The initial Champions League matches involving Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain highlighted some shortcomings in the new format of the European competition. Both the London and the French side put minimal effort on attacking against strong opponents, focusing primarily on defensive play. A similar approach may be seen in the second round, as neither team needs to take unnecessary risks.
Not long ago, Arsenal had a run of five matches with the total under 2.5, including their away fixture against Atalanta (0:0). In that game, Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya shone, saving a penalty at the start of the second half, while his teammates managed a mere 0.65 xG with two shots on target. Last week, Arsenal players had emphatic victories over Bolton Wanderers (5:1) and Leicester City (4:2), but when faced with serious competition, they are likely to revert to a solid defensive strategy.
Despite the deafening support from their home fans, Paris Saint-Germain struggled to edge past Girona (1:0) two weeks ago, with the French side's victory coming courtesy of a goalkeeper error from the opposition. Matvey Safonov's debut for Paris Saint-Germain saw 0.11 xGA and just one shot on target—the team allowed the Catalan side only 38% possession. It's also worth noting that without the injured Marco Asensio, Paris Saint-Germain lost their option of starting with a false nine, as the midfielder was playing in that role.
It's clear that the star-studded squads of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have the ability to put on a spectacular show, but they will reserve their full prowess for decisive matches. The second round is likely to be a quiet affair for both teams, with few goals expected.
