01 November 2022
Juventus met Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 1 of the Champions League on September 6 it was only the eighth match in charge for coach Christophe Galtier. The former Lille and Nice tactician emerged from the clash with the Bianconeri with a 2-1 win to maintain his unbeaten start at the French champions - a run that he has since extended to 19 matches at home and abroad.
Furthermore, Galtier appears to have found the playing system that best exalts his stellar front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, who now boast 43 goals between them in all competitions this season.
ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT
Champions of France eight times from the past 10 years, PSG once again are in a commanding position at the top of the table.
Les Parisiens have earned 35 points from a possible 39, winning 11 and drawing two of their 13 league games so far. They have amassed a +28 goal difference on the back of 36 goals for, eight goals against.
Since facing Juve, PSG have defeated two of the sides labelled as potential challengers, Lyon and Marseille, with both matches finishing 1-0 for the reigning champions. In fact, Marseille now trail PSG by 11 points in fifth place in the standings, while Lyon are mid-table. Surprise package Lens sit second, five points behind the leaders.
Before last weekend's fixture, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had kept a clean sheet in seven of the previous eight Ligue 1 fixtures. However, on Saturday against Troyes he conceded three times as PSG triumphed in a seven-goal thriller. Messi, Neymar and Mbappé all scored.
IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The three forwards were also all on the scoresheet in the 7-2 thrashing of Maccabi Haifa last week, which confirmed PSG's place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League for the 10th consecutive season.
The Parisian outfit are still unbeaten in the tournament with three wins and two draws, both 1-1 against Benfica. With the head-to-heads all square, PSG hold a four-goal advantage over Benfica in the standings but first place is not guaranteed.
