It is 4,500 kilometers away that PSG plays its second Champions League match this Wednesday. After crunching Juventus Turin (2-1), PSG arrives as a big favorite on the shores of the Mediterraneanin northern Israel, with its world stars, Neymar, in great shape, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.
If he can count on his “NMM” in front, PSG will however have to do without Presnel Kimpembe, victim of a muscle injury, in defense, to try to exorcise the bad memory of 1998. The Parisians then lost 3 -2 in Haifa (1-1 on the way to the Park), falling in the first round of the last edition of the Cups Cup (C2). It was certainly almost a quarter of a century ago, but mistrust will remain in the Parisian clan, especially since Maccabi held up well for a period at Benfica last week in Lisbon before losing (2-0).
24 years later, return to Haifa
Eric Rabesandratana our consultant has a special memory of Haifa. PSG defender at the time, he and his teammates were eliminated in Haifa in 1998 in the round of 16 of the Coupe des Coupes (1-1, 2-3). Among our colleagues from AFP, “Rabé” explained that he did not “no worries” before this game.
What will make the difference is their involvement, whether they arrive as tourists or whether they are determined to make the effort to kill the match” and to continue “There is a serious match to be made, but this year they are serious in all matches”, continues the former central defender, before adding, with a smirk: “In addition, all lovers of stats will want to shine…
On his talent and current form, a draw and eight wins in all competitions, PSG seems clearly above Maccabi, where you have to watch Surinamese midfielder Tjaronn Chery or Haitian striker Frantzdy Pierrot, who comes from Guingamp (2019-2022). Haifa also has two Frenchmen in its ranks, left-back Pierre Cornud and a central defender trained at PSG, Dylan Batubinsika, who played the first match at Benfica.
1,500 PSG fans expected
For this match where the atmosphere promises to be boiling with the presence of 33,500 Maccabi fans. PSG for its part will count on the presence of 600 fans who come from France and 900 others who come from all over Israel (PSG Club Israel). For its part, the Collectif Ultras Paris has decided to “boycott” this trip, the main group of PSG supporters denounces“restrictions prejudicial to (his) freedoms”
Maccabi Haïfa – PSG, special evening from 8 p.m. to midnight on France Bleu Paris with Miguel Derennes, Bruno Salomon, Pia Clemens and Eric Rabesandratana