Paris Saint-Germain embark on their UEFA Champions League title defense this week as the new season kicks into full gear, with the French champions once again among the favorites but wary of the challenges ahead.
PSG finally ended over a decade of continental disappointment last season, clinching the long-coveted trophy in emphatic fashion against Inter Milan. It was the culmination of an exhausting campaign that stretched across 11 months and 65 matches, capped by their appearance in the Club World Cup final.
Now, Luis Enrique’s side faces the even tougher task of defending their crown. Retaining the European Cup is a feat only achieved by a select few, and the French giants are already grappling with setbacks. Key players Ousmane Dembele and rising star Desire Doue will miss their opening clash with Atalanta due to injury.
The new Champions League format, which debuted last season, offers a slightly wider margin for error. With 36 teams in the league phase and the top 24 advancing to the knockouts, clubs can afford slip-ups. Still, finishing in the top eight to secure direct entry into the last 16 demands consistency.
English clubs once again dominate the competition, with six Premier League sides among the entrants. Their financial muscle continues to tilt the balance of power in Europe, and UEFA rules prevent them from meeting each other before the knockout rounds, ensuring tough assignments for rivals across the continent.
Beyond the heavyweights, the expanded league phase provides a platform for outsiders. Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty will welcome Real Madrid, Norway’s Bodo/Glimt return to Europe’s top stage after 18 years, while Cypriot champions Pafos also feature. For such clubs, qualification alone secures a minimum payout of €18.62 million, financial windfalls that could reshape their domestic dominance.
With giants like Liverpool facing Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich meeting Chelsea, and Barcelona clashing with Newcastle, the opening week delivers high-profile fixtures. Yet with 144 matches in the league phase, the true weight of these encounters may only be felt later in the competition.
For PSG, the objective is clear build on last season’s triumph and prove that their long-awaited breakthrough was no one-off. With Luis Enrique at the helm and immense pressure to repeat history, the journey to Budapest begins now.
