PSG vs Girona prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-17 19:00.
[p]PSG are still thriving in Ligue 1 despite Kylian Mbappé’s departure, having scored a total of 16 goals in the first four matches of their title defence (W4). Things almost certainly won’t be as easy in the UEFA Champions League (UCL), a competition the French giants are yet to win after losing in their only ever final appearance in 2019/20 (vs Bayern Munich), while last season saw them crash out at the semi-final stage in disappointing fashion to Borussia Dortmund. [/p]
[p]PSG are also looking to avoid an unwanted club record, as they face the prospect of going three games in the competition without scoring for the first time in their history when they face off against Girona in what is a maiden H2H. A solid home record of W10, D6, L4 against Spanish opposition should boost belief they can avoid that unwanted scoring record, although one of those defeats did come in their last such game – a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona. [/p]
[p]Girona shocked many in Europe by finishing third in La Liga last term, and that incredible campaign led them to qualify for the UCL – or indeed any European competition – for the very first time. But after a summer in which they sold the league’s top scorer from last season, Artem Dovbyk, and influential midfielder Aleix GarcĂa, the start to 2024/25 hasn’t been so positive for MĂchel’s men (W2, D1, L2).[/p]
[p]Girona lost 4-1 against Barcelona on Sunday, underlining their defensive frailties against top-quality opposition, the likes of which they’ll face here. One defeat from their last six matches on the road (W3, D2) shows they’re still capable of travelling well, and the fact that all three wins came via a two-goal margin would hint they have the capability to make away victories look convincing. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© has seven goal involvements in six games for club and country this season (G4, A3), while he netted home and away against another Spanish opponent, Barcelona, in last term’s UCL quarter-final. Portu may not have started for Girona since the opening league encounter of the campaign, but an assist off the bench against Barça may convince MĂchel to give him more minutes – his last 23 goalscoring appearances have seen his side on the day avoid defeat (W22, D1). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: PSG have scored in the first half of their last eight matches.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]