Girona make their Champions League debut on Wednesday night as they travel to Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 1 of the all-new league phase.
Michel oversaw a quite remarkable 2023/24 campaign with the La Liga club, and a third-place finish saw them qualify for UEFA’s premier club competition for the very first time. However, some of those instrumental to their success last term, such as Savinho, Aleix Garcia, and Artem Dovbyk, departed over the summer, and they have their work cut out if they’re to repeat last season’s success in 2024/25.
They’ve been comfortably beaten by Atletico Madrid and, most recently, Barcelona already this season and currently sit eighth in the La Liga table.
Wednesday’s task is an imposing one given how PSG have started the Ligue 1 campaign. Luis Enrique can no longer call upon Kylian Mbappe, but the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola have so far stepped up in a big way to mitigate his absence.
The perennial French champions have won their opening four games at a canter, and they’ll be keen to make no mistake when Girona come to town with a more daunting trip to Arsenal upcoming on Matchday 2.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Wednesday’s Champions League clash in Paris.
This is the first competitive fixture between PSG and Girona.
PSG have a couple of long-term absentees that once again won’t be available on Wednesday in Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, and Goncalo Ramos. Marco Asensio could assume a withdrawn forward role in Ramos‘ absence, although Enrique does also have Randal Kolo Muani as another option.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to miss out after picking up a thigh injury in the win over Brest on Saturday, while midfielders Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha are doubts for Wednesday’s game after missing PSG’s victory at the weekend.
There should be changes at centre-back, too, with Marquinhos and summer arrival William Pacho replacing Milan Skriniar and Lucas Beraldo.
PSG predicted lineup vs Girona (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves, Fabian; Dembele, Asensio, Barcola.
Girona lost a couple of key pieces to their superb 2023/24 campaign over the summer, and they’re without Ricard Artero and Jastin on Wednesday due to respective shoulder and ankle injuries.
The combative Yangel Herrera is also an injury doubt after he missed the Barcelona defeat on Sunday, but Michel can welcome Oriol Romeu back into his midfield.
Donny van de Beek and Bryan Gil should start among the substitutes with summer arrival Arnaut Danjuma getting the nod down one of the flanks.
Girona predicted lineup vs PSG (4-3-3): Gazzaniga; Frances, Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu, Solis; Tsygankov, Ruiz, Danjuma.
It’s been a case of no Mbappe, no problem for PSG at the start of the new season with Enrique’s side quickly finding their groove. They’re playing with a real verve, and the addition of Pacho at centre-back could emerge as one of the summer’s shrewdest bits of business.
Their relatively lightweight midfield could cost them against Europe’s best, but they’ll be able to control Wednesday’s bout without little fuss. Girona have already proved this season that they’re a considerable distance behind La Liga’s best, and they’re distinctly inferior to their upcoming opponenents on what could be an overwhelming occasion for Michel’s side.
PSG are set to stroll to all three points.
