Paris Saint-Germain begin their bid for a third successive Champions League title at home to Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, with Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among the leading candidates to score at Parc des Princes.
The reigning European champions were virtually unstoppable as they lifted the trophy last season, while Slovan Bratislava reached the league phase through qualifying after losing all eight of their matches during their only previous Champions League campaign.
Our three recommended scoring predictions are:
- Desire Doue to score – 1.81 - Marquinhos or Willian Pacho to score – 4.15 - Paris Saint-Germain to score a penalty – 3.30
PSG’s route to last season’s title was not entirely straightforward. They finished only 11th in the league phase, but Luis Enrique’s side delivered when the knockout rounds began. They defeated Monaco, then swept aside Chelsea and Liverpool before overcoming Bayern Munich in a thrilling semi-final.
A second successive final against Arsenal ended 1-1 in Budapest, with PSG eventually prevailing on penalties. That victory made them only the second club to retain the European Cup or Champions League in the modern Champions League era, after Real Madrid’s three consecutive triumphs between 2016 and 2018.
Luis Enrique has recently extended his contract, as PSG seek to establish a lasting period of dominance. Their current form, however, provides some cause for concern.
After beating Aston Villa to retain the UEFA Super Cup, Paris Saint-Germain have struggled domestically. Including their defeat by Lens in the Trophee des Champions, they have failed to win any of their first four Ligue 1 matches and sit 13th in the table. Their latest outing brought a 2-1 home defeat by long-standing rivals Monaco on Friday, with the visitors completing a dramatic comeback.
PSG have been regular participants in the competition since 2012-13 and have reached the knockout stages every season in that period. Slovan Bratislava, by contrast, will simply be aiming to make the most of their first league-phase appearance.
The Slovakian club finished 35th in the 36-team table in 2024-25 after eight consecutive defeats. They are now managed by Yaya Toure, who won the trophy with Barcelona and is set to become the first African head coach in Champions League history.
Slovan’s qualification campaign was their eighth successive attempt to reach the main stage. They beat Iberia Tbilisi and surprise Swedish champions Mjallby before edging through the play-offs. After drawing 1-1 at home in the first leg against Celje, Toure’s side needed extra time in the return match, with Cristian Martinez scoring to prevent a penalty shootout.
The Sky Blues, who won the Slovakian title again last season, have since suffered two successive domestic defeats and are fourth in the Slovak Super Liga. Their only previous visit to Parc des Princes came in the 2011-12 Europa League, when they lost 1-0.
PSG’s recent form in all competitions is win, defeat, draw, draw, defeat. Slovan’s Champions League form is win, draw, win, win, draw, win, while their overall record reads draw, win, win, defeat, win, defeat.
Paris have refreshed their attack by selling several players for significant fees and signing Mika Godts, Maghnes Akliouche and Spain’s World Cup final hero Ferran Torres. They will compete with Doue, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia for places. Kvaratskhelia was involved in 16 goals in 16 Champions League matches last season, a club record for a single campaign.
Lucas Digne’s return to Paris has not gone entirely smoothly so far, meaning Warren Zaire-Emery played at left-back against Monaco. Nuno Mendes is now available again after suspension, although Luis Enrique could rest some senior players against apparently modest opposition.
PSG often look to “Kvaradona” for inspiration, but Slovan’s most influential player is likely to be Tigran Barseghyan. The Armenian winger led the club for goals, assists and chances created during the 2024-25 league phase and is expected to supply experienced striker Andraz Sporar.
Summer signing Roman Cerepkai offers another option up front, although the Slovakia international is expected to begin on the substitutes’ bench.
Probable Paris Saint-Germain XI: Matvey Safonov; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Probable Slovan Bratislava XI: Dominik Takac; Cesar Blackman, Kenan Bajric, Guram Kashia, Lucas Lovat; Ibrahim Rabiu, Dominik Pokorny, Cristian Martinez; Tigran Barseghyan, Andraz Sporar, Moustapha Camara.
None of the past 35 European Cup or Champions League winners have lost their opening home match of the following campaign. PSG may be below their best this season, but Slovan are also coming off unexpected domestic defeats and remain some distance short of the European champions’ level.