Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid – UEFA Champions League – Preview, Team News and Updates

After the excitement of Tuesday's Champions League action, UCL is back on Wednesday with even more thrilling matchups featuring Europe's biggest clubs. The standout fixture of the night is Paris Saint-Germain’s showdown at home against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.

Both PSG and Atletico Madrid haven’t set the world alight with their performances in the Champions League. After three games, Les Parisiens have just four points, placing them in a concerning 24th spot in the standings. Meanwhile, Atletico have fared even worse. A solitary win in their opening three games UCL matches have left them stranded in 28th spot of UCL standings. If these struggles continue, both teams could find themselves knocked out of the competition before even reaching the Round of 16. That makes tonight’s showdown at the Parc des Princes absolutely crucial— a must-win encounter that could shape the course of both clubs’ seasons. The stakes couldn’t be higher. 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid – Match Preview 

PSG’s underwhelming start to their 2024/25 UCL campaign has surprised many people. Last season’s semifinalist started their campaign with a fortuitous 1-0 win over newcomers, Girona. But since then, Les Parisiens have accrued just one point from two games. A 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal was followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven. What’s even more concerning than their subpar showing in UCL is the toothless nature of PSG’s offense. In fact, 12 of their last 14 Champions League goals have come in the second half. Moreover, PSG’s world-class attack – consisting of the likes of Bradley Barcola, Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele and Kang-in Lee – have scored just twice this season.  

In contrasting fashion, PSG continue to dominate Ligue 1. After 10 games, Les Parisiens have a healthy six-point lead over second-placed Marseille at the top of the table. They have scored 29 times, while only conceding 8 goals in ten games. Such performances are expected out of PSG on the Champions League front too, and a manager of Luis Enrique’s stature knows that. Therefore, he would demand a better performance against Atletico on Wednesday night. With a boisterous home crowd behind them, PSG are favorites to clinch a win against Los Rojiblancos. However, Diego Simeone’s men aren’t an easy proposition to face, especially when PSG are struggling to score goals. 

Having said that, Los Colchoneros have fared even worse than PSG in the UCL this season. After their hard-fought 2-1 win over RB Leipzig, Atletico have succumbed to two straight defeats at the hands of much less fancied opponents. Benfica scored four past Atletico in their second UCL game before a 3-1 defeat to Lille left them stranded in the 28th spot. For Atletico Madrid, securing a win over PSG tonight is non-negotiable if they want to keep their hopes of a guaranteed Round of 16 spot alive. With back-to-back wins under their belt, Simeone’s side will enter this clash full of confidence. However, to make history and claim a win in their first-ever match against PSG, Atletico will need to be at their absolute best. It’s a challenge, but one they will be determined to rise to. 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid – Team News and Updates 

Atletico Madrid's attacking options are shaping up to be intriguing, with manager Diego Simeone possibly calling on his son, Giuliano Simeone, to feature. However, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, and Alexander Sorloth are all in the mix for starting spots, adding some healthy competition up front. Meanwhile, Atletico’s big signing, Julian Alvarez, has made a strong impact in the Champions League with 13 goal contributions in 20 appearances, despite playing an average of just 50 minutes per match. Still, his away form has been underwhelming, with just one goal and one assist in eight road games. 

In terms of injuries, Atleti will be without Robin Le Normand (head), Marcos Llorente (thigh), and Cesar Azpilicueta (calf), while Thomas Lemar remains a doubt. However, Pablo Barrios made a timely return to the squad after recovering from a muscle strain. 

On the other side, PSG manager Luis Enrique has made a few bold moves, dropping goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for Matvei Safonov at the weekend and reintegrating Marco Asensio into the starting lineup. This shift sees Ousmane Dembele likely returning to his natural role on the right wing after a brief stint as a false nine. Bradley Barcola, fresh off his eighth Ligue 1 goal, will also be key in attack. PSG will still miss conventional striker Goncalo Ramos due to an ankle injury, joining Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) and Atletico’s former youth product, Lucas Hernandez (ACL), on the sidelines. 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Atletico Madrid – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 7th November 2024 (Thursday) at Parc Des Princes in Paris. The match will kick off at 1:30 AM (Indian Standard Time). 

Also Read: 3 Talking Points From Tuesday Night’s Champions League Action