PSG vs Basel: Les Parisiens hoping to maintain strong home record
PSG will hope their long-standing European home record will remain intact as they take on Basel at the Parc des Princes this Wednesday.
Les Parisiens have only lost one out of their past 41 matches on home soil. The French powerhouse were defeated 3-1 by Barcelona during the 2014/2015 quarter-finals first leg. Prior to that, their last defeat was to Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the 2006/2007 Europa League group stage.
This will be the first meeting between PSG and Basel, and curiously, their first ever match against Swiss opposition. So far, Les Parisiens have picked up four points. Edinson Cavani scored the team’s fastest ever Champions League goal, but that was cancelled out by Alexis Sanchez’s equalizer for Arsenal. They did earn a well-deserved – and expected – win over Eastern European side Ludogorets to make sure they stay tied with the Gunners on four points.
With Arsenal taking on that side, it will be imperative that PSG take maximum points from their upcoming game. A win for Arsene Wenger’s men coupled with a draw or a loss will move the London giants at least two points clear. Furthermore, Unai Emery’s side will find themselves uncomfortably close to Basel in the race for second spot.
Having failed at the quarter-finals stages in the past four seasons, Les Parisiens are hoping to improve this term. Of course, to get to the semis – and hopefully beyond – one has to get out of their group. Their upcoming foes, Basel, have a record of four wins, three draws, and four losses against French sides, but have never won in France in two prior attempts.
Cavani appears to have found his scoring touch, with 15 goals in his past 11 games, including three so far in this competition. However, the Uruguayan is still not without his critics and will have to continue in this vein of form if he wants people to fully think he can fill the huge shoes left behind by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Javier Pastore and Thiago Motta are the only absentees for the hosts. Meanwhile, Urs Fischer’s Basel had to settle for a point with Ludogorets before being beaten by Arsenal on matchday two, so the Swiss champs are looking for their first win in this competition.
Will Les Parisiens make their home advantage count? Or will Basel manage to end their winless run against French teams on French soil?
