Paris Saint-Germain go start dia Champions League defence for Wednesday night with home match against Slovan Bratislava for Parc des Princes. Di match, wey many people expect go be easy win, get plenty tori wey dey worry di club.
PSG no don win any match for Ligue 1 since season start. Dem don play three, dem no fit win, and dem don concede two goals for each match. Last Friday, dem lose for home to Monaco, wey come from behind to collect maximum points. Dis kind start no good for team wey dey try to become only fifth club to win three European Cup for row.
But for Champions League, PSG dey shine. Dem no lose for last 11 European matches – seven wins, four draws. Dem also dey on six-game unbeaten run for home for this competition. Historically, last season champion wey lose dia first European match at home na Celtic for 1968, so tori dey favour PSG.
However, inside team, there be wahala. Achraf Hakimi, one of dia star players, no dey im best form. Reports say im get personal issues wey include trial for rape and injury wey make am miss plenty time. Im performance don drop, and dat one dey affect right side of defence and attack. Di goalkeeper, Matvei Safonov, also dey find im rhythm. E don make mistakes wey cost goals. Against Monaco, e bin dey at fault. Di central defenders – Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Illia Zabarnyi, and Lucas Hernandez – no get proper rhythm. Pacho win plenty duels against Monaco but bin dey among worst players against Lille. Hernandez still dey struggle to reach im best form.
For Slovan Bratislava side, dem don reach Champions League proper after unbeaten qualifying campaign. Dia coach na Yaya Toure, former midfielder for Barcelona and Manchester City. E go make history as first African coach to lead team for Champions League proper. But dem don hit bad patch – dem lose last two matches, even though dem use plenty rotation players.
For predictions, pundits don pick Desire Doue to score for PSG. Last season, e score five goals for 13 Champions League appearances. E show signs against Monaco with two shots on target and full dribble success. Against Slovan, di whole attack go get plenty chances, so Doue fit find net.
Another bet na Achraf Hakimi to make assist. Last season, e tie with Kvaratskhelia for most assists for UCL with six each. As right-back, e dey join attack plenty. Against Monaco, e record four shots and nine touches for opposition box, highest for both teams. So e fit get assist for this match.
Slovan Bratislava get history with Luis Enrique. For 2011-12 Europa League playoffs, Slovan knock out AS Roma, wey Enrique dey coach. L’Equipe report say na one of di worst moments for im coaching career. Now e dey PSG, and im go wan make sure history no repeat.
