Paris Saint-Germain will face Borussia Dortmund in one of the most eagerly anticipated Champions League openers at the Parc des Princes.
Match Preview
Both teams find themselves in the group of death, along with Newcastle United and AC Milan, making this an exciting contest right from the start.
In recent years, PSG has failed to live up to expectations in their quest for European glory. With newly appointed manager Luis Enrique, who achieved Champions League success with Barcelona in 2015, PSG aims to turn their fortunes around.
However, they have had a shaky start to the season, currently sitting fifth in Ligue 1 with just eight points from five matches.
The departure of Lionel Messi and Neymar has left PSG struggling to find their rhythm, and they have lost five of their last nine home fixtures.
Borussia Dortmund, too, knows the pain of falling short of success. They came close to dethroning Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season but had to settle for second place.
Despite drawing against Bochum and Heidenheim recently, Dortmund showcased their resilience with a 4-2 comeback win against Freiburg.
They are unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions, scoring in every game. However, Dortmund has struggled on the road in the Champions League, with only one victory in their last six away matches.
In previous encounters, Dortmund defeated PSG 2-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the 2019-20 Champions League.
However, PSG fought back with a 2-0 win on their home turf, ultimately reaching the final where they were defeated by Bayern Munich.
Team News:
PSG’s star player Kylian Mbappe has recovered from a minor knee concern and is expected to start.
However, manager Luis Enrique faces several absentees, including Marco Asensio, Nordi Mukiele, Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe, and Fabian Ruiz.
Marquinhos and Manuel Ugarte are likely to replace Danilo Pereira and Carlos Soler.
Borussia Dortmund’s injury list is shorter, with Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey, and Julien Duranville not expected to return until next month.
Gregor Kobel, Julian Ryerson, and Niclas Fullkrug have all overcome their respective issues and should feature. Giovanni Reyna is still nursing a leg injury.
Possible Lineups:
Paris Saint-Germain:
Donnarumma;
Hakimi, Marquinhos, Skriniar, Hernandez;
Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha;
Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
Borussia Dortmund:
Kobel;
Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini;
Sabitzer, Can, Brandt;
Malen, Haller, Reus
Prediction:
We predict an intense and closely fought match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund. Despite PSG’s recent struggles, they have shown their ability to score goals.
With the return of key players and the firepower of Mbappe, they should find the back of the net.
However, Dortmund’s attacking prowess cannot be underestimated, and they will be eager to claim a point in this exciting clash.
Nice