Last year’s Champions League final between Bayern and PSG went in the German team’s favour, but will the script be re-written and can the French side come out victorious in this Quarter-Final clash?
The all-time head-to-head record between Bayern Munich and PSG is extremely close, with the Parisian’s only just ahead by five wins to Bayern’s four.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain faced off last August in the Final of this very competition. The German outfit came out on top in Lisbon after a well-placed header from former-PSG winger Kingsley Coman as well as a superhuman goalkeeping display from Manuel Neuer secured Bayern’s sixth Champions League title.
In each team’s respective leagues, Bayern Munich are in outstanding form winning five of their last five league games. The most recent win being a crucial 1-0 win against title rivals RB Leipzig on Saturday.
A powerful shot from midfield general Leon Goretzka from ten yards out was the difference in Leipzig which moved Hans-Dieter Flick’s side seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table with seven games to go.
Paris Saint-Germain have won just two of their last five games in all competitions. Their latest game coming against LOSC Lille which ended in a 1-0 defeat. A goal from Jonathan David, which deflected off Thilo Kehrer over Keylor Navas’ outstretched arms, helped Lille leap-frog PSG to the summit of the Ligue 1 table.
The game also saw Neymar dismissed in the late stages of the game after he pushed over Tiago Djalo. The red mist descended on the hot-headed Brazilian as he retaliated to a series of challenges, and will now miss PSG’s next league fixture against Strasbourg, however is available for selection in Munich on Wednesday as domestic suspensions do not carry over into the European competition.
In Robert Lewandowski’s absence, Bayern could struggle for firepower in attack, with the Pole scoring 42 goals in all club competitions so far this season, however, Saturday’s win proved that Bayern can win without him.
This could give a player like Thomas Muller the chance to shine. The German has clocked up 13 goals and 16 assists in all club competitions for Bayern and the competition holders will be relying on two strong performances from the 31-year-old throughout the two legs of the Quarter-Finals if they are to stand any chance of advancing against the potent PSG.
For their French opposition, wonderkid Kylian Mbappe offers lightning pace, power, and incredible finishing. The versatile attacker has netted 30 goals in all club competitions as well as nine assists and will be hoping to go one better in the Champions League this year after last year’s heartbreaking defeat in the Final.
A game that has been a fierce occasion in recent years, and with PSG wanting revenge after last year’s final by dumping Bayern out of this year’s tournament, this tie ticks every box to be a fantastic spectacle across the two legs.
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