Bayern Monaco-PSG is the return match of the round of 16 of the Champions League and is played on Wednesday at 21:00: tv, formations, predictions.
The round of 16 final that generates the most hype, the one that is certainly the most awaited. A sort of anticipated final, as it was called when the draw was made. Yet the continental adventure of one of Bayern Munich and Psg will end as early as March.
And the consequences, for whoever leaves the cup, could be heavy. Especially for the Parisians, who, after losing the first leg 0-1, will have to conquer the Allianz Arena. As they did two seasons ago, also in the knockout phase of the Champions League: it ended 2-3 and was one of the most exciting matches of the last years, in which the star of Kylian Mbappé, author of an amazing double, shone. The Psg phenomenon a month ago was half-formed, having just recovered from a muscle problem. He started from the bench, but Christophe Galtier asked him to grit his teeth after the Bavarian advantage signed by Kingsley Coman – yes, him again, the man who in the summer of 2020 crushed his old team’s hopes in the Lisbon final – and threw him into the fray at the start of the second half. With Mbappé on the pitch, Psg immediately regained strength but despite several attempts in front of Sommer’s goal, the draw remained a chimera. And a win in Germany will be needed to avoid postponing for the umpteenth time the appointment with the cup with the big ears, which has become a real obsession for Emir Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Bayern Munich haven’t lost at home for over a year
The future of the former Lille and Nice coach is also at stake. In fact, the ‘rule’ also applies to Galtier, who arrived last summer to replace Mauricio Pochettino: a possible flop in the cup could cost him the non-confirmation at the end of the season
Coman
Independent of winning Ligue 1. In order to avert such a scenario, the transalpine coach will rely on his two champions, Mbappé and Messi, who have just pulled the chestnuts from the fire at home. In their most difficult moment, Psg have found their lifeblood from the plays of the Frenchman and the Argentine, protagonists in the three victories in a row against Lille, Marseille and Nantes. With these two on the pitch anything is possible. Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann knows this well and will try to limit their effectiveness. If Psg has made a great comeback, making a vacuum behind them, the Bavarians are first in the standings, but on equal points with Borussia Dortmund. They have won six of their last seven matches: the only defeat came on the ‘bewitched’ pitch of Borussia Monchengladbach. On Saturday, after the resounding success over Union Berlin, Bayern got the better of Stuttgart by a narrow margin, responding to the yellow-and-whites, who were victorious in the challenge against Leipzig.
Some interesting statistics: the Germans have only won in this edition of the Champions League, while Psg is the only team still in the running to have conceded at least one goal in every match. The precedents say Bayern: the Bavarian side has won four times in the last head-to-head. And they have been unbeaten at home for more than a year, since January 2022 to be precise.
Bayern Munich-PSG: latest line-up news
Some problems in defence for Nagelsmann, who must do without the disqualified Pavard, sent off in the final in Paris. Hernandez has not yet recovered from injury and Stanisic could find space in the defensive trio alongside Upamecano and de Ligt. Mané has been available again in recent weeks, but the Senegalese has few minutes in his legs and is unlikely to start. In attack it will be Musiala and Muller’s turn, both supporting Choupo-Moting as the only striker. Bench also for Cancelo.
In the Psg headquarters these days they have learned that Neymar will not return before the end of the season. The Brazilian will have ankle surgery and will return next year. Galtier will reintroduce the three-man defence with Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos and Danilo Pereira, while the two flanks will be manned by Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. In front Mbappé and Messi, in the box with Verratti there will also be Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha.
The Prediction
The feeling is that this will be a much more spectacular and lively match than the first leg, when both teams preferred not to reveal themselves too much. This time it will be Psg who will have to take control of the game, putting Bayern Munich’s defence under pressure from the first minutes. Galtier’s men at the same time will not be able to avoid uncovering themselves, which is why it is highly likely that both teams will score at least one goal on each side in a match of more than two goals in total, in which the two super attacks will not spare themselves. It is difficult to say anything about the final result, but a positive result for Psg does not seem impossible at all.
Bayern Munich-PSG
likely line-ups
- BAYERN MONACO (3-4-2-1): Sommer; Stanišić, Upamecano, de Ligt; Coman, Kimmich, Goretzka, Davies; Müller, Musiala; Choupo-Moting.
- PSG (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira; Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Verratti, Nuno Mendes; Messi, Mbappé.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
