BAYERN MUNICH VS PSG
Just over seven months on from their final in Lisbon, Bayern Munich and PSG are set to clash in the Champions League again, this time in the quarterfinals. The French champions visit Allianz Arena on Wednesday night for the first leg in what is set to be an engaging tie.
Bayern come into the match on the back off a professional 1-0 win in a top of the table encounter with RB Leipzig. The victory was their seventh in a row across competitions, a run which includes a 6-2 aggregate triumph in the Round of 16 over Lazio.
Three huge points π
SEVEN point lead π
π΄βͺ #RBLFCB pic.twitter.com/CwEn0ZMcAk
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 3, 2021
PSG will be looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Lille which left them second in the league, three points behind their opponents on Saturday. The French giants have had a stop-start season but comfortably defeated Barcelona 5-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
TEAM NEWS
The defending champions will be missing their talisman Robert Lewandowski who picked up a knee injury while on international duty with Poland. He joins Douglas Costa and Corentin Tolisso on the sidelines who have metatarsal and thigh injuries respectively.
Bayern Munich Probable Lineup: Neuer; Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Muller, Sane; Gnabry
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino will be without the services of Marco Verratti and Alessandro Florenzi, both of whom tested positive for Covid-19. Leandro Paredes is suspended for the first leg while Mauro Icardi, Danilo, Layvin Kurzawa and Pablo Sarabia are all injury doubts. Juan Bernat is a long-term absentee due to the ACL tear he suffered earlier in the season
PSG Probable Lineup: Navas; Kehrer, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Gueye, Herrera, Di Maria; Neymar, Kean, Mbappe
Following a COVID test, Alessandro Florenzi is confirmed positive.
He will therefore enter isolation and is subject to the appropriate health protocol. As a reminder, the player had been in isolation for a few days as a precaution.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 5, 2021
GAME CHANGERS
Thomas Muller has been creator in chief for the Bavarians this season, leading the Bundesligaβs assist charts. His movement between the lines will be key for bypassing PSGβs robust midfield of Gueye and Herrera.
Leon Goretzka will be the other man to watch out for in Bayernβs midfield. The German scored the winner at the weekend, his third goal in four matches in the league. His partnership with Kimmich has been integral to Bayernβs success under Flick and the duo will be looking to run the show once again.
ThomASSIST Muller π€ Leon SCOREtzka
15 Bundesliga assists for Muller this season.
Muller to Goretzka for the second successive away game.
Bayern beat Leipzig 1-0 to go seven points clear in the league.
Next up: PSG on Thursday in the #UCL β½οΈ#OptusSport pic.twitter.com/efkVj2qPZ7
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) April 4, 2021
PSG will rely on the usual suspects β Neymar and Mbappe β to get in behind the German sideβs defence. Neymar however has had a poor campaign, struggling with injuries and suspensions. Mbappe up against Davies on PSGβs left is a mouth-watering match up that could decide the tie.
Angel di Maria will be tasked with unlocking the key to supply PSGβs strike line. Whether he can stand his own in what is likely to be a physical midfield can be the decisive factor in his sideβs success.
PREDICTIONS
Bayern have been a well-oiled machine under Hansi Flick and are marching on to another Bundesliga title. PSG meanwhile have regressed since last seasonβs Champions League final and have a lengthy injury list. However, the absence of arguably the worldβs best player in Lewandowski means that FootTheBall predicts a closer match, Bayern Munich 3-1 PSG.