PSG Talk's Pre-Season Predictions
We predict who will lead Paris Saint-Germain in scoring, assists, whether the club will finally win the Champions League, and so much more.
The 2023-24 season is nearly here, with Paris Saint-Germain taking on Le Havre on Friday in the first preseason match of the new campaign.
There’s been a lot of change to the squad and management this summer, and more are expected before the transfer window closes, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic and feel this season will be an improvement over last year.
Let’s look ahead and predict how the season will unfold for PSG, if nothing else, to have something to laugh at later when the season turns out to be completely tragic.
Who will lead PSG in scoring?
It seems Kylian Mbappé has his mind set on leaving PSG at the end of the season on a free transfer to Real Madrid. There’s not much PSG can do about it, so they’ll have to settle with the Frenchman leading them in scoring again.
Mbappé is already PSG’s all-time leading scorer, but that will do little to soothe the feelings of the Ultras, who will undoubtedly voice their displeasure over the 24-year-old’s handling of his contract.
I don’t anticipate this will slow Mbappé’s scoring, but we may eventually get to a Gladiator situation where after he scores a hat-trick at the Parc des Princes, Mbappé stands in the center of the pitch and exclaims, “Are you not entertained?!”
Who will lead PSG in assists?
Lionel Messi was the main assist man last season, but he’s taken his talents to South Beach to play for last-place Inter Miami and shop at Publix.
Who can fill his void? Well, the logical answer is Neymar Jr. He finished the season with 11 assists, five behind Messi for the Ligue 1 lead, and that was with him essentially playing half a season.
I don’t love picking Neymar because of his injury history, but he’s clearly the frontrunner when it comes to recording assists at PSG.
If I were to choose a dark horse in this category, it would be Achraf Hakimi. I’m predicting a bounce-back season for the Morocco international in which he will remind everyone why he’s the best right-back in world football. Prior to joining PSG in 2021, Hakimi recorded ten assists in Serie A with Inter Milan. Last season, Hakimi tallied four assists in a very disappointing season. Looking for him to pump those numbers up significantly, especially if PSG signs a proper striker to get on the end of his crosses.
Who will be PSG’s most valuable player?
It’s been several years since we’ve seen the best from him, but with some solid reinforcements around him, I predict Marquinhos will be PSG’s most valuable player.
Unless the new manager, Luis Enrique, makes a surprising decision, Marquinhos will be the captain of PSG and will be tasked with navigating the squad through what’s expected to be a difficult season on and off the pitch.
I’ve already mentioned the Mbappé situation, but Neymar isn’t as beloved by the Ultras as he once was either. Ownership is under fire for questionable signings over the past decade, and who knows what surprises will come during the season?
If PSG’s season is to be a success, Marquinhos will need to be at the top of his game on all levels.
Which new signing will impress the most?
It has to be Manuel Ugarte. He’s PSG’s most expensive signing, and he will slot into a role that’s desperately needed.
Many of PSG’s issues last season stemmed from the midfield. Marco Verratti had to do too much, Vitinha showed a lot of promise at times, Fabian Ruiz got off to a slow start but showed promise toward the end of the season, and the less said about Carlos Soler, the better.
If Ugarte can replicate his performance last season with Sporting CP, where he averaged more tackles and interceptions combined per 90 minutes than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues and recorded the most tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes in Europe’s top seven leagues this past season, PSG’s defense will be under less pressure and Verratti and get forward more to join the attack.
Will PSG win Ligue 1?
You might think this is the easiest prediction to make, and you’re probably right. PSG will win Ligue 1 for the twelfth time in club history, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
Let’s not forget that PSG won the league last year by a single point over RC Lens. During Qatari ownership, PSG has finished second-best twice before, so it can happen.
While I don’t expect Lens to compete at the top of the table again, I do think Olympique de Marseille will pose a challenge for PSG. As will the usual suspects in AS Monaco, Lille OSC, Olympique Lyonnais, and Stade Rennais.
I’m also going to highlight OGC Nice because I think they could be this season’s Lens. They’ve signed Terem Moffi from FC Lorient, and he joins a squad full of talented players, including Khéphren Thuram, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Sofiane Diop.
PSG can’t afford too many slip-ups this season, and while they will be tested weekly, I still expect them to win the French league.
Who will PSG draw in the group stage of the Champions League?
As reigning Ligue 1 champions, PSG will be placed in Pot 1. At the time of publication, qualifying rounds are still in progress, so Pot 3 and Pot 4 aren’t completed yet, but there are plenty of interesting teams to choose from.
Above all, I would love to see some new teams this season in the group stage. Arsenal FC (Pot 2) makes their triumphant return to the competition after several years away. That would be an intriguing matchup considering the Gunners are led by former PSG player Mikel Arteta.
Inter Milan (Pot 2) would be an intriguing matchup as it would mean a return for Škriniar to play his former club in front of supporters who won’t extend a warm welcome.
I don’t necessarily mind a difficult draw as long as PSG draws new teams and avoid Real Madrid (Pot 2). I’d prefer to save Los Blancos for the knockout stage.
How far will PSG go in the Champions League?
The billion-dollar question. In the last two seasons, PSG failed to advance past the Round of 16 of the Champions League. I have to imagine that this season they will be able to improve upon that.
Also, when you look at the landscape right now, who scares you that much? Manchester City? Sure, they’re probably the favorites, but FC Bayern Munich are down, Real Madrid lost Karim Benzema, Barcelona aren’t what they used to be, and can Napoli replicate the magic they had last season?
Every club has questions right now, including PSG, so I think if Neymar can stay healthy and the new signings pan out, PSG could easily find themselves in the latter stages of the Champions League. My prediction? Let’s go with an appearance in the semi-finals.
Which PSG player is most likely to be sold to a Saudi Pro League club?
Earlier this summer, Verratti’s name was linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, but that seems to have cooled. If there’s one player that I think fits the profile of a player choosing to go to that league, it has to be Julian Draxler.
The German is under contract at PSG for another season, and he is the poster child for getting paid a lot of money for producing very little. He has absolutely no place in the current PSG squad after an injury-riddled loan spell at SL Benfica. I don’t think PSG would get that large of a transfer fee for Draxler. If they could get €10 million for him, it would be a stroke of genius.
More predictions!
That’s enough from me; here is what a couple of you had to say via Twitter:
What are your bold predictions for the season? Let me know in the comments below.