PSG made short work of Messi’s former club Inter Miami in the round of 16, scoring four goals in 45 minutes and sealing the deal in the first half: it was all too easy. The score was so high that Luis Enrique’s team was able to slow down the pace almost completely in the second half, with the Spanish coach making several changes to give his regular starters a rest. Dembélé also made his return after missing the group stage of the Club World Cup due to injury.
Meanwhile, bookmakers continue to consider the reigning European champions clear favorites for the final victory, ahead of Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. The Bavarians will be their next opponents in the quarterfinals: certainly the most “noble” pairing, with the winner potentially facing Real in the semifinals (the Blancos will first have to overcome Borussia Dortmund).
Will Musiala and Dembélé return from the first minute?
Bayern Munich are coming off a spectacular 4-2 win over Flamengo, which put Vincent Kompany’s team to the test. No, it was no walk in the park for the German champions, whatever the final score may say: the two-goal deficit did not demoralize Mengao, who got back into the game early in the second half thanks to a penalty from Jorginho. Then it was the usual Kane (with a brace) who, in the last quarter of an hour, banished the ghosts of a possible Brazilian comeback.
The Bavarians gave the Rossoneri too many chances: a mistake not to be repeated against a team like PSG, ready to take advantage of any hesitation in the Bayern defense, which has so far managed to keep a clean sheet only in the 10-0 win against New Zealand amateurs Auckland City. Meanwhile, Kompany has said goodbye to Sané, who joined Galatasaray on July 1, and is unlikely to be able to count on Coman: the PSG executioner in the 2020 Champions League final limped out of the match against Flamengo. However, Musiala, who came on in the second half for the Rossoneri, will return from injury.
On the other side, Luis Enrique hopes to be able to field Dembélé from the start, even if the Frenchman is not yet 100% fit.
Odds comparison
The “Goal” bet is priced at 1.43 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.45 on Snai.
The prediction
Bayern Munich is something of a taboo for PSG: six Bavarian victories in the last seven official matches, including last November’s 1-0 win for Neuer and his teammates in the Champions League group stage. However, the Parisians are now in much better shape and go into this match as favorites. Nevertheless, it will be difficult to keep a clean sheet against a Bayern side that boasts the best attack in the tournament (16 goals). In short, it should be a spectacular encounter in Atlanta, with at least three goals in total and one for each side.
Probable line-ups for PSG-Bayern Munich
PSG (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia. BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane. POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1