Both PSG and Atletico Madrid have a lot to prove in this season’s Champions League, and their meeting on Wednesday at Parc des Princes could prove to be the turning point in both their seasons. So far, neither of them has managed to live up to such high expectations, but as the group stage wears on, they realize they need to start winning-and quickly.
PSG’s Champions League Journey: Room for Improvement Paris Saint-Germain opened its Champions League season with a fortunate 1-0 win over Girona, but haven’t stayed at that cadence and have picked up just one point from their last two outings. After a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, PSG came back with a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven as Achraf Hakimi scored the second-half equalizer. A telling pattern, as it shows that 12 of PSG’s last 14 Champions League goals have come in the second half, proof that Luis Enrique’s team needs to find that spark earlier in the game.
Enrique has underwhelmed in the Champions League since taking over, with a win rate of just 40%. The task going into Wednesday is three points if PSG is to remain in the running to finish in the top eight automatically and avoid the tricky playoff route. Domestically, PSG is in solid form as it sits atop Ligue 1 and is still unbeaten after a narrow 1-0 win over Lens. However, in the Champions League, consistency has evaded the Parisian side.
Atletico Madrid: Can Simeone’s Men Find Their Rhythm?
It has been a see-saw in the Champions League for Atletico Madrid. Yes, things started nicely with that win of 2-1 against Leipzig. However, back-to-back losses against Benfica and Lille really got them on edge. For the first time in recent years, Atletico has lost two back-to-back Champions League games and will be keen to avoid an unprecedented third. But while Diego Simeone’s defensive-minded approach worked a treat for many years for Atletico, the recent games-aways, especially-have shown no such consistent outcome.
In La Liga, Atletico is in better shape, recently climbed to third after a 2-0 win over Las Palmas. However, the Champions League presents a different challenge, and Simeone will need all the help he can get from key players like Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, and new forward Alexander Sorloth.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Paris Saint-Germain Updates
Luis Enrique has been making a statement in recent PSG games, starting with the backup goalkeeper, Matvei Safonov, instead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, and bringing Marco Asensio back into the lineup. Ousmane Dembele, who has recently been playing as a false nine, will return to his right-wing position. PSG will be without the services of striker Goncalo Ramos with an ankle injury, defenders Presnel Kimpembe with an Achilles issue and Lucas Hernandez with an ACL problem.
Predicted Starting XI – PSG
Goalkeeper: Safonov
Defenders: Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes
Midfielders: Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves
Forwards: Dembele, Asensio, Barcola
Atletico Madrid Updates
Giuliano, son of Simeone, may start in the attack, but he has to contend with Griezmann, Correa and Sorloth. Julian Alvarez may make all the difference, although he had a quieter display, after his promising Champions League record thus far. However, they will be without Robin Le Normand (head), Marcos Llorente (thigh), and Cesar Azpilicueta (calf).
Atletico’s Predicted Starting XI
Goalkeeper: Oblak
Defenders: Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo
Midfielders: De Paul, Koke, Barrios, Lino; Forwards: Alvarez, Griezmann
Prediction
PSG’s Young Blood to Outmuscle Atletico’s Experience Though Atletico bring experience in droves, their form of late and less-than-stellar record away from home may work against them. The young, energetic squad of PSG may prove a bit too much for this aging lineup of Atletico to handle. We think Paris Saint-Germain will take this by 2-1, their youthful attack proving to be the deciding factor against an Atletico Madrid that has not found its identity as of yet.
