Paris Saint-Germain out to equal Real Madrid scoring record in Champions League

Les Parisiens headed into the 2022-23 season seeking to consign their previous European failures to history and opened with a 2-1 success over Juventus at the Parc des Princes last week.

Kylian Mbappe was at the double for PSG in that game as they quickly cemented themselves in the top two of Group H, with Benfica currently leading the way.

Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa find themselves rock bottom of the group after going down 2-0 to Benfica on the opening matchday, and they will welcome PSG to the Sammy Ofer Stadium later this week.

Christophe Galtier's side have been in hot goalscoring form throughout the Ligue 1 season, and the current PSG team are aiming to continue a remarkable hot streak for their side in Europe.

Having scored in each of their last 39 Champions League group-stage games, PSG could equal Real Madrid's record of 40 if they find the back of the net against Maccabi Haifa.

Los Blancos originally achieved the feat between November 2008 and September 2015, and their streak was actually broken by PSG in a 0-0 draw during the 2015-16 group stage.

That same tournament also represents the last time that Les Parisiens failed to score in the Champions League group stage, which coincidentally came in a 1-0 loss to Real at the Bernabeu just two weeks after the aforementioned goalless draw.

However, Mauricio Pochettino failed to steer his side to an away victory in the Champions League throughout the 2021-22 season, but their Israeli hosts are enduring a seven-game winless streak in Europe.

Galtier has inherited the famed front three of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Mbappe at the Parc des Princes, and each member of the trio has started the new season as they mean to go on.

Mbappe has already scored nine goals in seven appearances this season, while Neymar has 10 goals and seven assists on his record from nine outings in all tournaments.

Meanwhile, Messi is aiming to improve on his slightly underwhelming first season in Paris, and the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has opened the new campaign with three goals and seven assists in seven Ligue 1 matches.

Messi did not directly contribute towards the 2-1 win over Juventus last week, and he is preparing to face an Israeli club for the first time in the Champions League this week.

Should the Argentina international make the net ripple against Maccabi Haifa, he would have scored against 39 different teams in the Champions League, which would see him leave Cristiano Ronaldo (38) behind and become the new leader in that category.