The final and decisive match of the Champions League group stage is upon us, and no less than Paris Saint-Germain is coming to the Neckarstadion.
After VfB’s first competitive defeat of the season, some fans are starting to worry. “If we can’t even beat Mainz 05, how are we supposed to stand a chance against Paris Saint-Germain?!” Well, let me reassure you—this is completely normal. It’s not uncommon for a team, especially one playing internationally for the first time (in a long time), to put in a completely lackluster Bundesliga performance between two European matches. Tactics expert Tobias Escher often says that a team can fall into an emotional slump, making it difficult to immediately motivate themselves for the mundane Bundesliga routine after the magic of a European night. Of course, I would view this loss differently if the first four games had been just as poor, but one bad game does not define a season. So let’s put Mainz 05 behind us and look ahead.
And what lies ahead is a European football giant. Paris Saint-Germain FC is a team that has been a dominant force in football ever since the Qataris took over in the year of our Lord 2011. At least, that was the plan. Fourteen years of investment have resulted in exactly zero international titles. And that’s despite having Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé on the pitch at the same time. Qatar’s international success is about as impressive as Red Bull’s entire franchise system in Europe. Though, to be fair, PSG and Leipzig are not entirely comparable—after all, PSG’s history dates back to the 1970s, when Paris FC and Stade 1904 Saint-Germain merged to form Paris Saint-Germain. Even before the takeover, they had domestic (French champions in 1986 and 1994) and international (winners of the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup) success and attracted global stars like Ronaldinho, Jay-Jay Okocha, and George Weah. But since the takeover, the Champions League hasn’t quite worked out for them, and this season, PSG’s star-studded squad looks far from dominant. They currently sit tied on points with VfB in 22nd place with 10 points, and if they lose at the Neckarstadion, their elimination wouldn’t be out of the question.
Just like VfB, PSG would advance with a draw under the new Champions League format. A non-aggression pact leading to a shared point is therefore a curious but possible scenario. However, I find it unlikely, as final group placement will influence opponent selection, and neither PSG nor VfB would want to end up facing a top team in the next round.
Squad Situation
In addition to the long-term absentees, center-back Rouault is now suspended due to yellow card accumulation and can only return for the knockout stage. Goalkeeper Alex Nübel is doubtful due to illness.
Predicted Lineup
The usual VfB setup in the Champions League, given that Woltemade and JBL are unavailable. I could see Leweling starting instead of Führich, but for now, I’m going with Führich.
Statistics
This will actually be the first-ever meeting between these two clubs. PSG will be the sixth French opponent that VfB has faced. In total, VfB has played nine matches against French teams, with a balanced record: three wins, three draws, and three losses. The last Franco-Swabian duel was in the 2007/08 Champions League, when VfB lost twice to Olympique Lyon. The last success against a French team came in the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup final, when VfB defeated Lille OSC 2–0 to qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Conclusion
A big name awaits VfB in this final group stage match. PSG has been struggling in the Champions League and looks vulnerable. While we enter the game as underdogs, with strong team performance, effort, and a bit of luck, three points and progression to the next round are absolutely within reach.
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