Sabasports Match Preview
UEFA Champions League: Athletic Club vs Paris Saint-Germain
Kickoff Time: 2025-12-11 4:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Athletic Club secured a 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in last weekend’s La Liga match and is currently sitting in 7th place in the standings. This season, amid competing on two fronts, Athletic Club’s overall performance has noticeably declined. Statistically, the team has scored 15 goals and conceded 20 in the league so far, showing a stark contrast to their performance during the same period last season, particularly in their ability to score from open play, which has dropped significantly.
Currently, Athletic Club struggles with slow counter-attacks and weak pressing, reflecting a clear decline in the team’s overall intensity. Additionally, they are plagued by injuries, especially in the midfield and forward areas. Besides the previously injured Benat Prados Diaz and Maroan Sannadi, key forward and captain Iñaki Williams is also among the injured, which has had a substantial impact on the team’s attacking effectiveness.
Paris Saint-Germain secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Rennes in last weekend’s Ligue 1 match, achieving 4 wins and 1 loss in their last five games, demonstrating strong form. However, PSG’s dominance in Ligue 1 this season is noticeably weaker compared to last season, as they currently sit in second place in the standings. Coach Luis Enrique attributes this to the players needing more time to find their competitive rhythm, especially since they did not engage in extensive training following the Club World Cup before starting the new season.
With the return of key players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Lee Kang-in, PSG’s attacking line has shown a renewed strength. Although Désiré Doué is still sidelined due to injury, the recently recovered Lee Kang-in has effectively filled the role of the team’s third striker.
As defending champions, PSG’s strength is evident. They recorded an impressive 4 wins and 1 loss in their first five Champions League matches, while Athletic Club managed only 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses. The lack of Champions League experience, losses in the main squad, and weaknesses in their backup players are all factors that make Bilbao clearly inferior to PSG. Overall, considering the strength difference, Paris Saint-Germain is favored to secure all three points in this match.
Athletic Club’s Last 5 Games: WLWDL
25-12-07: Athletic Club 1-0 Atlético Madrid
25-12-04: Athletic Club 0-3 Real Madrid
25-11-30: Levante 0-2 Athletic Club
25-11-26: Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Club
25-11-22: Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club
Paris Saint-Germain‘s Last 5 Games: WLWWW
25-12-07: Paris Saint-Germain 5–0 Rennes
25-11-30: Monaco 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain
25-11-27: Paris Saint-Germain 5-3 Tottenham
25-11-23: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Le Havre
25-11-10: Lyon 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Head-To-Head Record
11-12-15: Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 Athletic Club
11-09-30: Athletic Club 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain wins away