Paris Saint-Germain faces a formidable challenge in their UEFA Champions League title defense. Just three months after their dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final, Les Parisiens are once again set to prove themselves against Europe`s elite, and sooner than anticipated. The draw for the Champions League group stage was held this Thursday evening at Monaco`s Garibaldi Forum, with former PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic overseeing the process alongside 2007 Ballon d’Or recipient, Kaka.
Echoing last year`s fixtures, PSG will once more confront Vincent Kompany`s Bayern Munich during the group phase, though this time the clash will be hosted at the Parc des Princes. An enticing away fixture against Barcelona also awaits, a significant match for their former head coach Luis Enrique. Furthermore, the reigning Ligue 1 and Champions League champions are scheduled to host two Premier League clubs: Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, the latter of whom narrowly missed defeating PSG in the UEFA Super Cup.
The final four group stage matches for PSG will see them travel to face Athletic Bilbao, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, and Sporting CP – a quartet of teams that are certainly not considered minor contenders in European football.
