Paris (AFP)

The Champions League by its most difficult side: the Paris SG, weighted of his past disappointments and deprived of his stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, starts Wednesday (21:00) his quest for the Grail against Real Madrid that Zinedine Zidane rebuilds.

The king "Zizou" left the Parc des Princes in March 2018 on a victorious 8th final which eliminated PSG (3-1, 2-1) and launched his team to a third consecutive coronation. Back 18 months later, he was able to see that the showcase of the European exploits of Parisians took a little dust.

In a year and a half, and despite the millions of euros invested, the double champion of France in title has not progressed on the biggest stage. Madrid's nightmare followed the humiliation of Manchester United last spring which ended up sticking to him the label of very wealthy "loser".

It is therefore the head down that the PSG starts this new European campaign. After a summer that disrupted all the club's desire to start a new cycle, the sporting director Leonardo has a change of attitude.

"It will not be the bling-bling season, + we will win the Champions League +, no, it will not be like that," he said on August 31. "We will seek to reorganize, to review things.The ambitions are not revised downward, we are obliged to have ambitions at PSG.I say only that we have things to settle.

On Tuesday, coach Thomas Tuchel remained very cautious when discussing the European goals of the season: "It's match after match."

- Paris without MCN -

The modesty displayed by the two men may seem out of step with the great ambitions of the Qatari owner with unlimited means, who dreams of conquering Europe. But she falls for this meeting face Real, because Paris will have to leave his jewels in the safe.

Neymar, four days after his magnificent goal against Strasbourg (1-0) for his return after the episode of his aborted transfer to Barcelona, ​​will have to watch the first of his two games of suspension, while the attackers Kylian Mbappé and Edinson Cavani , wounded, have forfeited.

Without his formidable "MCN", coach Thomas Tuchel faces a big headache for his attack: who Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting or Mauro Icardi can hold the house in the axis? The Cameroonian, usual lining, has started his season (3 goals in L1) but has never played a game of this level with PSG, while the Argentine rookie is out of pace.

"It's a big, big challenge, it's also a great opportunity to show that we can deliver a good collective performance, and I think we're ready for that," said the coach.

More widely, it's all the Parisian game that is to rethink, after a new performance not reassuring Saturday. At the start of a decisive week that will end in Lyon on Sunday, the German technician must quickly find ideas, at risk of being threatened again to his post.

- Real in full revolution -

A defeat on Wednesday would also make him live, during the next day, a trip under very high pressure to Galatasaray, armed to play the spoilsports in this group A that completes Bruges. It would also harm the image of the club and its owner, Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who will be present at the stadium according to Le Parisien.

Conversely, a victory would throw the PSG on the road to the first place and eventually to a more affordable opponent in eighths.

Today, all this seems far away, as far as the "Decimocuarta", a 14th C1, that Zidane hopes to offer to Real after coming back in savior in March to rebuild a Real at the end of the cycle.

But his "French Revolution", as the press called it, comes up against a cascade of wounded and suspended that limits his choices. Between Luka Modric, Marco Asensio, Isco, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Nacho, the "White House" will pass its first real test of solidity without several of its pillars.

"I think our start is good, even if we can do better, we can and we will have to improve at all levels, we have found ourselves, but we can do better. it's the same thing, "said Zizou.

Forwards Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, however, keep a constant threat to the goal of their former teammate Keylor Navas, now installed in the Paris cage.

Wednesday, two projects and two ambitions will be measured in Paris. Which of the two buildings will be the strongest?

© 2019 AFP