On matchday two of this year's UEFA Champions League, PSG did what no other team have been able to do thus far against La Liga leaders Barcelona. Not only were Les Parisiens able to become the first to score past the Blaugrana but also were able to finish the match as the victors in an entertaining 3-2 clash in front of their home crowd.
Even more impressive was the fact that this feat was accomplished without the likes of talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and star defender Thiago Silva, with both the Swede and the Brazilian having to miss out due to injuries.
Domestically, it's been a tough season so far for the reigning Ligue 1 champions. Les Parisiens, who have been struck by an injury crisis, are presently eight points behind league leaders Marseille and while they have yet to taste defeat, it's still not something that fans are too pleased about right now.
The win over Barcelona, though, has moved them to the top of Group F and with Lionel Messi and his teammates going for the jugular against Ajax, Laurent Blanc's men will be keen on earning all three points against APOEL to keep themselves at their quartet's summit.
The French powerhouse have only met with the Cypriot outfit twice, back in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the 1993/1994 campaign that ended as wins for PSG. Moreover, their hosts have never won against any kind of French opposition and boast a poor record of four losses and two wins. And to cap it off, they are dead last in their group with just one point earned so far.
Despite their injury woes, Blanc was keen to stress that his side, which could see Thiago Silva finally return after being out since August will fight it out for the win, regardless of which 11 men he selects to take to the pitch.
"We want a positive result and we will not hide behind the injuries, [so] regardless of the team [I] pick, we have to earn all three points," the PSG boss pointed out in his pre-match press conference.
He also recognized that the Cypriots will probably put everyone behind the ball for periods of the game:
"We will try to impose our game against a team that defends very deep, [and while] we can expect to have the ball [we have to recognize that] their players are very disciplined and courageous."
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