Paris Saint-Germain will begin their Champions League title defense on Tuesday evening at the Parc des Princes, facing Slovan Bratislava in the group stage opener. The match marks the start of PSG’s bid to join Real Madrid as the only club to secure three consecutive Champions League titles since the competition was rebranded from the European Cup in 1992.

PSG head coach Luis Enrique, who took charge after Yaya Touré’s tenure as Slovan Bratislava’s head coach, is preparing for a tactical challenge posed by his former player. Touré, an Ivorian midfielder and former star at both Manchester City and Barcelona, was with Barcelona prior to Enrique’s arrival but has transitioned into management. Enrique noted that Touré’s teams tend to emphasize possession-based football, reflecting his playing philosophy developed at his previous clubs. However, Enrique remains uncertain whether Slovan will maintain this offensive style or adopt a more defensive approach, saying, “We'll have to adapt as the match progresses.”

Reflecting on PSG’s previous Champions League success, Enrique emphasized the importance of moving forward, stating that despite winning last year’s final on penalties against Arsenal, “The past is the past, you have to renew your driver's licence every year.” He acknowledged the increased pressure and anticipation from opponents eager to challenge the reigning champions.

Team captain Marquinhos echoed a similar sentiment about maintaining consistency and team cohesion. He highlighted the group’s commitment to their playing philosophy as a key factor in their past success, saying, “It's up to us to maintain this level of expectation and this philosophy within our group. That's how we won, how we made people cry with emotion when we won, and that's why we're going to fight to win this competition again.”

The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. local time, with PSG aiming to assert their dominance early in the tournament on home ground.