Preview: Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Reigning champions Bayern Munich put together to tackle outdated foes and final season’s crushed finalists Paris Saint-Germain within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on the Allianz Area on Wednesday evening.

Almost eight months have handed since Kingsley Coman propelled Bayern to European glory with a 1-0 win over PSG within the 2019-20 closing, and the 2 giants head into this sport following contrasting fortunes of their home ventures.

Bayern’s quest for a ninth Bundesliga title gathered steam with a 1-0 win over RB Leipzig, however PSG’s trophy hopes took one more important hit with defeat to Lille by the identical scoreline.

Match preview

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Bayern’s sheer dominance of the European soccer scene culminated in former PSG protege Coman scoring the very important objective within the 2019-20 Champions League closing – turning into the primary participant in historical past to web towards his former membership within the showpiece occasion – and Hansi Flick‘s aspect are in no place to let their adversaries wrestle the crown off their fingers now.

The Bavarian giants have been handed a moderately beneficial tie towards Lazio within the last-16 stage, and a 6-2 mixture victory noticed the holders brush apart their Italian counterparts on their technique to one other quarter-final look, and so they have solely didn’t advance previous this stage twice previously 9 seasons.

With 18 victories from their final 19 outings within the Champions League below their belt – the outlier being a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on December 1 – Bayern might turn out to be solely the second workforce in historical past to string collectively a 20-match unbeaten run within the match, following within the footsteps of Manchester United between 2007 and 2009.

Throughout that run, the Bundesliga, European and World champions have come up trumps eight instances in a row on the fortress that’s the Allianz Area, and since Flick took cost, the 56-year-old has witnessed his aspect notch up 54 targets and concede simply 11 within the Champions League, though the lack of Robert Lewandowski might have a big affect on their attacking prowess.

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Nonetheless, Bayern didn’t want their prolific Pole to recover from the road of their most up-to-date encounter, as midfield lynchpin Leon Goretzka propelled them to a slender 1-0 success over title rivals RB Leipzig with a Thirty eighth-minute winner – a consequence which noticed them open up a seven-point lead on the high of the Bundesliga desk.

It has not all been plain crusing for Bayern within the 2020-21 top-flight marketing campaign, and cementing their place atop the rankings with out Lewandowski main the road can be no imply feat, however Flick’s aspect should neglect about their home fortunes in the meanwhile as they intention to channel the spirits of the Nineteen Seventies workforce, who received three European crowns in a row between 1974 and 1976.

Other than Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Actual Madrid, lifting the Champions League trophy aloft two years operating is nearly extraordinary these days, however many will already be inserting bets on Bayern marching to their seventh European title amid an inspirational run of type.

The 30-time nationwide champions haven’t suffered defeat on their very own patch in any competitors since being crushed 2-1 by Bayer Leverkusen all the best way again in November 2019 – when a full enviornment of followers was not only a pipe dream – and the Bayern trustworthy would dearly like to be in attendance for Wednesday’s first leg, however there could also be hope for spectators taking their seats for the ultimate.

In fact, Bayern are nonetheless a way from reaching the showpiece occasion as soon as once more, however having discovered the again of the web in 63 successive matches throughout all competitions, PSG’s faltering crop can’t afford to learn an excessive amount of into the absence of Lewandowski this week.

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PSG have their very own effervescent ahead in Kylian Mbappe aiming to interrupt extra data within the Champions League, however the 22-year-old was powerless to cease his aspect falling to a 1-0 defeat to Lille because the Ligue 1 title race continues to throw up twists and turns in each gameweek.

Jonathan David was the hero of the hour for Les Dogues as Neymar was despatched off late on for a skirmish with Tiago Djalo, who additionally obtained his marching orders, and Mauricio Pochettino could also be sitting moderately uncomfortably within the PSG hotseat proper now, because the Argentine can be absolutely conscious of what can occur to those that fail to guide Les Parisiens to home glory.

Pochettino’s aspect had solely simply regained high spot earlier than being dethroned by Lille – who’ve opened up a three-point hole on the summit with their win in Paris – and whereas a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title is of paramount significance to PSG, that elusive first Champions League crown is the true prize that Leonardo and co so crave.

PSG’s 4-1 triumph in Barcelona despatched shockwaves by way of the footballing world as Mbappe made Camp Nou his playground in entrance of a disconsolate Lionel Messi, and despite the fact that Pochettino’s aspect couldn’t replicate their efficiency in Catalonia on house soil, a 1-1 draw was sufficient to see the French giants advance to the final eight for simply the second time previously 5 seasons.

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Les Parisiens had fallen on the last-16 stage three seasons in a row between 2016 and 2019 earlier than their unsuccessful enterprise final 12 months, however with a mere two wins to boast from their final 5 video games throughout all competitions, Pochettino’s aspect want a direct injection of confidence earlier than their quick journey to Bavaria.

The guests can actually take inspiration from their away type, although, as they’ve received their final seven on the street throughout all competitions, scoring 19 targets and conceding a mere three in that point, and PSG have additionally marched to victory in 5 of their final six Champions League video games on unfamiliar territory.

Extremely, Bayern’s 1-0 win over PSG within the 2019-20 closing represents the one time that the French champions have failed to seek out the again of the web of their final 43 Champions League matches, and with each Neymar and Mbappe equally determined to overcome Europe, not even Flick’s defence could possibly include two of Europe’s brightest attackers this week.

Nonetheless, PSG have already confronted the reigning European champions twice earlier than, and on each events they misplaced, with AC Milan sending them packing within the 1994-95 semi-finals earlier than Actual Madrid got here up trumps of their last-16 battle in the course of the 2017-18 season.

The now-departed Thomas Tuchel was the person who led PSG to the showpiece occasion final summer time, and Pochettino has already masterminded Tottenham Hotspur’s path to the Champions League closing, however the Argentine additionally witnessed Bayern breach his Lilywhites defence seven instances in October 2019 and can be decided to banish these nightmares on the Allianz Area.

Bayern Munich Champions League type:

Bayern Munich type (all competitions):

Paris Saint-Germain Champions League type:

Paris Saint-Germain type (all competitions):

Staff Information

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It stays to be seen if Lewandowski’s knee harm will heal in time for him to participate within the second leg, however in his absence, former PSG attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is about to guide the road towards a number of acquainted faces.

Choupo-Moting beginning up high would solely depart three areas free for Coman, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane to battle for, and the latter would be the unfortunate one to occupy a spot on the Bayern bench.

Defenders Alphonso Davies and Jerome Boateng each sat out the win over Leipzig as a consequence of suspension, however the duo can be found for this encounter and will displace Niklas Sule and Lucas Hernandez within the rearguard.

Nonetheless, Corentin Tolisso and Douglas Costa are preserving Lewandowski firm within the remedy room as they nurse tendon and ankle issues respectively.

PSG will probably recall Ander Herrera to the midfield this week, as Leandro Paredes will sit out the primary leg by way of suspension whereas Danilo Pereira is struggling to beat a calf harm.

Marco Verratti and Alessandro Florenzi have each returned constructive coronavirus exams and can play no half on this encounter, with the latter’s absence giving Colin Dagba the prospect to stake his declare for the right-back spot over Thilo Kehrer.

Abdou Diallo is about to proceed on the other aspect of the rearguard as Layvin Kurzawa continues to battle a calf drawback, whereas Mauro Icardi is nearing a return and will present another choice for Pochettino up high.

Icardi will problem Moise Kean for the prospect to spearhead the assault if handed match, whereas Neymar’s sending-off towards Lille won’t have an effect on his participation on this sport.

Bayern Munich potential beginning lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Choupo-Moting

Paris Saint-Germain potential beginning lineup:
Navas; Dagba, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Gueye, Herrera; Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe; Kean

Head To Head

Wednesday’s first leg represents the tenth assembly between Bayern and PSG within the Champions League, with the hosts boasting 4 wins – together with final season’s closing – in comparison with PSG’s 5.

Bayern’s quintet of defeats to the French champions is the second most they’ve suffered towards a single opponent within the match’s historical past – solely behind the ten losses they’ve succumbed to towards Actual Madrid – and PSG’s 5 wins over their opponents is essentially the most they’ve loved towards any workforce within the Champions League.

Nonetheless, Les Parisiens have solely managed one win on Bayern’s turf, with George Weah netting the winner throughout a 1-0 group stage triumph within the 1994-95 marketing campaign.

We are saying: Bayern Munich 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Bayern have targets in abundance even with out Lewandowski and his golden contact, however the Bavarian giants can’t anticipate to march to an emphatic first-leg victory like they did towards Lazio, even with PSG stuttering in Ligue 1.

The 2 groups each know one another’s strengths and weaknesses as they put together to resume hostilities as soon as once more, and a spate of PSG absences might assist decide the tie in Bayern’s favour, so we’re backing a slender first-leg triumph for the reigning champions.