Girona will start their first match in the Champions League on Wednesday night as they will visit Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 1 of the new division of the league.
Michel oversaw an impressive 2023/24 campaign with the La Liga club, and a third-place finish saw them qualify for UEFA’s premier club competition for the first time. However, some of those who played a part in their success last term, such as Savinho, Aleix Garcia, and Artem Dovbyk, left in the summer, and their work is cut out if they are to repeat last season’s success in 2024/25.
They have been well beaten by Atletico Madrid and, most recently, Barcelona this season and currently sit eighth in the La Liga table.
Wednesday’s task is a tough one given how PSG have started the Ligue 1 campaign. Luis Enrique will no longer be able to call on Kylian Mbappe, but the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola have so far stepped up in a big way to offset his absence.
The perennial French champions have won their opening four games at a canter, and will be looking to make no mistake when Girona come to town with a very tough trip to Arsenal coming up on Matchday 2.
Here it is 90 min preview of Wednesday’s Champions League match in Paris.
PSG vs Girona H2H Record
This is the first competitive match between PSG and Girona.
Current form (all competitions)
|
PSG |
Girona |
|---|---|
|
PSG 3-1 Brest – 14/09/24 |
Girona 1-4 Barcelona – 15/09/24 |
|
Lille 1-3 PSG – 01/09/24 |
Sevilla 0-2 Girona – 01/09/24 |
|
PSG 6-0 Montpellier – 23/08/24 |
Girona 4-0 Osasuna – 29/08/24 |
|
Le Havre 1-4 PSG – 16/08/24 |
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Girona – 25/08/24 |
|
RB Leipzig 1-1 PSG – 10/08/24 |
Real Betis 1-1 Girona – 15/08/24 |
|
The country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ app, TNT Sports 4 |
|
United States |
Paramount+, ViX |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
PSG have a few long-term absentees who won’t be available again on Wednesday in Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, and Goncalo Ramos. Marco Asensio could play a withdrawn role up front in Ramos’ absence, although Enrique also has Randal Kolo Muani as another option.
Gianluigi Donnarumma will miss out after picking up a thigh injury in Saturday’s win over Brest, while midfielders Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha are doubtful for Wednesday’s game after missing PSG’s weekend win.
There should be changes at fullback, with Marquinhos and summer arrival William Pacho replacing Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo.
PSG predicted to face Girona (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves, Fabian; Dembele, Asensio, Barcola.
Girona have lost several key pieces in their promising 2023/24 summer campaign, and are without Ricard Artero and Justin Wednesday due to shoulder and ankle injuries.
Opponent Yangel Herrera is an injury doubt after missing Sunday’s defeat to Barcelona, but Michel could welcome Oriol Romeu back into midfield.
Donny van de Beek and Bryan Gil should start among the summer signings with Arnaut Danjuma getting the nod at one of the sides.
Girona predicted schedule against PSG (4-3-3): Gazzaniga; Frances, Lopez, blind, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu, Solis; Tsygankov, Ruiz, Danjuma.
It was a matter of not having Mbappe, there was no problem for PSG at the beginning of the new season and Enrique’s team quickly found their thinking. They play with real verve, and the addition of Pacho at center back could turn out to be one of the smartest pieces of business of the summer.
Their relatively lightweight field may cost them against Europe’s best, but they will be able to dominate Wednesday’s fight with little fuss. Girona have already proven this season that they are a long way from La Liga’s best, and are clearly inferior to their upcoming rivals in what could be a difficult event for Michel’s side.
PSG are set to go for all three points.
Prediction: PSG 3-0 Girona
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