PSG vs Bayern Munich – Preview
One of the most anticipated games of this season will take place on Tuesday, with PSG gearing up to host Bayern Munich in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash. The Parc des Princes will be the venue of this 3 p.m. ET clash as the French giants, who head into this tie with the advantage, look to secure their spot in the semifinals.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions already have one foot in the last four. Having beaten the champions of Europe 3-2 in the first leg, Pochettino's side need simply to see out the game in order to secure progression. However, if that Allianz Arena showdown was to be a gauge for the return leg, Mbappe and Co. could be in for a rough time.
The 2018 World Cup winner was in inspirational form, scoring twice in Munich, breaking the deadlock just minutes after kick off before grabbing the winning goal in the second half. However, it should be noted that while PSG marched to an excellent 2-0 lead, Hans Flick's side were able to come back and make it two-all by the hour mark.
Furthermore, given that Marquinhos picked up a knock in that crucial away win and is thus unlikely to start in this tie, Pochettino's men could be in for a rough time. However, the onus is on Bayern Munich to score, meaning PSG can do what they do best and that is allow their opponent to make the first move before pouncing on the counter, with the likes of Mbappe and Neymar thriving under this tactic.
On the flip side, it should be pointed out that Les Parisiens have not fared well at home as of late. The French powerhouse have picked up only one victory in their last five Parc des Princes fixtures, losing three of them. That sole win came in the Coupe de France while one of those three defeats came against Lille, a result which titled the Ligue 1 race against Pochettino's side. Fortunately, they head into this tie on the back of a 4-1 triumph over Strasbourg, with Mbappe scoring once and assisting another in that thrashing.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, enter the second leg on the back of a disappointing 1-1 weekend draw with Union Berlin. The Germans have failed to get past the quarterfinals only once in the last 10 seasons but given the result and the team selection headache, Hans Flick could be headed for a premature exit after guiding the Bundesliga outfit to a historic sextuple.
Goalscoring machine Robert Lewandowski will, once again, watch this clash from the stands due to a knee injury, while Serge Gnabry, another source of Bayern Munich goals, is also out after contracting COVID-19. As a result, pulling off a comeback will be an uphill battle but there are reasons to be optimistic.
Firstly, PSG's home form hasn't been great and if Barcelona can create many opportunities at the Parc des Princes, so should Bayern. Unlike Messi and Co, the Germans are likelier to put away their chances. Furthermore, Flick's side haven't failed to score on the road since May 2019, meaning goals are all but guaranteed in this fixture. Do not miss this clash!
Team news
PSG: As mentioned earlier, Marquinhos could be available for this fixture but the Brazilian is unlikely to start bar a miracle late recovery. Similarly, Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Verratti, having both just recovered from COVID-19, are unlikely to make the starting eleven. Leandro Paredes returns from suspension, which is a huge boost, while Keylor Navas stands a great chance of featuring despite coming off with a muscular injury over the weekend.
Bayern Munich: With Robert Lewandowski out, Choupo-Moting will once again lead the line and will be looking to get on the scoresheet once again. Serge Gnabry has unfortunately contracted COVID-19 while Kingsley Coman is a doubt after picking up a knock over the weekend. Niklas Sule has been ruled out while Marc Roca, Leon Goretzka and Jerome Boateng are all doubts.
Key stats
-
PSG became the first team to beat a Flick-lead Bayern Munich side in the UEFA Champions League, ending their 17-game unbeaten streak.
-
Mbappe could set a new record for the most goals scored by a Frenchman in a single UCL campaign, having equaled the current record (8 goals) held by Trezeguet and Ben Yedder.
-
The French giants are yet to lose to a German team on home soil.
-
The Bavarians will be looking to secure progression in a UCL knockout tie after losing the first leg for the first time since 2014-15.
Broadcast listings
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
