Champions League: It’s time for another Parisian night in Europe

Paris Saint-Germain vs Napoli

Such is the unparalleled wealth at the disposal of the French champions, domestic dominance in Ligue 1 is no longer the barometer to judge Thomas Tuchel’s side.

It is the Champions League which is the real test for Paris St Germain and one they have continually failed to master, even since the Qatar Sports Investments takeover in 2011.

With massive investments in the likes of Neymar, KylianMbappe, Thiago Motta, Thiago Silva, Angel di Maria and Zlatan Ibrahimovic over the years, it’s not just SBOBET fans who have been left wondering why but a host of managers and supporters.

Could 2019 be the year that changes?

Talking Points

At the time of the takeover, PSG were considered French football’s chief underachievers having only ever won two top-flight titles in their 45-year history – a tally lower than nine other clubs.

Since then, France’s capital club have claimed five Ligue 1 titles in six seasons but it’s their Champions League 2018 highlights they will be fully judged on in the months ahead.

They lost their opening Group C encounter at Liverpool and even a thrashing of group minnows Red Star last time out can’t hide the fact that, when it has mattered most in Europe, PSG have mainly been found wanting.

At the weekend, Tucheltook off Di Maria and Marco Verratti as a precaution during a routine 5-0 win over Amiens but hopes both will be fit to face Napoli.

The home side certainly can’t afford another slip up to keep alive their hopes of topping the group.

It certainly should not be too intimidating for the underdog visitors.

That is because the Auteuil end of Parc des Princes will be closed as punishment for last season’s use of flares which means the ultras’ usual home standing area will be empty.

There won’t be an Italian reunion for Gianluigi Buffon either. The veteran shot-stopper is suspended for the clash with the side who have been the main rivals of his former club Juventus in recent seasons.

Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti was Buffon’s coach at Parma between 1996 and 1998.

This clash is a match of many reunions because Ancelotti was PSG coach between 2011 and 2013, winning the Ligue 1 title in 2013 when he promptly left for Real Madrid who he guided to the Champions League 12 months later.

That Real team contained Di Maria.

And then there’s one of the many millionaire stars Napoli will need to contain this week – Edinson Cavani scored 78 goals in 104 Serie A appearances for Napoli between 2010 and 2013 before moving to Paris, winning the Coppa Italia in 2012.

Ancelotti acknowledges this will be a ‘crucial’ test for his side, although both teams should be in high spirits having picked up morale-boosting Group C wins last time out.

Lorenzo Insigne—their hero against Liverpool—is a doubt, as is Simone Verdi and there’s no doubt the loss of one or both of them would be keenly felt by the Partenopei.

Lorenzo Insigne scored the only goal during the Champions League match between Napoli and Liverpool — Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne celebrates after scoring the game-winner during the Champions League match against Liverpool

Either way, PSG need to improve on a poor record against Italian clubs.

The French title-holders have won only two of their 18 games against Italian clubs, home and away (drawn seven, lost nine).

Napoli are in the group stage for the fifth time – all in the last eight seasons – but only twice have they reached the last 16 (2011/12 and 2016/17).

History

Competitively, the sides’ only previous clashes came in the second round of the 1992/93 UEFA Cup.

PSG won the first leg 2-0 in Naples, courtesy of a first-half double from Liberian king George Weah. Those goals proved to be the only ones in the tie as there was a goalless second leg at the Parc des Princes. PSG lost to eventual winners Juventus in the semi-finals.

PSG have lost only two of their last 48 European home games since crashing 4-2 to Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup group stage (won 31, drawn 15.

Tellingly though, they went down 3-1 to Barcelona in the 2015 quarter-finals and 2-1 against Real Madrid in last season’s round of 16.