Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will kick off its Champions League campaign today at home against Juventus, a match in which it is the favorite, despite having history against it.
Havana, September 6 (RHC)-- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will kick off its Champions League campaign today at home against Juventus, a match in which it is the favorite, despite having history against it.
The kick-off at the Parc des Princes will be at 21:00, local time, with the luxury trident of hosts Kylian Mbappé-Lionel Messi-Neymar focused on channeling on the pitch the ambitions of a club that only by winning the Champions League for the first time will look good to its supporters.
The UEFA "Orejona" cup has been elusive for the Rouge et Bleu, but their expensive squad, the full squad and an almost perfect start in France, with six goals in seven games, five in Ligue 1 and one in the Super Cup, give hope in the City of Light and beyond, although in soccer, as in any sport, the field will have the last word.
The situation is very different for the once mighty Juventus, seventh in Serie A, and with notable absentees for the challenge, including former PSG player Angel Di Maria, star midfielder Paul Pogba, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and winger Federico Chiesa.
The Vecchia Signora do not seem to be in a position to repeat their success in Europe, where they have two Champions League crowns in their trophy cabinet and nine finals played, however, grit and the weight of history are on their side, as PSG has never been able to beat them, in nine challenges they have seven victories and two draws.
In the Champions League, the Red and Black and Whites have never faced each other, and they share an apparently uncomplicated Group H with Portugal's Benfica and Israel's Maccaba Haifa, opponents also at the same time at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.
More experienced in the dugout, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri tried yesterday in front of the press to take the pressure off his players, affirming that the game to win will be at home against Benfica.
The Parisians' technical director, Christophe Galtier, seemed ready for the astute stance, saying: "I leave his words to him, no doubt spoken with the malice of an Italian coach, whom I respect a lot.
