PSG v Slovan Bratislava: Doue, Kvaratskhelia and Dembele among the best goalscorer picks

Paris Saint-Germain begin their bid for a third successive Champions League title against Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, with Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele among the leading candidates to score.

PSG were unstoppable on their way to the trophy last season, while Slovan qualified through the play-offs after losing all eight matches in their only previous Champions League participation.

The French champions made a slow start to their campaign last season, finishing only 11th in the league phase, but they produced their best football when the knockout rounds began. Luis Enrique’s side defeated Monaco, swept aside Chelsea and Liverpool, then overcame Bayern Munich in a thrilling semi-final.

PSG eventually needed a penalty shootout to beat Arsenal in their second successive Champions League final, after the teams had drawn 1-1 in a tense match in Budapest.

That success made them only the second club to retain the European Cup or Champions League in the modern era, after Real Madrid won the competition three times in a row between 2016 and 2018. With Luis Enrique having recently extended his contract, PSG appear determined to establish a dynasty of their own.

However, the start of the current season has been unusually difficult. PSG retained the UEFA Super Cup by beating Aston Villa, but, including their defeat by Lens in the Trophee des Champions, they have failed to win any of their first four Ligue 1 matches and sit 13th in the table.

Their latest result was a 2-1 defeat by old rivals Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Friday, when the visitors mounted a late comeback to take all three points.

Slovan arrive with European ambitions

While PSG have played in the Champions League without interruption since 2012-13 and have reached the knockout stages every time, Slovan Bratislava are simply aiming to make their presence felt in this season’s league phase.

The Slovak club endured a miserable debut in 2024-25, finishing 35th in a 36-team table after eight consecutive defeats. They are now managed by Yaya Toure, who won the trophy with Barcelona and is set to become the first African coach in Champions League history.

Slovan’s qualifying campaign was their eighth consecutive attempt to reach the main stage. The Sky Blues defeated Iberia Tbilisi and surprise Swedish champions Mjallby before progressing through a tight play-off tie.

After a 1-1 home draw in the first leg, Toure’s team needed extra time to overturn Celje in the return match. Cristian Martinez scored the decisive goal and spared Slovan the pressure of a penalty shootout.

The reigning Slovak champions are fourth in the domestic Super Liga after two successive defeats, an unusual run for the club which may add to their concerns before travelling to Paris. Their only previous visit to the Parc des Princes came in the 2011-12 Europa League, when they lost 1-0.

PSG’s all-competition form is: win, defeat, draw, draw, defeat.

Slovan’s Champions League form is: win, draw, win, win, draw, win.

Their all-competition form is: draw, win, win, defeat, win, defeat.

Doue among the goalscorer selections

PSG have refreshed their attacking options this season, selling several players for significant fees while bringing in Mika Godts, Maghnes Akliouche and Spain’s World Cup final hero Ferran Torres.

The new arrivals will compete with Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and the “Kvaradona” of the wide areas, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgia international was involved in 16 goals in as many Champions League matches last season, a club record for a single campaign.

One suggested bet is for Doue to score, priced at 1.81. Another selection is for either Marquinhos or Willian Pacho to find the net, at 4.15, while PSG scoring a penalty is available at 3.30.

Lucas Digne’s return to Paris has not gone entirely smoothly so far. Warren Zaire-Emery played at left-back against Monaco, although Nuno Mendes is now available again after suspension. Luis Enrique may also choose to rest some of his more experienced players against opponents regarded as modest on paper.

For Slovan, the main attacking threat could be Tigran Barseghyan. The Armenian winger led the club for goals, assists and chances created during the 2024-25 league phase and is expected to provide service for experienced striker Andraz Sporar.

Summer signing Roman Cerepkai offers another option in attack, but the Slovakia international is expected to begin on the bench.

Probable Paris Saint-Germain XI: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Probable Slovan Bratislava XI: Takac; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Cruz; Ibrahim, Pokorny, Martinez; Barseghyan, Sporar, Camara.

None of the past 35 European Cup or Champions League winners have lost their opening home match in the following campaign. Despite PSG’s below-par start, that sequence is expected to continue, with Slovan also arriving after unexpected domestic defeats and facing a team operating at a considerably higher level.