UEFA Champions League: Tuesday, 8:00pm
Tuesday night’s Champions League round of 16, first leg is a repeat of the final of 2020.
Kingsley Coman scored the all-important goal that day as Bayern ran out 1-0 winners. The Bundesliga champions also won 1-0 in the quarter-finals in Paris, but lost 3-2 at home to go out on away goals.
The big news around the fixture surrounds PSG’s team news with a huge doubt over Kylian Mbappe. The France star was expected to be out for the first-leg tie, but he returned to full training on Monday, and he could turn out against Bayern at the Parc des Princes.
Lionel Messi is also expected to return after missing the 3-1 defeat to Monaco at the weekend.
Marco Verratti is also expected to return after a disastrous performance in the Principality.
“Yes I am furious because the start is catastrophic and we have hope with this goal, we take a third on a transition,” said coach Christophe Galtier.
“Going back to 3-1 is more complicated. There is anger. We do with the current forces but the group is like that.
“There were absentees, a virus. It’s a difficult time for everyone, the players and the fans. We have a big meeting on Tuesday and we need a sacred union to regain energy, confidence and available players.”
Those big-name returnees are likely to rejuvenate a PSG side, who have lost their last two games.
Still, they have been strong at home and have won nine of their 11 Ligue 1 games and beaten Juventus and Maccabi Haifa on home soil.
Bayern will present their toughest test of the season though and having come through a sticky patch recently, the German giants look strong.
Bayern won all six of their group games and after three consecutive 1-1 draws they scored 11 goals in three games in all competitions to defeat Mainz 4-0, Wolfsburg 4-2 and Bochum 3-0.
New boys Yann Sommer and Joao Cancelo are set to make their Champions League bows, and Joshua Kimmich will return from suspension to partner Leon Goretzka in the centre of midfield.
It looks like being a game where defences might well be stretched. PSG’s last five games have seen both teams score, while both teams have scored in four of Bayern’s last six games.
Both teams look well matched, and the draw is well worth looking at, but backing goals looks the safer bet.
Key stats
- PSG have lost their last two games in all competitions
- PSG are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season
- PSG have won nine of their 11 home games in Ligue 1
- Bayern are 13 games unbeaten in the Bundesliga
- Bayern won all six Champions League group games
- Bayern have won 1-0 on their last two games vs PSG
