Sabasports Match Preview
UEFA Champions League: Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain
Kickoff Time: 2024-10-02 03:00(HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
Arsenal defeated Leicester City 4-2 at home in the league last weekend, maintaining an unbeaten record in all competitions this season, showcasing impressive performance. In the Champions League, Arsenal drew 0-0 away against Atalanta in the first match, but their tactical approach in this game seemed a bit conservative, possibly due to the congested schedule leading to a lack of energy among the players. Arsenal primarily employs a 4-3-3 formation, with their attacking play centered around Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice. Saka’s mobility and Havertz’s passing and shooting abilities are Arsenal’s most potent weapons in attack, especially Saka’s speed and ability to break through, which often helps the team in critical moments. However, Arsenal has been playing an average of one match every three days recently, making the schedule quite demanding, which will be a significant test for the team’s stamina.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) also maintained an unbeaten record this season after defeating Rennes 3-1 at home last weekend, showing equally strong form. In the Champions League, PSG was fortunate in the first match at home, narrowly winning 1-0 against Girona due to a blunder by the opposing goalkeeper, marking a successful start in the tournament. PSG primarily uses a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on counter-attacks and leveraging their speed advantage in offense. Players like Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembele, Marco Asensio, and Randal Kolo Muani are key attacking threats for PSG. Notably, Dembele’s speed and dribbling often pose a lethal threat during counter-attacks. However, PSG’s defense has shown some instability, which is a significant concern for the team.
Both teams have performed exceptionally well this season, and their overall strengths are quite close. However, Arsenal’s congested schedule puts them at a disadvantage in terms of stamina compared to PSG. Additionally, PSG excels at solid defense and counter-attacks, utilizing their speed in offense to launch surprise attacks. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that PSG could give Arsenal considerable trouble in this match.
Arsenal’s Last 5 Games: WWDDW
24-09-29 Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City
24-09-26 Arsenal 5-1 Bolton Wanderers
24-09-22 Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal
24-09-20 Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
24-09-15 Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Arsenal
Paris Saint-Germain’s Last 5 Games: WDWWW
24-09-28 Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Rennes
24-09-22 Reims 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain
24-09-19 Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Girona
24-09-15 Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Brest
24-09-02 Lille 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Head To Head Record:
16-11-24 Arsenal 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain
16-09-14 Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Arsenal
07-07-28 Arsenal 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain to win or Draw