PSG, Arsenal chase first title
Champions League crown has proven to be elusive for storied franchises
PARIS— One is a veteran of nearly 20 years at his club, the other started his new job only months ago. Both share the same goal: delivering European glory with teams lacking a Champions League title.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger are on opposite trajectories when the Champions League resumes for their teams on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.
It will be Emery’s first Champions League game as PSG’s coach, while Wenger is starting a 19th consecutive campaign in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Here is a look at Tuesday’s matches:
GROUP A
Unlike his former great rival Alex Ferguson, who turned Manchester United into a European powerhouse, Wenger has not tasted Champions League success since he was appointed Arsenal’s manager 20 years ago. Despite qualifying for the lucrative tournament for an English record 19 consecutive seasons, Arsenal has never won Europe’s biggest prize, losing to Barcelona in the 2006 final. The Gunners are looking to get beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2010.
Emery’s record in the Champions League is quite disappointing compared to what he achieved with Sevilla in the Europa League. Emery, who replaced Laurent Blanc this summer, guided Sevilla to a third consecutive Europa League title last season but led his various teams to just eight Champions League wins in 25 games.
Basel hosts Ludogorets in the group’s other game.
GROUP B
Benfica and Besiktas meet for the first time in European competition with the group looking wide open. Benfica lost to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season and Besiktas is looking to make it to the knockout round for the first time.
Hosting Napoli in the group’s other match, Dynamo Kyiv has a poor re- cord against Italian sides, having won just twice in 20 matches with Italian opposition. Back in the Champions League after exiting in the group stage two seasons ago, Napoli is attempting to overcome the departure of standout striker Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus. Jose Callejon has been filling in quite nicely, scoring two goals in each of Napoli’s last two Serie A matches.
GROUP C
Barcelona and Manchester City, two of the top candidates for the Europe- an Cup, start their respective campaigns against more accessible opponents before their highly anticipated clash in the group stage.
Barcelona hosts Celtic, while City welcomes Borussia Moenchengladbach. Pep Guardiola goes into his first Champions League campaign as City manager having won all six of his games in charge.
GROUP D
Five-time champion Bayern Munich survived a scare on Friday to maintain coach Carlo Ancelotti’s perfect start before turning attention to Champions League debutant Rostov.
The Champions League is uncharted territory for Russian runner-up Rostov, which has never before played in the group stage of a UEFA competition.
In the group’s other game, 2015 runner-up Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven are no strangers. Atletico needed to a penalty shootout to eliminate PSV from the round of 16 last season after both legs ended in a 0-0 stalemate.