The stats, stakes and history of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League group stage opener.
A LITTLE HISTORY...
It's the team's third competitive meeting after two Parisian wins in the competition: 5-0 in Bruges on 22/10/2019, 1-0 at the Parc on 06/11/2019).
The capital club has, however, lost both friendlies played against Brugge: (0-2 on 27/07/1996, 0-2 on 22/07/2006).
Paris Saint-Germain have faced Belgian opposition 12 times: Anderlecht (6 matches), Club Brugge (2 matches), Gent (2 matches) and Waterschei (2 matches), registering seven wins and a sole defeat. They've won on their last three trips to Belgium: at Anderlecht (5-0 on 23/10/2013, 4-0 on 18/10/2017) and Bruges (5-0, on 22/10/2019).
Three players have played for both clubs: Thomas Meunier, Stanley Nsoki and David Rozehnal.
THE STAKES...
Paris Saint-Germain will open their 30th European campaign since their continental debut in 1982/83.
The Rouge et Bleu will be playing their 128th UEFA Champions League game. Their record reads 69 wins, 23 draws, 35 losses. It's the club's 240th UEFA competition game with 125 wins and 61 defeats to date (including the European Super Cup, but not the Intertoto Cup).
This is the tenth successive season the club are in the UEFA Champions League group stage, a feat matched by just five other teams: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester City.
Paris are one of only four teams, along with Bayern, Real and Barca, to have reached the knockout stages every season since 2012-2013. They have finished top of their section in the last four seasons and on six occasions in the last nine campaigns.
THE KEYS TO THE match...
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick on his last visit to Bruges, and has 21 UEFA Champions League goals, putting him nine short of Edinson Cavani's club record in European competition. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Neymar Jr (20) lie just behind.
Paris have scored in their last 32 group games since losing to Real Madrid (0-1 on 03/11/2015).
Captain Marquinhos will feature in his 66th European game for the club, one short of Marco Verratti's club record (67 matches).