PSG Chase Rare Three-Peat as Champions League Season Begins

Paris Saint-Germain begin another Champions League campaign with a chance to enter one of European football’s most exclusive groups. The French champions have won the competition in each of the past two seasons, and a third straight title would place them alongside only a handful of previous winners.

Real Madrid won three consecutive European Cups under Zinedine Zidane from 2016 to 2018. Ajax achieved the feat from 1971 to 1973, and Bayern Munich from 1974 to 1976. Madrid also won the first five editions of the European Cup, from 1956 to 1960.

“Our objectives are clear. I want to win important trophies and there are none more important than the Champions League,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. He also led Barcelona to the title in 2015. PSG’s consecutive victories have come during the competition’s new format, which has 36 teams playing eight league-phase matches against eight different opponents.

The format has not made the opening stage easy for PSG. The club finished outside the top eight in each of the last two campaigns and needed an additional playoff round to reach the last 16. This season’s opponents include Manchester City, Barcelona and Aston Villa.

Arsenal are presented as another leading contender after reaching the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final over the past three years. The club topped last season’s league phase with a perfect record but faces a difficult opening away to Napoli. Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa give England five representatives, while Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona remain among the expected favorites. Inter Milan could also challenge, and Atletico Madrid will be eager to reach a final staged at their own stadium. Newcomers such as Como are set to add fresh names to the competition.

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Our objectives are clear. I want to win important trophies and there are none more important than the Champions League.