Is Dortmund Match the Biggest of the QSI Era?
Paris Saint-Germain travels to Dortmund with their Champions League lives—and the future of Kylian Mbappé—on the line.
“Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday? We all know, it’s a final to play. We’re not going to lie to ourselves, it’s our lives that are at stake.”
That is a quote from Paris Saint-Germain attacker Randal Kolo Muani after the club’s 2-1 victory over FC Nantes at the Parc des Princes on Saturday. Fellow newcomer Bradley Barcola echoed his sentiments.
“We really wanted to build up our confidence before the Dortmund game. We know we’ve got our destiny in our hands (in the Champions League), so we’re going to go there with our heads held high, and we know what we have to do.”
These are two players who haven’t experienced PSG’s UEFA Champions League heartache in the past, but they appear to understand the gravity of the situation, and so do the supporters.
What’s at stake?
For PSG, the mission is clear. Win at Dortmund and top the group. A loss, however, and both AC Milan and Newcastle United F.C. could leapfrog them for second place in the group with a win, and Les Parisiens would go to the UEFA Europa League. If PSG draws at Dortmund and AC Milan wins, for example, PSG would finish second since they have a better goal difference against the Italian club. If Newcastle were to win, they would finish second in the group, and PSG would go to the Europa League.
Not only is pride and a hefty payday on the line on December 13, at Signal Iduna Park, but whether PSG advances to the knockout stage of the Champions League could play a role in whether Kylian Mbappé signs a new contract to stay at PSG, or bolts for Real Madrid.
Mbappé turns 25 this month, and he wants to start winning Ballon d’Or honors and Champions League trophies. Europa League glory does not interest him at all. If PSG does, in fact, drop to that competition, not only will the club be on the receiving end of criticism around the globe, but come January, the transfer rumor mill will heat up as Mbappé would be allowed to sign a contract with Los Blancos to join at the end of the season.
Wednesday’s match is right up there with the Champions League final against FC Bayern Munich in 2020 as the most important since new ownership took over in 2011.
What’s more concerning for the French giants is, this season, they’ve been absolutely woeful away from the Parc des Princes. Look no further than the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle to see how a raucous atmosphere can rattle this squad. PSG did defeat Dortmund at home on match day one, but it remains to be seen how this young squad that was essentially assembled last summer will respond when the pressure is turned all the way up.
As bad as things could be for PSG in the event they finish third in the group, a win would be absolutely massive. In theory, they would get an easier opponent in the Round of 16, Mbappé could be convinced the project is moving in the right direction and sign a new contract, and newcomers like Barcola, Kolo Muani, Kang-In Lee, and Manuel Ugarte would gain valuable experience on the biggest stage in club football.
Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, understands what’s at stake, and his long-term viability in Paris could depend on the result as well.
Prediction
This is such a difficult match to predict because you just don’t know what kind of performance to expect from PSG. We don’t even know who will start at goalkeeper, given Gianluigi Donnarumma’s struggles.
One thing I am certain of is that PSG supporters will have an elevated heart rate throughout. This won’t be an easy match, and I think it will ebb and flow between the two sides. I predict the score will be 1-1 late, and Mbappé will score a heroic penalty to win it and see PSG top the group.
At least, that’s what’s on my Christmas list this year.