PSG V Club Brugge
Wednesday, 6 November 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Champions League
Pick: PSG & Under 4.5 Goals
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Betway
UEFA Champions League Betting – 22Bet
Preview: The French champions were simply irresistible when these teams clashed in Belgium, as PSG scored four times in the second half to run out impressive 5-0 winners. Now in Paris, where Les Parisiens will have the advantage of playing in front of a capacity Parc des Princes, is there any hope of Club Brugge producing a better showing?
PSG V Club Brugge Live Stats & Betting Odds
PSG Preview – Les Parisiens to bounce back from weekend loss?
It is the competition the club craves more than any other. This has shown in their performances so far, winning all three games clinically and with very little fuss. Most impressive of all has been the defensive resilience of Thomas Tuchel’s side, recording victories over Real Madrid (3-0 at home), Galatasaray (0-1 away) and Club Brugge (0-5 away) without so much as conceding a single goal.
More of the same and PSG will celebrate early progression to the knockout rounds with a couple fixtures to spare. Les Parisiens are overwhelming favourites to pick up another three points here, particularly with them being at home where their form has been incredibly strong in 2019/20 (W6 D0 L1). The only team to have avoided defeat in Paris in any competition were Reims, who were shock 2-0 winners there in September during a league encounter.
Some doubts were cast on Sunday, though, following another shock defeat, this time away to a Dijon outfit who were bottom of Ligue 1 at the time. As mentioned in a previous preview, for all the undoubted improvements made to this side, in the defensive department especially (11 or 12 victories this season were to nil), PSG are still prone to producing the occasional poor display. Rarely, however, do they string two bad ones together in succession. Surely, then, we will witness a professional response from the French champions.
Club Brugge Preview – Belgians seeking improved performance?
In excellent form domestically, topping the Belgium Pro League by six points courtesy of a thirteen game unbeaten start (W10 D3), it has been in Europe where the Belgian runners-up of last season have so far struggled to make the grade. The group table shows them in third on two points, only two adrift of Real Madrid in second and still in the conversation for a top two finish. But has that thrashing by PSG left any lasting damage?
Club Brugge had competed well in a tough group initially. A goalless draw at home with Galatasaray was probably a missed opportunity, while a point in Spain against Real Madrid was seen as fantastic and fully deserved. Yet nothing was gained from their 5-0 thrashing by PSG last time out. That was, however, the Belgian side’s only defeat of the season thus far. Meanwhile victories in their latest two fixtures, both in the league, suggest that rare loss hasn’t overly affected them.
Key to their success during the current campaign has been some stout defending. Thirteen clean sheets is no mean feat, and for 45 minutes of the reverse meeting, with the scoreline still finely poised at only 1-0 at half-time, Philippe Clement’s side appeared to be demonstrating exactly why they have been so ominously strong at the back most the season. Only one opponent, meanwhile, has breached goalkeeper Simon Mignolet’s goal in the seven previous away fixtures. Therefore another backs-to-the-wall effort seems likely in Paris.
PSG V Club Brugge Key Facts:
- PSG have a perfect record in this competition so far, winning all three group games without so much as conceding.
- Club Brugge have collected two points from a possible nine in the group, drawing 2-2 in Real Madrid in only away encounter.
- The reverse meeting was a one-sided duel, won convincingly 5-0 by PSG.
Betting Summary
Flawless in Europe, where they’ve won all three group games thus far, it was back home in Ligue 1 where PSG were tripping up at the weekend. Losing 2-1 at Dijon came out of nowhere, with Thomas Tuchel’s team seemingly in peak form prior. It was also a rare bad display defensively, conceding for only the second occasion in their previous seven matches. Will a positive response be forthcoming?
Their rivals are struggling to keep pace with them in Belgium, where they remain unbeaten. In Europe, however, a plucky Club Brugge are still without a win following draws with Galatasaray and Real Madrid before losing heavily at home to PSG last time out. Their response has been pleasing, however, with a draw and two wins domestically. Defensively their numbers have remained impressive right throughout the season.
PSG were imperious the last time these sides met, and that was as the away side in Belgium. Club Brugge have not been too unduly affected by that outcome however and remain in decent form, albeit domestically. Both sides boast impressive defensive figures, which gives some credence to the idea that these two teams could keep the scoring down on this occasion.
