Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain are not in their best form as they kick off their league phase campaign with the visit of Slovan Bratislava this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Paris Saint-Germain preview: Poor start in France
Luis Enrique has seen his Paris Saint-Germain side evolve again this summer with the signings of Lucas Digne, Maghnes Akliouche, Mika Godts and Ferran Torres but their season has started slowly after beating Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup last month.
PSG started their domestic season with a defeat to Lens in Trophee des Champions before requiring two two-goal comebacks to share 2-2 draws with Stade Rennais and Lille ahead of a 2-1 loss to Monaco at Parc des Princes the other day.
Slovan Bratislava preview: Back in the UCL
In the 2024-25 campaign, Slovan Bratislava played in the inaugural 36-team league phase in the UEFA Champions League and the Slovakian champions are back again this season after beating Iberia 1999, Mjallby and Celje in qualification.
Domestically, the Slovakians head to the French capital in average form after back-to-back losses against Michalovce and Dunajska Streda with manager Yaya Toure making his debut as a manager at this level.
Paris Saint-Germain team news: Unlikely to rotate
Luis Enrique tends to heavily rotate in Ligue 1 and may have been tempted to do so here given the opposition but given their average form, the PSG boss will be keen on ensuring their best eleven is out on the park – especially with only Lucas Digne being a slight injury issue for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Unavailable:
Questionable: Digne (Injured)
Slovan Bratislava team news: Fully fit
It appears as though Yaya Toure has a fully fit and available squad for his UEFA Champions League opener, with an importance on key attackers such as Armenia international Tegran Barseghyan and former Middlesbrough striker Andraz Sporar.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Takac; Kozlovsky, Bajric, Wimmer, Blackman; Martinez, Matsuoka, Pokorny; Barseghyan, Sporar, Yirajang
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava prediction
Yaya Toure is expected to ensure Slovan continue to try and play quite a fluent and entertaining style of football but that may well be to their detriment in the rough and tumble of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. Like last year, PSG have started slowly but they will also hope that, like last year, they forget their domestic form in Europe, having hammered Atalanta in their opener last September and expected to earn another comfortable victory in Paris this week.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava Tip: Paris Saint-Germain to score three or more goals
