Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava - prediction, team news, lineups

Beginning their bid to assertion a 3rd straight Champions League crown, Paris Saint-Germain volition footwear disconnected their 2nd rubric defence by welcoming Slovan Bratislava to Parc des Princes connected Wednesday.

While PSG were peerless arsenic they lifted the trophy past term, qualifiers Slovan mislaid each 8 games connected their lone erstwhile appearance.

Match preview

Though PSG started their quest for back-to-back Champions League titles rather dilatory - lone finishing 11th successful past season's league signifier - they inactive took apical spot connected the podium again.

Once into the knockout rounds, Luis Enrique's broadside bushed Monaco earlier sweeping speech some Chelsea and Liverpool, past edged past Bayern Munich successful a pulsating semi-final. 

The French giants past required penalties to decision Arsenal successful their 2nd consecutive final, pursuing a tense 1-1 gully successful Budapest.

Only the 2nd squad to clasp Europe's apical prize successful the Champions League epoch - aft Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018 - PSG look intent connected gathering a dynasty, with Enrique precocious extending his contract.

However, since kicking disconnected the existent run by beating Aston Villa to support the UEFA Super Cup they person deed a uncommon rocky patch: including decision to Lens successful the Trophee des Champions, PSG person yet to triumph immoderate of 4 home fixtures, leaving them 13th successful Ligue 1.

Last clip out, Les Parisiens were beaten by aged foes Monaco, who came from down to triumph 2-1 astatine Parc des Princes connected Friday evening.

While their hosts person featured each play since 2012-13, reaching the knockout rounds each time, Slovan Bratislava are simply gladsome to beryllium contiguous successful this year's league phase.

The Slovakian club's debut did not spell to program successful 2024-25, erstwhile they finished second-bottom of the 36-team array aft losing 8 consecutive matches.

Now nether the ticker of Yaya Toure - who erstwhile lifted the trophy with Barcelona and is acceptable to go the Champions League's archetypal African manager - Slovan volition beryllium aiming overmuch higher.

This summer's qualifying process was their eighth consecutive effort astatine reaching the main phase, and the Sky Blues bushed Iberia Tbilisi and daze Swedish champions Mjallby earlier squeezing done the playoffs.

After playing retired a 1-1 gully successful the location leg, Toure's men required other clip to topple Celje, with a Cristian Martinez onslaught sparing them the nerve-shredding jeopardy of penalties.

Crowned home champions again past term, Slovan present beryllium 4th successful Slovakia's Super Liga following uncommon back-to-back league defeats - and that could beryllium origin for interest earlier heading to Paris. 

The Sky Blues' lone anterior travel to Parc des Princes was successful the 2011-12 Europa League, erstwhile they mislaid 1-0, but this clip a duel with Europe's undisputed champions volition await.

Paris Saint-Germain signifier (all competitions):

Slovan Bratislava Champions League form:

Slovan Bratislava signifier (all competitions):

Team News

PSG person freshened up their onslaught for the caller season, selling respective players for large wealth portion bringing successful Mika Godts, Maghnes Akliouche and Spain's World Cup last leader Ferran Torres.

They indispensable vie with Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and helping wizard Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for selection; the second posted 16 extremity involvements from arsenic galore Champions League games past season, mounting a nine grounds for 1 campaign.

As Lucas Digne's instrumentality to Paris has not gone smoothly truthful far, Warren Zaire-Emery filled successful astatine left-back against Monaco, but Nuno Mendes tin present instrumentality from suspension.

While the hosts often trust connected 'Kvaradona' for inspiration, Slovan Bratislava's cardinal antheral is astir apt Tigran Barseghyan. 

The Armenian winger was Slovan's apical subordinate for extremity involvements, assists and chances created during the 2024-25 league phase, and helium should proviso experienced striker Andraz Sporar.

Summer signing Roman Cerepkai is an alternate enactment to pb the visitors' attack, but the Slovakia planetary is acceptable to commencement connected the bench.

Paris Saint-Germain imaginable starting lineup:

Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

Slovan Bratislava imaginable starting lineup:

Takac; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Cruz; Ibrahim, Pokorny, Martinez; Barseghyan, Sporar, Camara

We say: Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 Slovan Bratislava

None of the past 35 European Cup oregon Champions League holders person mislaid their archetypal crippled of the adjacent run connected location turf, and that inclination volition surely continue.

While PSG person looked good beneath their champion this season, Slovan are besides reeling from immoderate unexpected home defeats and are simply not successful the aforesaid class. 

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