PSG-Juventus is a match valid for the first day of the Champions League group stage and is played on Tuesday at 9pm
Massimiliano Allegri, in an excess of sincerity, has said that for his Juventus side the most important games of the group stage will be with Benfica, hinting that one of the top two spots is essentially already assigned. Just pretence? Or nothing more than ‘malice’, as Psg coach Christophe Galtier called it? Perhaps, but apart from anything else, there is no denying the existence of an important gap between the two clubs, which, in theory, should be able to snatch qualification for the round of 16 without any 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 right square of the circle.
Yes, because the Psg admired in these first outings of the season is finally approaching that concept of ‘team’ that the fans have been invoking for years. It is still too early to say that it is no longer just a jumble of names – or ‘stickers’, according to the nastier ones – but Galtier has certainly got off on the right foot. The test, as usual, will be the cup with the big ears, which has become a real obsession for president Al Khelaifi.
Bianconeri still unbeaten against Psg
Allegri
As against Juventus the eleven of the great occasions will take the field, that of the dream trident Messi-Mbappé-Neymar. The Brazilian was rested on Saturday against Nantes to arrive fresh for the fixture, while in midfield there will be Renato Sanches and not Vitinha. It is almost irrelevant to say that in Ligue 1, a new monologue of the Parisians is on the horizon, who have so far only committed a 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 them is Marseille, who have the same points in the standings so far. But what is most impressive are the numbers: 24 goals scored and four conceded in just six days. Certainties and certainties that Juventus have yet to find.
The Old Lady has clung on to its goal scorer Vlahovic in the first rounds of the championship, but the game continues to be lacking. And the criticism towards the coach, who last Saturday in Florence collected the third draw in five games, at the end of a match in which he left the initiative almost entirely to the Viola, who never shot on goal in the second half, has not subsided. Allegri, meanwhile, will have to do without ex-team member Di Maria, who was left at rest because he is still not at his best after the muscular problem he suffered against 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, are comforted by their past record: the Bianconeri have never lost to Psg, even if the last clash dates back to 1997, when, with Lippi on the bench, the Lady won the European Supercup, overwhelming the French team with goals (6-1 in the first match and 1-3 in the return).
The Prediction
The bookmakers don’t believe in Juventus’ chances. In fact, the odds are heavily skewed in favour of Psg, who should be able to inflict their first defeat of the season on the Bianconeri, who have so far appeared lacking in ideas and far too passive. As said before, at this juncture the difference between the two teams is by no means small and it is difficult to hypothesise a positive result for Allegri’s men. The feeling is that the coach from Livorno will try to limit the damage by focusing on the organisation of the game and above all on a defence that has only conceded two goals in Serie A. In any case, it will not be a low-scoring challenge, bearing in mind the prolific nature of the Parisians: both are likely to score in a match with more than two goals in total.
The PSG-Juventus likely line-ups
- 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
