Dynamo Zagreb vs Paris St Germain preview - Calic wary of PSG threat - 7M sport

Dynamo Zagreb vs Paris St Germain preview - Calic wary of PSG threat



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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2012 by PA

Dynamo Zagreb coach Ante Calic has admitted his side will be up against a "mega-team" when they take on star-studded Paris St Germain in search of their first points in Group A of the Champions League.

The odds seem stacked against the Croatians as they bid to avoid a third straight defeat while facing Carlo Ancelotti's expensively assembled squad.

"What can I say about a 'mega-team' like PSG?" Calic told gnkdinamo.hr.

"Starting with Ancelotti on the bench, and looking at all of his players, they are a great team and this will be a good test to see if we can improve after our first two games.

"We must play as a team for the full 90 minutes and we want more than a good display. We believe we can do more."

The challenge to avoid another defeat in Group A might be a daunting one given the opposition, but Calic can take heart from having a full compliment of players at his disposal.

However, the Croatians' last competitive game against a French club ended in a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Lyon in December 2011.

PSG arrive in Croatia after retaking top spot in Ligue 1 thanks to Marseille's shock defeat to Troyes at the weekend.

However, they are still not firing on all cylinders themselves, with injuries affecting Ancelotti's squad and the coach still trying to get the best out of Javier Pastore, who is expected to start after he was benched for the victory over Reims at the weekend.

"I hope that Pastore will have a big night," Ancelotti said. "I hope he will find his confidence and demonstrate his abilities."

Ancelotti has plenty of decisions to make when it comes to finding room for Pastore in the starting line-up.

Nene suffered a fractured cheekbone against Reims, but his replacement Jeremy Menez impressed while it was Kevin Gameiro who came up with the key goal for a second match running, having also bailed his side out in the 2-2 draw with Marseille.

"Menez played well against Reims, but I haven't forgotten Gameiro got the winning goals in our last two home games," he said. "Both players have different characteristics."

PSG's array of stars have put them in the bracket of potential Champions League winners, but Ancelotti knows they cannot afford to get ahead of themselves and overlook difficult trips such as this one.

"We must first get out of this group and then see what we can do," he said.

"I hope we can go as far as possible, but the pressure is constant and necessary.

"There are six games in this group, and Wednesday is only the third. Everything remains to be done."



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