Thiniba Samoura, the 22-year-old Paris Saint-Germain (ranked 9th) defender, spoke at a press conference ahead of the match against OH Leuven (ranked 11th) this Thursday at 9 PM (CET as part of Matchday 2 of the 2026-2027 Women’s Champions League.
Samoura: “We’re expecting a big match.”
“We know that every match is both important and difficult. We’re expecting a pretty tough encounter, with plenty of duels and high intensity. We’ll make sure to bring the right ingredients to win this game.
Beyond the physical battles, we know they are a team that performs well in transitions, too. We’re expecting a big match. Personally, I feel good. I’m confident. That said, I know I can always do better. We’re working hard, and I hope to keep this momentum going.
Samoura: “We want to take those three points.”
Our goal in the Women’s Champions League this season is to do better than last season. We picked up an initial point against Real Madrid; now we want to secure those three points.”
This opponent might be the most “manageable” one in PSG’s league phase, but they are still a strong side that must be taken very seriously. Nothing will come easily—a point Samoura rightly emphasizes. However, the clear intention is to win. That ambition is openly acknowledged, and rightly so; Paris needs that drive to push forward and qualify for the next stage.
While the three points aren’t strictly mandatory tonight, securing them is clearly preferable. Having to string together wins later on would create immense pressure. It is better to make progress as soon as possible. It is up to the Paris side to approach this match properly, with the same determination shown against Real Madrid last week (1–1)—while also adding clinical finishing. It is up to PSG to prove on the pitch that they can be ambitious in this competition.
