After only one defeat between them during the UEFA Champions League group stage last season, Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund return to the competition to play each other at the Parc des Princes in Group F on Tuesday.
PSG’s only blips of an unbeaten group stage in 2022/23 were successive draws against Benfica on matchdays 3 and 4, costing the French giants top spot in the group before they were knocked out by Bayern Munich, who would beat Dortmund to the Bundesliga title on the final day of the German season, in the round of 16.
Dortmund’s only defeat in their first six games was at eventual champions Manchester City, although they also came second as they finished the group stage with draws against the Premier League winners, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen.
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Reigning French champions PSG enter their Champions League opener on the back of a domestic shock, losing 3-2 at home to Nice on Friday as part of an indifferent start to their first season under former Spain and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique.
BVB are unbeaten but have dropped points twice in their first four Bundesliga matches. Most recently, Edin Terzic’s players spurned a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home to Heidenheim and recovered from 2-1 behind to win 4-2 at Freiburg on Saturday.
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PSG vs Dortmund prediction, odds
PSG’s Marquinhos says opponents will find it “hard” to visit Paris, and bookmakers agree with the defender for this game, setting the hosts at -130 to win for a seventh successive time when playing against a German club in the group stage.
Dortmund have won their last four group stage matches against French clubs, and that run of three draws at this stage last season could make their +310 to earn a point — and the same price to win — appeal.
|
PSG |
Draw | DOR win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-130 | +310 | +310 | -192 / +135 | -200 / +140 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) |
1.73 | 4.17 | 4.02 | 1.49 / 2.28 | 1.53 / 2.46 |
| BetOnSports (UK) |
4/5 | 3/1 | 7/2 | 8/15 / 6/4 | 8/15 / 11/8 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
1.76 | 4.35 | 4.40 | 1.50 / 2.50 | 1.48 / 2.65 |
| Dafabet (India) |
1.75 | 4.10 | 4.20 | 1.51 / 2.45 | 1.52 / 2.53 |
Away from the results lines — which may not be the easiest wagers, given these clubs’ strengths and somewhat unconvincing form — a bet on the first half to contain more goals, at +210, catches the eye.
Four of the six group stage matches each club took part in last season contained more goals before the break, with Kylian Mbappe scoring five of his seven goals in the 2022/23 competition during the first 45 minutes of matches.
Mbappe has 10 goals in his last eight UEFA Champions League group stage matches. The France captain is +310 first or last scorer or -133 to score anytime.
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TSN’s prediction: 2-2 (+1100 on BetMGM)
TSN’s best bet: Most goals to be scored in first half and Mbappe to score anytime (+385 on BetMGM)