Paris Saint-Germain F.C., more commonly known as PSG, is one of the most successful and decorated football clubs in France. The club was founded in 1970 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. PSG is the reigning Ligue 1 champion and one of the biggest spenders in world football thanks to substantial funding from its Qatari owners.
In recent years, PSG has established itself as a major force in European football as well. The club has won multiple domestic trophies and leagues titles, and has become a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League. PSG has invested heavily in top talent like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to boost its chances in Champions League.
So will PSG qualify for the knock-out stages of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League? Let’s take a closer look at their chances.
PSG’s Current Champions League Campaign
This season, PSG has been drawn into Group H of the Champions League alongside Juventus, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa.
PSG were dominant in their opening fixture, securing a 2-1 win away at Juventus. Mbappe and Neymar were both on target for the Parisians. They then thrashed Maccabi Haifa 3-1 at home, before grinding out a 1-1 draw with Benfica in Portugal.
After three matches, PSG sits second in Group H with 7 points. Juventus leads the group with 9 points, while Benfica is third with 4 points and Maccabi Haifa is bottom with 0 points.
With three games remaining, PSG is in an excellent position to progress to the round of 16. The top two teams from each Champions League group advance to the knockout stages.
Will PSG Finish Top 2 in Their Group?
Based on PSG’s results so far, their star-studded squad, and their remaining fixtures, they are almost certain to qualify for the round of 16.
Let’s take a closer look at some key factors in their favor:
– PSG only needs a couple more points to guarantee qualification. 7 points from 3 games is a very healthy return.
– Their next two Champions League fixtures are home games against Maccabi Haifa and Juventus. PSG will be heavy favorites to win both matches.
– PSG has an incredibly deep and talented squad capable of beating any opponent. Their attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe is arguably the best in Europe.
– Juventus has looked shaky this season domestically. PSG has the quality to pip them to top spot in the group.
– Benfica has been inconsistent and relies heavily on striker Rafa Silva. PSG should have no trouble seeing them off.
– Maccabi Haifa have zero points and a goal difference of -7. PSG will expect to sweep them aside home and away.
PSG’s Remaining UCL Fixtures
Let’s take a quick look at PSG’s remaining Champions League fixtures:
– Matchday 4 vs Maccabi Haifa (Home) – 25th October
– Matchday 5 vs Juventus (Home) – 2nd November
– Matchday 6 vs Juventus (Away) – 9th November
The home game against Maccabi Haifa looks like a guaranteed win for PSG. The away trip to Juventus will be tricky, but PSG has the talent to get a favorable result.
Getting full points against Maccabi Haifa would put PSG on 10 points. They would then only need a single point from the Juventus clashes to secure 2nd spot.
PSG’s Star Power
PSG has assembled a staggering collection of elite talent from around the globe:
– Lionel Messi – seven-time Ballon d’Or winner widely considered one of the greatest players ever.
– Neymar – Brazilian superstar signed for $263 million from Barcelona in 2017.
– Kylian Mbappe – World Cup winner with France in 2018 as a teenager. Has electrifying pace and skill.
– Marco Verratti – Italian midfield maestro who dictates games with his passing range.
– Marquinhos – Brazilian centre-back and captain, gives PSG defensive solidity and leadership.
– Sergio Ramos – Legendary defender who won everything at Real Madrid. Brings a wealth of experience.
– Achraf Hakimi – Moroccan right-back signed from Inter, provides attacking width and pace down the flanks.
This collection of world-class talent means PSG has the ability to break any team down. They have the creativity and firepower to progress against elite Champions League opposition.
Other squads simply can’t match PSG’s overall squad depth and quality. Their bench alone would start for most Champions League teams.
PSG’s Domestic Form
In addition to their strong Champions League performances, PSG is dominating domestically as well:
– PSG is currently top of Ligue 1 with 29 points from 11 matches. They are five points clear of second-placed Lorient.
– They have scored an incredible 36 goals in Ligue 1 already this season.
– PSG has won nine of their first 11 league matches. They recorded big wins against Lille (7-1), Nantes (3-0) and Brest (1-0).
– The only blip was a 3-1 loss away to Lens at the start of October. But PSG responded with three consecutive league wins after that defeat.
– New PSG manager Christophe Galtier has the team playing an attractive, effective style of football. The players seem happy with his leadership.
This terrific domestic form proves PSG is gelling well and building confidence. The Champions League is their main goal, and current form suggests they will peak at the right time in Europe.
PSG Roster Depth
Paris Saint-Germain has arguably the deepest, most well-rounded squad in Europe. They have elite starters and plenty of strong backup options:
| Position | Starter | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Keylor Navas |
| Defender | Marquinhos | Presnel Kimpembe |
| Defender | Sergio Ramos | Nordi Mukiele |
| Defender | Achraf Hakimi | Juan Bernat |
| Midfielder | Marco Verratti | Renato Sanches |
| Midfielder | Vitinha | Danilo Pereira |
| Midfielder | Fabian Ruiz | Carlos Soler |
| Forward | Lionel Messi | Pablo Sarabia |
| Forward | Neymar Jr | Hugo Ekitike |
| Forward | Kylian Mbappe | Ekitike |
This depth means PSG can rotate their squad to keep players fresh without sacrificing quality on the pitch. Fatigue and injuries hampered PSG in recent Champions League campaigns. A deeper squad prevents that this season.
Tactical flexibility is another key benefit. Galtier can set his team up in multiple shapes and styles to react to injuries or opponent weaknesses.
Verdict: PSG Should Qualify Comfortably
Given PSG’s form, talent and depth, they are a near lock to qualify for the Champions League round of 16.
The numbers paint a clear picture:
– PSG is on 7 points after 3 games. Just one more win should do it.
– They still have home games remaining against Maccabi Haifa and Juventus.
– PSG has won nine of their last ten matches across all competitions.
– In Neymar, Messi and Mbappe, PSG boasts three of the top ten players in the world.
– The squad has tremendous depth after another summer of heavy investment.
– Manager Christophe Galtier has implemented an effective tactical system. The players have responded well.
– Qualifying is PSG’s minimum expectation. The club’s Qatari owners continue to invest heavily in pursuit of a first Champions League trophy.
Barring an unfathomable collapse, Paris Saint-Germain will advance to the Champions League round of 16. Anything else would be a massive disappointment given their wealth of talent and resources.
PSG supporters can be supremely confident their team will survive this group stage and live to fight another day in Europe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Paris Saint-Germain is extremely likely to qualify for the knockout stage of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League. They have made an excellent start to their group campaign by earning 7 points in their first 3 matches.
PSG has a star-studded squad led by Messi, Neymar and Mbappe capable of beating any opponent. The team is also dominating domestically and has tremendous roster depth. They still have very winnable home matches against Maccabi Haifa and Juventus remaining.
For PSG not to qualify would be a monumental upset given their investments and ambitions for Champions League glory. Finishing top two in Group H is the absolute minimum expectation.
Barring a collapse for the ages, PSG will advance to the round of 16 where they can focus on conquering Europe. The knockout stages represent the opportunity this club has been building towards during its rise to power over the past decade.
