Paris Saint-Germain kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League campaign against Girona at Parc des Princes on Wednesday. The French champions have been dominant in Ligue 1, winning six of the last seven titles, while Girona made a surprising impact in La Liga, finishing third. PSG has had a strong start to the new season in France, winning all four of their opening matches. The upcoming six-game stretch in just 19 days will test their squad depth, with Arsenal looming as their next opponent.
PSG’s journey in the 2019-20 Champions League saw them reach the final, falling short against Bayern Munich. Their home record in the UCL is impressive, having lost just one out of 36 games since the 2012-13 season. Girona, on the other hand, have had a mixed start in La Liga, with two wins, one draw, and two losses in their first five matches. Manager Michel will be eager to make a strong debut in their first-ever Champions League appearance.
The odds for the match favor PSG at -275, with a draw at +450 and Girona at +700. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 at 3 p.m. ET at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Fans can watch the game on Paramount+.
### Team News and Lineups
PSG will be without Goncalo Ramos, Presnel Kimpembe, and Lucas Hernandez, possibly until the end of the year. Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha are doubts but could be available. Manager Luis Enrique is expected to field a strong lineup, including Lee Kang-in, Fabian Ruiz, and Joao Neves. Marquinhos and William Pacho are likely to return to the starting XI. Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, and either Marco Asensio or Randal Kolo Muani are set to lead the attack.
Girona will miss Ricard Artero and Jastin, with Yangel Herrera uncertain for the match. Oriol Romeu, Ivan Martin, and Jhon Solis are expected to start in midfield. Abel Ruiz is set to lead the attack, supported by Portu, Bryan Gil, Viktor Tsygankov, and Arnaut Danjuma on the wings.
### Match Prediction
While Girona will aim to give PSG a tough challenge, the French giants are predicted to secure a comfortable victory. A 2-0 win for PSG with a clean sheet is on the cards. The depth and quality of PSG’s squad, coupled with their home advantage, make them favorites in this matchup.
The Champions League journey for PSG includes fixtures against Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Red Bull Salzburg, Manchester City, and VfB Stuttgart. Girona will face Feyenoord, Slovan Bratislava, PSV Eindhoven, Sturm Graz, Liverpool, Milan, and Arsenal in the group stage.
In conclusion, PSG’s Champions League campaign begins with high expectations as they aim to go one step further than their final appearance in 2019-20. Girona, as debutants in the competition, will look to make a mark and surprise the footballing world. The clash between these two teams promises an exciting start to their European campaign.