After the 2022/2023 season, PSG saw significant changes. Lionel Messi, Neymar, Marco Verratti, and coach Christophe Galtier left the football club. To fill the gaps, the management brought in Luis Enrique as the new coach, as well as several players. The newcomers have successfully filled the voids left by the departed stars. Despite a slow start in the 2023/2024 season, P.S.G. quickly recovered, getting back to their usual top-level performance. In this article, we’ll discuss how Paris Saint-Germain has fared so far in the Champions League and the Ligue 1 in France. We’ll also highlight the online betting odds for gamblers who want to wager on the Parisians winning either of the soccer titles.
Preparations
PSG had a promising first half to the 22/23 season. But from January onwards, defeats piled up, leading to losses in the UEFA Champions League and the French Cup. This tarnished the image of the French giants. The club has the best records in national soccer competitions, with eleven Ligue 1 championships, fourteen Coupe de France, twelve Trophée des Champions, nine Coupe de la Ligue, and even a Ligue 2 title. The side did win the 22/23 League title, but it wasn’t convincing enough, and important changes were made to the football team. Les Parisiens got a new coach, Luis Enrique, and saw many players leave while promising recruits joined after an impressive transfer period.
The Parisians aim for a transitional year in the 2023-2024 season, and they’re doing fairly well. Advancing to the Quarterfinals of the French Cup, a feat missed in the 2022/2023 season, they’ll face Nice on March 13th. Nice currently sits second on the French Ligue 1 table, trailing PSG, the league leader.
In the UCL, P.S.G reached the last 16 once again. Although there were doubts, the team finished 2nd in their group, drawing Real Sociedad in the knockout stage. Unlike previous ‘tough’ draws, the Parisians played Real Sociedad on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024, at Parc des Princes. That was the first-ever match they’ll play against the Spanish side. It ended in a 2-0 victory for the home team with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola.
While Real Sociedad isn’t as dangerous as Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, they defeated Inter Milan in their group and are strong in the Spanish league. The second leg against them will not be a walk in the park for P.S.G.
New Players
In 2023, 8-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi with Neymar left Paris Saint Germain for Inter Miami CF and Al Hilal, respectively. Yet, with the loss of these soccer stars, PSG didn’t panic. Last summer, the French club was active in the transfer market, spending over 200 million euros to strengthen their squad.
Marco Asensio, a 28-year-old Spanish forward, was signed from Real Madrid on a free transfer. Ousmane Dembélé, a 26-year-old French forward, known for creativity and versatility, and Bradley Barcola, a 20-year-old promising winger, also joined. Another addition was South Korean International Kang-in Lee, a talented dribbler, signed for €22 million from Mallorca.
The Parisians never stopped there, as the football club secured Breakout French star Randal Kolo Muani just before the transfer window closed, setting a record fee. Other additions like Manuel Ugarte, Milan Skriniar, Lucas Hernández, and winter-signed Lucas Beraldo all solidified the team’s roster.
New Coach
Paris Saint Germain’s changes after the 2022/2023 season affected not just players but also the manager. Christophe Galtier was dismissed as head coach after a not-so-impressive 22/23 campaign, despite having a star-studded team.
Luis Enrique, previously Spain’s tactician and Barcelona’s manager, was made Galtier’s successor at Parc des Princes. He’s the fourth new coach at Les Parisiens in just over five years, following Christophe Galtier, Mauricio Pochettino, and Thomas Tuchel. PSG holds high hopes that Enrique will bring success as he was known for leading Barcelona to the 2015 UEFA Champions League victory and winning La Liga twice. The Parisians still dream of winning their first UCL title after the 2019/2020 defeat to Bayern Munich in their inaugural final.
Betting Odds
Bookmakers create betting odds to estimate the likelihood of events. In football, these odds, presented as fractions (2/1), decimals (3.0), or Moneyline figures (+300), help gamblers predict outcomes. PSG, known for their winning record, team strength, and goal-scoring ability, is a popular soccer online betting pick for Moneylines, Totals, or Futures. With eleven points clear on the table, they are favorites to win the French League. This summarizes their talent and performance so far. Let’s see what Bookmakers say on PSG’s UCL and Ligue 1 chances.
Champions League 2023-2024 Betting Odds
Man City won all six group-stage fixtures, not surprisingly. Real Madrid is the only other team with a 100% win record in this UCL campaign. That’s why Manchester City (+200) has always been the top choice to defend their UCL title, rated higher than Bayern Munich (+400), Arsenal (+550), Real Madrid (+550), and PSG (+1400).
UEFA Champions League odds change with match results and player issues. Sportsbooks adjust the odds based on football team performance and betting patterns. Keep an eye out for these movements.
Ligue 1 2023-2024 Betting Odds
Ligue 1 stands as France’s top soccer league, and it’s the country’s most popular professional sports league. In unsurprising news, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (-10000) are clear favorites to clinch the 2023-24 league title. They’ve secured it in nine of the last eleven editions of the French top flight and were runners-up in the other two. Following the Parisians, Nice (+3500), currently 2nd on the table and 11 points behind, is the next contender for the French League title. Monaco, Lille, Stade Brest, Marseille, Lens, and Stade Rennes are the subsequent favorites with +5000, +6500, +15000, +15000, +25000, and +50000 Odds, respectively.
Final Word
Winning the French Ligue 1 should be a walk in the park for Les Parisiens. They’re 11 points clear in just 21 games played. However, the team is worried about their past Champions League shortcomings.
P.S.G’s most notable UCL achievement was reaching the 2020 final, where the side lost to Bayern Munich. Even with their strong squad, they often faced disappointment with exits in round 16.
Yet, the French football giants approach each game in this UEFA Champions League season with renewed optimism, hoping this might be the year the team goes all the way. Changes made to the team last summer, both in coaching and players, have instilled confidence that Les Parisiens now has a squad that can compete for the title.
