Paris Saint-Germain kick off their Champions League title defense this week against Atalanta, with Luis Enrique’s side looking to pull off the rare feat of back-to-back European triumphs. PSG ended years of frustration when they lifted the trophy in May after dismantling Inter Milan in the final, but a grueling season awaits.
Last year’s campaign spanned 65 matches over 11 months and concluded with a defeat to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. This season has already brought setbacks, with Ousmane Dembele and young star Desire Doue ruled out through injury ahead of Wednesday’s opener.
How tough will PSG’s path be in the new Champions League format?
The new 36-team league phase means 24 teams qualify for the knockouts, offering some margin for error. Even three defeats in eight matches did not stop teams from advancing last year. However, finishing in the top eight for direct entry into the last 16 is far more demanding.
“Getting five wins and a draw to finish in the top eight is difficult,” said coach Luis Enrique. “But our objective as a team is to try to win the Champions League.”
Last season, PSG recovered from a poor start and eliminated Liverpool, who had topped the league phase. Barcelona, Arsenal, and Inter all reached the semi-finals after strong league-phase runs.
Can English clubs dominate Europe again?
Six Premier League sides are in the league phase, representing one-sixth of the competition. With UEFA rules preventing them from meeting each other early, most other clubs face at least one English giant. The financial gap is clear, as England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France supply 22 of the 36 teams.
PSG’s win was the first time since 2004 that Europe’s champions did not come from those leagues. Yet with Liverpool facing Atletico Madrid, Bayern taking on Chelsea, Manchester City meeting Napoli, and Newcastle clashing with Barcelona in week one, the heavyweights look set to dominate again.
By Yockshard Enyendi
