
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Lee, Ruiz, Neves; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Barcola
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Frances, Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu, Solis; Tsygankov, Ruiz, Danjuma
We say: Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Girona
Four French teams have already tried and failed to get the better of a goal-hungry PSG outfit, who have made a strong start to the new season and will be regarded as firm favourites to claim maximum points on Wednesday.
Both sides enter this contest on the back of contrasting domestic results, and with that in mind - along with the attacking quality that PSG possess - we are backing the hosts to outscore their opponents en route to a comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
