Champions League: Clubs Who Crave a Maiden Euro Crown

Arsenal vs Paris Saint Germain

One of England’s finest entertain France’s finest next week, and the irony of the clash is not lost on me.

The meeting takes place at the Emirates Stadium, one of the best grounds in Europe, between two of the biggest spending clubs in Europe in the biggest club football competition around, the Champions League.

Neither club has ever been crowned Europe’s best; Arsenal reached the final in 2006 but were beaten by Barcelona, while Paris St Germain were defeated finalists in 2020.

And while both Arsenal and PSG would love to win the competition for the first time in their respective histories, they arguably have very different priorities.

But while the Parisiens crave European success badly, the Gunners really want to win their domestic league, a title that has eluded them for 20 years.

It all begs the question: What Champions League highlights await in North London next Tuesday?

 

Talking Points

A 1-1 draw with Reims aside, PSG have the perfect record so far domestically this term, but, of course, it’s not on the domestic front they will be judged.

With Ligue 1 being no more than the fifth or sixth highest quality league in Europe, combined with their outlay, it is their Champions League progression on which they are benchmarked—and rightly so.

They opened their European campaign a week and a half ago with a slightly fortunate win over new boys Girona, a last-minute goalkeeping howler enabling them to emerge with all three points in the new-look tournament.

In the build-up to this, they also saw off Rennes 3-1 on Friday night when a brace from the dazzling Bradley Barcola and a goal from Lee Kang-In did the damage.

Barcola has now scored six goals in seven matches with PSG, which is more than in his last 40 official appearances with the club and puts him ahead of Mason Greenwood as the league’s top scorer (albeit having played a game more).

The French champions have a handful of long-term absentees in their ranks, including Lucas Hernandez (knee), Presnel Kimpembe (achilles), and Marco Asensio (muscle), while number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is a doubt with a thigh complaint.

While PSG enjoyed victory before this clash, Arsenal hosted newly promoted Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and were given a mighty scare before emerging 4-2 winners.

Gabriel Martinelli had given the dominant Gunners a deserved first-half lead before providing the pass for the second, converted by Leandro Trossard, on the stroke of half-time and that seemed that.

Yet they were pegged back, and it took an own goal and a late Kai Havertz strike, both in stoppage time, to see them through against the plucky Foxes.

They will be nearly at full strength, with their main absentees being skipper Martin Odegaard (ankle) and Ben White (knee), who are working their way back to fitness.

Their European campaign began at the home of Europa League winners Atalanta 10 days ago, when a superb double save from David Raya, the first from the penalty spot, ensured they held on for a goalless draw.

 

History

This will only be the fifth competitive meeting between the two clubs, and three have been three draws.

That includes their two Champions League group stage clashes in the autumn of 2016.

A 1-1 draw in Paris saw Edinson Cavani net a first-minute opener cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez for the Gunners.

The return fixture in North London ended 2-2 with an Olivier Giroud penalty and an own goal cancelled out for PSG through Cavani and another own goal.

Their two most prestigious meetings came in the semi-finals of the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup, a tournament the Gunners went onto win.

A 1-1 draw in Paris set up a nail-biting second leg at Highbury, and it was the late Kevin Campbell who scored the only goal amidst memorable celebrations for the Gunners.

 

Betting Tip

For much of the past decade, PSG have been the better side.

Not anymore.

The Parisiens are not the force they were, and while they have attractive odds both 1X2 @ 3.84 and Asian Handicap + 0.50 @ 2.08, I think Arsenal will have too much for them.

That is why I am backing the Gunners to prevail via the SBOTOP Champions League betting odds.

Correct Score 1-0 @ 7.30 caught my eye, as has total goal 0-1 @ 3.33 and 4-6 @ 2.86, while there is a certain appeal for the draw @ 3.42.

It’s a home win all the way for me, though, with Arsenal Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.01 my ** tip.

   

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