Can PSG break their Champions League curse this season?

PSG have started well under Christophe Galtier, but will they manage to break their Champions League curse this season?

PSG have enjoyed plenty of domestic success over the past decade, but the European glory has always managed to escape them. 

With the tactical tweaks, Galtier has made to the side this season, do PSG have what it takes to go all the way in Europe this year? 

How their previous campaigns have gone 

PSG have often been blessed with a plethora of dynamic forwards and scoring goals usually hasn’t been their problem. 

Their most embarrassing European defeat came at the hands of Barcelona back in 2017. 

Unai Emery’s side had won the first leg 4-0 and looked like a certainty to progress through to the next round. 

They travelled to Barcelona and ended up losing 6-1 and were then knocked out 6-5 on aggregate. 

Coincidentally, Neymar and Lionel Messi both had key roles to play in knocking out the French side back in 2017. 

Last season proved to be another particular low point for PSG as they found themselves 2-0 up on aggregate against Real Madrid, before the Spanish side quickly flipped the script. 

Kylian Mbappe had scored each of PSG’s goals and the French side were the much better team in the first leg. 

A Karim Benzema second half hattrick dumped PSG out of the Champions League and this would prove to be the beginning of the end for Mauricio Pochettino. 

The closest PSG got to winning the competition was under Thomas Tuchel as they made it all the way to the final. 

Bayern Munich stood in their way and their experience proved to be the difference in a game they ended up winning 1-0 on the night. 

How Galtier has switched the system 

It’s been obvious to see that PSG’s European downfalls have often resulted from a shaky backline and from perhaps a disconnect between the front three and the rest of the team. 

Galtier has switched to a 3-4-1-2 system this season and so far it has been doing the trick for them. 

In Ligue 1 last season PSG faced an xG per 90 of 1.02 and that has decreased under Galtier to just 0.83. 

The addition of another central defender into the starting line up is seeming to have the desired impact as they are giving up less chances per game. 

The formation switch also allows PSG’s wing backs to play higher up the pitch and cover more ground. 

Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are well suited to the wing back role and they have been benefiting from the tactical switch this season. 

Hakimi for example has averaged 1.3 key passes per game in this campaign which is an increase from last year under Pochettino. 

The form of MNM

PSG managed to win the Ligue 1 title last season and that was without getting the best from Neymar or Messi. 

Messi played the role of the creator and finished the season with 14 league assists, but there was the impression that PSG still weren’t getting the best out of him. 

One season later and Messi seems to be back to his best with 10 goal contributions in his first nine league matches of the season. 

Neymar has also started the campaign in inspired form and when the pair are at their best, there’s no stopping them. 

Kylian Mbappe will also have a crucial role to play if PSG are to are to do well in Europe this season. 

The Frenchman finished last season as PSG’s top scorer and assister with 28 goals and 17 assists in Ligue 1. 

The 23-year-old has started the season with 11 goals across all competitions and has been just as prolific in front of goal.