Bayern host PSG to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night in a mouth-watering matchup. Both teams aim to get their hands on Europe’s ultimate prize. The Bavarians won the first leg and are favourites heading into this one.
To Win Match
Bayern Munich 3/4 | Draw 7/2 | PSG 29/10
Bayern Munich
Having won the first leg 1-0 in Paris, Bayern Munich will be confident of getting past PSG in front of their home support as they chase down a seventh European title.
The Bavarians always fancy themselves whenever they step onto the Allianz Arena, but they’ll need to be wary of threat that PSG pose.
The Ligue 1 giants were the last club to beat Bayern on their turf in the Champions League in a 3-2 defeat two years ago. However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side haven’t lost at home since, with seven wins and a draw, including victories over Benfica, Barcelona and Inter Milan, while they hammered Salzburg 7-1 last year.
With the firepower Bayern possess, coupled with the return of Sadio Mane, the German heavyweights will not park the bus but instead look to their attacking players to inflict damage on PSG’s backline that have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine games.
Nagelsmann is not short of attacking options with the likes of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala and first leg goal scorer Kingsley Coman to choose from.
Benjamin Pavard is suspended after being shown a red card for a reckless challenge on Lionel Messi late in the first leg, while Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez are both doubts after failing to train in the buildup to the game.
Predicted Line-up: Sommer; Stanisic, Upamecano, De Ligt; Coman, Kimmich, Goretzka, Davies; Sane, Musiala; Choupo-Moting
Paris Saint-Germain
Still searching for their first European title, Paris Saint-Germain will be desperate to keep their Champions League dream alive. But the Parisians will know they’ll need to be at their best if they are to overturn a 1-0 deficit and oust Bayern in their own backyard.
Christophe Galtier has a star-studded squad with some of the biggest names in world football such as Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Neymar, however, will be forced to watch the game after it was revealed that he will miss the remainder of the season after being stretchered off with an ankle injury in the 4-3 win over Lille on February 19.
There’s no doubt Neymar’s absence will come as a huge blow for Galtier’s side. However, the Parisians do possess more than enough quality at their disposal, and they head into this clash in fine form, having won their last three matches.
Bayern will need to be alert all game when coming up against the dynamic duo of Messi and Mbappe, two of the world’s best footballers. The pair have both been on the scoresheet in each of PSG’s last three victories and will look to continue their scoring form as they look to overcome this huge German hurdle.
While PSG are yet to win Europe’s ultimate club competition, they do have players with a strong winning mentality which could prove key to their chances of advancing to the next round.
Predicted Line-up: Donnarumma; Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos; Hakimi, Ruiz, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes; Messi, Mbappe
Verdict: Bayern Munich Win (3/4)
Bayern Munich are a force to be reckoned with, and on their turf, should prove too strong for the Parisians who lack the know-how when it comes to big European nights. The absence of Neymar will only make things tougher for PSG to break through Bayern’s lock tight defence.
