PSG have begun their transition from a star-studded approach to building their squad when they take on Montpellier in the second game of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season.
The team no longer has its three-headed attacking monster, with Neymar and Lionel Messi leaving last summer and Kylian Mbappe leaving last off-season. They have also parted ways with the likes of Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi in recent years, with the intention of achieving Champions League success with a different approach.
Suddenly, the club’s European prospects look better than ever, as they suddenly have a squad packed with raw talent rather than star power. Fabian Ruiz exploded into the spotlight at Euro 2024 this summer, Achraf Hakimi is one of the best right-backs in the world, Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe and Bradley Barcola has become a constant attacking threat, among many others.
While European success remains the goal, the domestic campaign is seen as quite important, looking to build a solid lead at the top of the table early on so they can shift their focus to continental competition.
PSG vs Montpellier prediction, odds
- Tilt towards the money line: PSG (-300)
- Score prediction: PSG 2-0 Montpellier
PSG are still without their Euro 2024 star Fabian Ruiz and Goncalo Ramos was injured in the opener, but PSG should have more than enough firepower to overwhelm Montpellier. The question is really how.
While Le Havre managed to score a goal and hold PSG to a 1-1 draw until a flurry of goals in last weekend’s opening game, the game played out very differently. PSG took 15 shots, 10 of them on target, while Le Havre had just 24 per cent of the possession and managed just five shots in total.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and the likes of Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani back in attack, PSG should be able to defeat Montpellier at home without any major problems.
