Paris Saint-Germain starts its French league title defense on Friday when it takes on Montpelier.
PSG, as the team is often referred to, has bolstered its squad with the acquisition of Edinson Cavani. The forward is expected to provide Zlatan Ibrahimovic with ample support. The addition is so positive that Coach Laurent Blanc thinks that the team could potentially be the best in Europe.
"Paris can win it like Chelsea did it when they were least expected to," Blanc, said in an interview with French daily Le Parisien on Thursday. "It all depends on the draw, the pot, the players in form at that time... I prefer to say that Paris has the potential to win the Champions League," the former France coach added.
"We want to do at least as well as last season."
A year ago, the team fell in the quarter finals against Barcelona despite a 3-3 aggregate through two games; the away goals conceded in the opening game in Paris proved to be the difference.
Paris finished atop the league in 2012-13 with 83 points; the second place Marseille side only obtained 71 points. Montpelier finished in ninth with only 52 points on the year.
According to Sports Mole, the lineups for each club could look like this:
Montpellier: Jourdren; Congre, El Kaoutari, Hilton, Tiene; Mezague, Stambouli, Martin; Cabella, Herrera, Camara
PSG: Sirigu; Maxwell, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Jallet; Motta, Matuidi, Lucas, Pastore; Cavani, Ibrahimovic
Prediction: PSG starts its season with a 2-1 win.
Start Time: 2:30 PM EST
TV: beIN Sport
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