PSG vs Girona Prediction: 18/9/2024

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), disappointed after falling short in the Champions League semi-finals last season, is looking to rewrite its history with a stronger campaign this time around. With Kylian Mbappé, their all-time top scorer, having left the club, PSG now faces a pivotal moment in their journey under Qatari ownership.

The team starts the season with no major star, except for the emerging talent of Bradley Barcola. The young French forward has impressed early on, scoring 4 goals in 3 matches and helping secure three consecutive Ligue 1 victories—4-1 against Le Havre, 6-0 against Montpellier, and a strong 3-1 win over Champions League contender Lille. Last weekend, Luis Enrique’s men aimed to extend their winning streak in a match against another European-level competitor, Brest.

For Girona, this marks their debut in the Champions League, a reward for their remarkable performance in La Liga last season, where they finished third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, starting their Champions League journey at PSG’s home ground, the Parc des Princes, is no easy task.

Girona has also lost key players from last season, and while the replacements are competent, they may not be able to fill the void left by those departures. In La Liga, Girona began with a draw at Real Betis (1-1), a heavy 3-0 loss to Atlético Madrid, but bounced back with victories over Osasuna (4-0) and Sevilla FC (2-0) before the international break. Last weekend, they faced La Liga leaders Barcelona, a team they defeated twice last season.

PSG faces injury challenges with Lucas Hernandez still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, and Kimpembe sidelined due to recurring issues. Nuno Mendes, who missed the Lille match due to illness, is expected to return, though Goncalo Ramos remains injured and unable to step in for Mbappé.

Warren Zaire-Emery, who was slightly injured during international duty, is doubtful for this game. On the other hand, new signing Joao Neves from Benfica, already a Portuguese international, has contributed 4 assists in Ligue 1.

PSG’s attacking options are plentiful, with Barcola (4 goals), Kolo Muani (2 goals), Kang-in Lee (2 goals), and both Asensio and Dembélé (1 goal each) all in form. On Girona’s side, key players like Ukrainian international Tsygankov (1 goal, 1 assist) and Abdel Ruiz, the new replacement for Artem Dovbyk, are expected to feature. Additionally, recent arrival Arnaut Danjuma, who scored 2 goals for Villarreal at the start of the season, adds strength to their squad. Donny van de Beek, recently signed, is looking to rejuvenate his career and make an impact in the Champions League.

 

Prediction

PSG has consistently been involved in high-scoring home matches, with at least two goals scored in each of their last 13 games, as well as all of their past 21 home matches. Girona has followed a similar trend, with the deadlock being broken in all of their last 21 away fixtures. This pattern suggests another entertaining match with goals likely from both sides.

Prediction: PSG 3-1 Girona