Athletic Club vs Paris Saint Germain

In 27th place Athletic Club [LLWLD] will welcome the champions for this Match Day 6 encounter following a two-game winless run after a goalless draw with Slavia Praha. The club’s history in the Champions League is far more modest. This is only their third appearance in the competition proper and their first since 2014/15. A club defined by its Basque identity, its famous youth production line and an intense atmosphere at San Mamés, Athletic will not be intimidated, even if their overall Champions League record remains underwhelming. They have won just three of their 15 matches in the tournament’s main phase, but their recent home form in European group-stage football paints a different story. They have lost only twice in their last 16 European home group matches, earning seven wins from the most recent eight. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Gorka Guruzeta in attack is expected against PSG. Aitor Paredes is suspended for this fixture.

Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain head to Bilbao on Matchday 6 looking to extend a remarkable run of away form in the UEFA Champions League. Their only previous encounters came 13 years ago in the UEFA Europa League, when Athletic won 2-0 in Spain before Paris struck back with a 4-2 victory in France. The setting is different this time; PSG are no longer a club searching for continental credibility but a side defending their title after last season’s emphatic 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Munich final. Luis Enrique’s team arrive with confidence, having taken three wins from their last three away games against Spanish opposition, including a 2-1 success at Barcelona earlier in this campaign. Paris arrive in devastating attacking form. They lead this season’s competition in goals, have won 14 of their last 18 European matches, and have scored four or more in five of their last seven group fixtures. Their firepower away from home is equally striking: seven wins from their last eight Champions League trips, with 23 goals scored in that period. There will also be a personal subplot should Yuri Berchiche feature against his former club, having spent the 2017/18 season in Paris before joining Athletic. On the other side, João Neves could reach a milestone if selected, with the young midfielder on the brink of becoming the youngest Portuguese player to hit 30 Champions League appearances. A 4—3—3 formation with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dembele and Bradley Barcola in attack is expected. Lucas Hernández and Illia Zabarnyi are both suspended for this fixture.