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PSG have been a dominant force in Ligue 1 since their change in ownership ten years ago. However, in the Champions League, the Paris-based club have failed to create history. PSG’s best performance in the Champions League earned them the runners-up medal.
PSG have been impressive in Ligue 1 and the Champions League
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Mauricio Pochettino's side have started their domestic campaign with a bang. They have garnered 42 points from 17 matches and have already established a healthy 11 point gap over 2nd place Rennes.
PSG went all out in the summer transfer window, adding experience and depth to their already strong squad. The French outfit will definitely target continental glory this season. Here are five compelling reasons PSG should be considered Champions League favorites.
#5 Attacking full-backs
If there was a type of player that PSG didn’t possess over the last few years, it was the attacking full-back. Recent Champions League winners Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have used their full-backs to great effect. With Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, PSG will look to replicate the aforementioned teams.
Hakimi has started his PSG career in fine fashion. The Moroccan international has already racked up three goals and two assists in his fledgling time at the Parc des Princes. His exploits at Inter and PSG have seen his name appear among the best right-backs in the world.
While Hakimi’s threat is well known, teams should beware of the quality Nuno Mendes possesses. The 19-year-old left-back is renowned for his offensive prowess, crossing ability and speed. He’s currently on loan from Sporting CP but has earned the role of first-choice left-back at PSG.
#4 Increase in Mbappe’s creative output
Kylian Mbappe has well and truly established himself as one of the best strikers in the world. The Frenchman, still only 22, is PSG’s top scorer this season. Apart from his nine goals for PSG in all competitions, he has been prolific for France.
He scored the winner in the Nations League final and banged in four goals against Kazakhstan.
Unlike previous campaigns, Mbappe has provided loads of assists this season. With just 16 matches played, he has already matched his previous record of eight assists in a league campaign. The former Monaco forward has provided the most assists in Ligue 1 this season, and his 15 goal contributions cannot be trumped either.
Mbappe is one of the leading assist makers in Europe’s top leagues (only behind Muller and Salah). In the Champions League, he has registered two goals and three assists. It is imperative that Mbappe’s assistance will be required if PSG are to win their first Champions League trophy this season.
#3 Addition of experienced campaigners
PSG had one of the best transfer windows of all time. Apart from the obvious insertion of world-class talents, they have also added a wealth of experienced individuals. Players like Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi know what it is like to win the Champions League. The pair have won the trophy four times each.
Georginio Wijnaldum enjoyed a successful stint at Liverpool, winning the Premier League and the Champions League. Achraf Hakimi and Gianluigi Donnarumma may still be young, but they both received a winners’ medal not too long ago. Hakimi won the Scudetto with Inter Milan, while Donnarumma’s Italy triumphed at the Euros.
With players of such calibre, PSG should instill a winning mentality in the Champions League in no time. The comparatively easier title race in Ligue 1 will also allow PSG to put all their eggs in the Champions League basket. The same cannot be said about Premier League teams, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
#2 PSG's lethal attacking trio
PSG have built a forward line of dreams with Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Neither Messi nor Neymar has hit full stride yet. However, PSG are stomping to the Ligue 1 title and are through to the Champions League knockouts. It is scary to think how dangerous they will be once the pair starts firing.
The Champions League is known for its dynamic nature. Due to the knockout format, individual performances go a long way in the Champions League. PSG have as many as three world-class attackers to rely upon. It is hard to stop one of them, but keeping all three at bay is a whole new level of difficulty altogether.
MNM (Messi + Neymar + Mbappe) have registered 16 goals and 17 assists in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. The trio hasn’t formed a great understanding yet. However, that will surely come with time as the common goal for the team is winning the Champions League.
#1 The Lionel Messi factor
Lionel Messi is known to step up when it matters the most. The Argentine was instrumental in almost every trophy won by Barcelona over the last 15 years. In his final few seasons at Barcelona, his teammates let him down repeatedly. With PSG, he has a great squad that will support him in every manner.
The 34-year-old clinched his 7th Ballon d’Or award recently and will be gunning for another shot at football’s most prestigious individual award. The Champions League plays a major role in deciding the Ballon d’Or winner. Lionel Messi has won the award three out of four times when his team has won the Champions League.
As the FIFA World Cup is scheduled for 2022, a player representing a team that performs well in Qatar will stand a great chance to win the Ballon d’Or. Although Argentina won the Copa America this year, they are not favorites for the FIFA World Cup.
Hence, Messi will try his level best to achieve Champions League success with PSG so that he can add another Ballon d’Or to his rich trophy cabinet.
