PSG-Juventus is a match valid for the first day of the group stage of the Champions League and is played on Tuesday at 9 p.m.
Massimiliano Allegri, in an excess of sincerity, said that for his Juventus, the most important matches of the group stage will be with Benfica, hinting that one of the first two places is basically already assigned. Just pretence? Or nothing more than «malice,» as Psg coach Christophe Galtier called it? Perhaps, but beyond everything there is no denying the existence of an important gap between the two clubs that, in theory, should be able to snatch qualification to the round of 16 without major problems at the expense of the Portuguese and the Israelis of Maccabi Haifa, on paper the cinderella of this Group H. The continental adventure of Vlahovic and his teammates, however, starts immediately uphill. And that is in the «home» of the reigning French champions, who under the former Lille and Nice coach seem to have finally found the squaring of the circle.
Yes, because the Psg admired in these first outings of the season is finally approaching that concept of «team» that fans have been calling for years. It is still too early to say that it is no longer merely a jumble of names-or «stickers,» according to the nastier ones-but Galtier has certainly gotten off on the right foot. The test, as usual, will be the cup with the big ears, which has now become a real obsession for President Al Khelaifi.
Whites always undefeated with Psg
Allegri
As against Juventus, the eleven of great occasions will take the field, that of the dream trident Messi-Mbappé-Neymar. The Brazilian rested against Nantes on Saturday to arrive fresh for the fixture, while midfield will feature Renato Sanches and not Vitinha. It is almost irrelevant to say how in Ligue 1 a new monologue of the Parisians looms, who have so far committed only one half-hearted misstep: the home draw with Monaco.
Otherwise, all wide victories, in which Psg has never scored less than three goals. The only team to keep up with it is Marseille, which so far has the same points in the standings. But what is most impressive are the numbers: 24 goals scored and four conceded in just six days. Certainties and certainties that Juventus, on the other hand, has yet to find.
The Old Lady in the early rounds of the championship has clung to its goal scorer Vlahovic but the game continues to be lacking. And the criticism against the coach, who last Saturday in Florence collected his third draw in five games, at the end of a match in which he left the initiative almost entirely to the Viola, going so far as to never shoot on goal in the second half, does not subside. Allegri, meanwhile, will have to do without ex-roster Di Maria, who was left at rest because he is still not at his best after the muscle problem encountered with Sassuolo on the first day of the championship. The presence of Miretti in midfield is possible, while in attack he will reintroduce the trident Cuadrado-Vlahovic-Kostic.
Juve in any case comforted by the precedents: the Bianconeri have never lost to Psg even if the last clash dates back to ’97, when with Lippi on the bench the Lady won the European Super Cup, overwhelming the French with goals (6-1 in the first leg and 1-3 in the return).
The prediction
The bookmakers do not believe in a possible Juventus feat at all. In fact, the odds are skewed in favor of Psg, which should succeed in inflicting the first defeat of the season on the Bianconeri, who have so far appeared devoid of ideas and far too passive. As mentioned earlier, at this juncture the difference between the two teams is by no means small and it is difficult to assume a positive result for Allegri’s men. The feeling is that the Livorno coach will try to limit the damage by focusing on the organization of the game and especially on a defense that in Serie A has only cashed in two goals. In any case, we will not witness a low-scoring challenge, taking into account the prolificity of the Parisians: both are likely to score in a match of more than two goals overall.
The probable lineups of PSG-Juventus
- PSG (3-4-3): Donnarumma; Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, Kimpembe; Hakimi, Renato Sanches, Verratti, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappé, Neymar.
- JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Perin; Danilo, Bonucci, Bremer, Alex Sandro; Miretti, Paredes, Rabiot; Cuadrado, Vlahovic, Kostic.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
