Paris Saint-Germain open their 2013/14 Champions League campaign with a clash against Dutch champions Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday.
Where to Watch Live
The game is set for an 8.45 pm local time (12.15 am IST) start and can be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Catch the action in the UK on Sky Sports Red Button, with the option to live stream the match online HERE.
Viewers in the US can watch the Champions League game on Fox Soccer Plus and ESPN Deportes+, with an option to live stream HERE. Audience in the Middle East and North Africa can catch the action via live streaming HERE, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can do the same HERE.
After doing brilliantly in the group stages and the round of sixteen of the Champions League last season, PSG were tragically knocked out of the competition following a dramatic loss to Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
Despite registering a 3-1 win over the Blues at home, they suffered a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea progressed to the semifinals on away goals.
Nevertheless, the French side would not be that disappointed with their performances as they have not been in the Champions League for long.
This season, however, PSG, who have not made a very good start in the Ligue 1 this season, sitting in fifth position following two wins and three draws in their opening five fixtures, will not have a cake walk in the group stages as they have been placed in a slightly difficult group alongside Barcelona, Ajax and APOEL.
Still, PSG boss Laurent Blanc says that his side are aiming to "go as far as possible" in the Champions League this season.
"Our only goal is to go as far as possible. At the start of the competition you can always say that your goal is to win it, but the problem is that so many clubs say they want to win there's almost no sense saying it. The most important thing is just to get through the group stage," Blanc told UEFA's official website.
Meanwhile, Ajax, who were once a dominant side in Europe, winning the European title in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1995, have failed to progress beyond the group stages for the last eight years.
However, in their defence, they have been drawn into some really tough groups in the last couple of seasons.
While they were drawn alongside Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Manchester City in the 2012/13 season, they were placed in an equally tough group in the succeeding season alongside the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan and Celtic.
This season will also not be easy for the Dutch champions as there will be competition from Barcelona, PSG and APOEL Nicosia in the group stages.
Despite acknowledging the difficulty of the group, Ajax boss Frank de Boer insists that his side are capable of getting some positive results this season.
"We are in a tough group – it seems we have drawn two of the strongest teams, but we showed last season we can get points against these sides. You need to enjoy these matches and try to surprise the big teams," de Boer said.
De Boer also insists that Ajax are not afraid of PSG despite the French club crushing many teams in the group stages of the Champions League last season.
"I think you should respect every opponent but you shouldn't be afraid of them. We always try to look where we can take advantage. They have more quality and experience at the moment, but that doesn't mean they necessarily have to win," he added.
Expected lineups: Ajax: Jasper Cillessen; Nicolai Boilesen, Niklas Moisander, Joel Veltman, Ricardo van Rhijn; Niki Zimling, Nick Viergever, Davy Klaassen; Lasse Schöne, Kolbeinn Sigthórsson, Anwar El Ghazi.
PSG: Salvatore Sirigu; Gregory van der Wiel, Daniel Luiz, Marquinhos, Maxwell; Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti, Javier Pastore; Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimović.
