French champions ran riot even without superstars Mbappe, Neymar and Cavani
Coach Zidane under fire after poor start to critical season for Spanish giants
PSG have under-achieved in UCL but hope things are about to change
Paris Saint-Germain are the super-rich club who have been unable to punch their weight in the Champions League. Until now, perhaps.
They made the biggest headlines of the opening week of the group stage with a 3-0 humbling of Real Madrid at the Parc Des Princes on Wednesday.
The triumph prompted a major shift in their odds to win Group A which now make them favorites at -400.
UCL 2019-20 Group A Winner Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Paris Saint-Germain | -400 |
| Real Madrid | +275 |
| Galatasaray | +4000 |
| Club Brugge | +6600 |
*Odds taken at 2019/09/20
It also raised hopes in the French capital that the team could finally make an impact in the later stages of the competition.
Troubled Real Madrid are now bottom of the group and priced at +275 to finish top after starting the week as -125 favorites with PSG rated at even-money before the opening round of fixtures. Paris look stronger this season and should now finish first.
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The win by the Parisians was achieved without the services of their entire first-choice front three – injured World Cup-winning forward Kylian Mbappe, the suspended Brazilian idol Neymar and Uruguayan star Edinson Cavani.
Zidane confessed that his team had been “outplayed in every department.”
Despite their Qatari-funded wealth and their superstar roster, the French champions have been unimpressive in the UCL.
PSG won their group last season – finishing ahead of eventual trophy winners Liverpool. But after a 2-0 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the last 16, they succumbed to a dramatic late penalty and lost 3-1 to exit in the return leg.
The Parisians signed center back Abdou Diallo, midfielders Idrissa Gueye, Ander Herrera and Pablo Sarabia and have taken forward Mauro Icardi on loan.
It is hoped that several summer additions to the already star-studded squad will increase their chances of a major advance towards the final.
The Parisians signed center back Abdou Diallo, midfielders Idrissa Gueye, Ander Herrera and Pablo Sarabia and have taken forward Mauro Icardi on loan. However, they lost veteran Dani Alves and midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
In the UCL, Real next meet Belgium’s Club Brugge at home on October 1 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, at 12:55 pm EST.
PSG are away at Galatasaray on the same day at Turk Telekom Stadi, at 3:00 pm EST.
Pick: Paris Saint-Germain -400