The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League competition will be unlike any in previous seasons. The format has completely changed, more teams are involved, and there are more matches to play. For Paris Saint-Germain, the goal remains the same and that is to win the first title in club history.
Instead of groups, 36 teams will play a league phase consisting of eight matches. For PSG and others, that means four matches in their home stadium and four matches away. The top eight teams will advance to the round of 16, and teams 9-24 will compete in a play-off round, with the winners advancing to the round of 16.
After the league phase draw, PSG learned they would face Girona FC, Arsenal FC, PSV Eindhoven, FC Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, FC Salzburg, Manchester City, and Stuttgart. It’s statistically the hardest draw of any other team in the tournament. So, how will they do, and can Luis Enrique’s squad advance to the next round?
PSG starts its Champions League campaign against Girona FC at the Parc des Princes. Nothing short of a win should be acceptable due to PSG’s advantage in quality and the fact the match is at home. It’s vital that PSG starts off the tournament with three points because it will only get harder from here.
Next, PSG travels to London to face Arsenal. I think the most PSG can hope for here is a draw, but a loss is very much in the cards. Arsenal should have won the Premier League at least once the last two seasons and I think they have the better team right now. PSG then hosts PSV at home and they’ll have to rebound from the loss to Arsenal with a victory over the Eredivisie club.
Then comes Bayern Munich away, and I think PSG actually matches up well with them. I think PSG will battle them for 90 minutes and escape with a draw. So, after four matches, PSG will likely have seven points out of a possible 12.
The PSG hosts Atletico Madrid, and while the La Liga club can be ultra-defensive, PSG should have Gonçalo Ramos back by then to help with the scoring load. I think PSG wins this match before traveling to Salzburg, where they’ll be favorites. They should come away with the three points as well.
Manchester City at the Parc is the match everyone has circled. Pep Guardiola’s squad is one of the best in Europe and right now, I think they’ll beat a young PSG squad at home. The league phase wraps up with a trip to Stuttgart that I think PSG wins.
So, after eight matches, PSG should have 16 points out of 24. If they take care of business, that should be enough to advance to the next round and maybe snag one of those top eight places as well.
