Paris Saint-Germain begin their latest Champions League challenge against Girona on Wednesday.
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PSG vs Girona odds
Find the latest match odds for PSG vs Girona. All odds are provided by our best-reviewed online football bookies. Odds are subject to change.
⚡Quick Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona betting tips
PSG vs Girona predictions
It is no secret that the Champions League has been an obsession for Paris Saint-Germain ever since Qatar Sports Investments completed its takeover of the club in 2011.
Domestic trophies have flowed into the Parc des Princes cabinet since then, with PSG winning 10 Ligue 1 titles and 13 cups over the last 13 years. But success on the continent has always eluded them.
There have been a few near-misses, none more so than a narrow 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the final of 2020. PSG have also reached the semis on two other occasions, including last term.
For a while the club went with a ‘galactico’ recruitment strategy to aid their bid to go all the way in Europe. Several superstars were brought to the French capital, most notably Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi.
Yet with those three players in the same team, PSG actually went backwards in the Champions League.
The crucial lesson the club learned from that experience is that balance and cohesion are vital ingredients for any football team. It is not enough to simply pack as much world-class talent into the starting XI as possible, especially if most of it is concentrated at the top end of the pitch.
Messi and Neymar both bade farewell to the Parc des Princes in the summer of 2023, with Mbappe following them through the exit door in the recent off-season. This is likely to be a transition year for Luis Enrique’s side, although it would be ironic if this was the campaign in which PSG finally got the Champions League monkey off their back.
The draw for the revamped league phase has not done them any favours; PSG have arguably been handed the hardest set of fixtures of any of the leading contenders for the trophy.
Meetings with Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are scheduled for the coming weeks and months, while even clashes with the likes of Girona and Stuttgart will not be straightforward.
Even so, it is vital for PSG that they get off to a victorious start on matchday one.
PSG vs Girona betting tips
Paris Saint-Germain will butt heads with Girona on matchday one of the Champions League.
PSG win and both teams to score – 11/8 (SBK)
Girona were the surprise package in La Liga last term, as they secured a top-four finish against the odds to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
There are signs that the Catalan outfit could be about to suffer from a bout of second season syndrome, however. They have won only two of their first five league games and were thumped 4-1 by Barcelona last time out.
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On the plus side, Girona have scored in all but one of those encounters and we are backing them to find the net on Wednesday too.
Avoiding defeat will be tough, though. Without Mbappe PSG have looked more fluid in the final third of late.
They may come to miss the Frenchman’s game-changing qualities against the very best opposition, but Girona are not in that category despite their excellent achievement in 2023/24.
⚽ Choose PSG to win and both teams to score at 11/8 with SBK ⚽
Second half higher scoring – Evens (SBK)
Girona were wounded by Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Barcelona and that result could impact how they approach this match.
Girona were 2-0 down at half-time and Barca went on to score a third goal within two minutes of the restart. Michel will want to see his team keep things tighter in the first half on Wednesday.
That is easier said than done given the quality PSG possess in the final third, but they have at times struggled to break down deep defences at the Parc des Princes.
PSG should have enough to open up Girona in 90 minutes, but they will have to remain patient if things are not going to plan early on.
Bear in mind, too, that the Parisians have scored more goals in the second half than the first so far this season.
⚽ Back more goals in the second half at evens with SBK ⚽
Bradley Barcola to score any time – 7/4 (SBK)
Bradley Barcola is really flourishing at the start of the season. He had a quieter game against Brest at the weekend as PSG won 3-1, but the youngster has four goals to his name already – more than any of his team-mates.
Barcola turned 22 earlier this month, while he scored his first goal for France during the recent international break.
It feels like the forward is ready to take his game to the next level after a promising campaign last time out.
Barcola will be a thorn in the side of the Girona defence all evening as he looks to cut inside onto his favoured right foot and wreak havoc in the final third.
The Spanish side will have their hands full in trying to keep him quiet.
⚽ Tip Bradley Barcola to score any time at 7/4 with SBK ⚽
📺 How to watch PSG vs Girona
- Location: Parc des Princes, Paris, France.
- Date and time: Wednesday 18th September, 8pm.
- How to watch: TNT Sports 4.
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About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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