PSG confident vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League

At the final minute, Paris Saint-Germain travelled to Germany on Monday, 24 hours forward of their initially scheduled journey. Why? Because their authentic plans to fly on Tuesday, the eve of the second leg of their Champions League spherical of 16 match towards Bayern Munich, was dwarfed by the sizeable staff’ strike taking place in France that day, in opposition to the authorities’s new pensions reform.

However inconvenient, it is in all probability not a foul factor for the Parisians to get to Bavaria sooner than they could below ordinary circumstances. At the finish of the day, Wednesday’s conflict at the Allianz Arena is the greatest recreation of PSG’s season to this point. This is the defining second of their marketing campaign and the extra time they’ve to arrange for it and get in the zone, the higher.

– Galtier: Neymar a loss, however PSG extra balanced with out him

This week, PSG officers are hoping for no repeat of the disastrous preparations earlier than their last-16, second leg, at the Parc des Princes towards Manchester United again in 2019, a recreation that noticed them endure one other heartbreaking “remontada” and exit the match early. This time, they’ve had time to acclimate themselves, put their plan collectively and get be able to climb the Bayern mountain.

How excessive is the mountain? The German champions are usually not as dominant or spectacular this yr as they’ve been in latest seasons, however they do maintain a 1-0 lead after the first leg — because of former PSG ahead Kingsley Coman volleying residence Alphonso Davies’ deep cross — and that edge is critical sufficient. Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless clearly a way of worry in Bayern’s ranks earlier than dealing with Kylian Mbappe & Co. at residence, particularly with out Benjamin Pavard, who was despatched off in damage time.

Mbappe’s identify has been on everybody’s lips in each Paris and Munich since the first leg three weeks in the past. His cameo look off the bench in the closing half-hour modified the dynamic of the entire recreation. Without him, Bayern had been in management and PSG appeared unable to generate any attacking menace. With their star on the pitch, the French aspect rapidly flipped the recreation in their favor, threatening with each assault, and Bayern misplaced form and confidence.

Mbappe will begin on Wednesday and will play all 90 minutes or extra, if wanted. What’s extra, Wednesday’s second leg will naturally be very totally different to what we noticed in Paris.

The French prodigy, contemporary from breaking the membership’s all-time scorer file, has the expertise to show the tie round by himself. Expect Bayern to play a defensive excessive line, like they at all times do at residence, and in that case, Mbappe ought to discover a whole lot of house forward of him that he can run into and exploit.

In Lionel Messi, additionally in nice kind at the second, he may have a teammate enjoying simply behind him who will likely be able to feed him by way of ball after ball. Behind them, with out Neymar, who’s out for the season with an ankle damage, it will likely be a extra balanced and strong staff with a again three and 5 gamers throughout midfield.

Now the key query: will all of this be sufficient?

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

For all the concentrate on Mbappe and Messi, PSG will want an impressive efficiency from entrance to again in the event that they’re to remove Bayern. They will even want Gianluigi Donnarumma to be good in purpose. They will want Marco Verratti to boss the midfield once more, like he is able to on his greatest days. They will want Achraf Hakimi, who has not performed since the first leg, to play a flawless recreation on the proper flank towards Davies. (He’s additionally dealing with preliminary costs in Paris for rape, although his lawyer mentioned the accusations are false. While the case is investigated additional, the Morocco worldwide has travelled with the PSG squad and is anticipated to start out on Wednesday.)

Inevitably, the hope for the 3,600 PSG followers heading to Munich in addition to these watching on TV depends on Mbappe doing what he has been superb at his entire profession to this point: being decisive when it issues the most. It was the case at the World Cup in Qatar with France, scoring a hat trick in the closing defeat towards Argentina, and it has been the case with Paris all by way of the season. It must be the case once more on Wednesday, in fact, although Mbappe thrives in these moments.

On Saturday, as quickly as he beat Edinson Cavani’s purpose file scoring his 201st in 246 appearances, his thoughts switched immediately to the Bayern recreation. From one goal to a different, from one achievement to a different, Mbappe is targeted on particular person accomplishments and the collective ambitions. He is at all times hungry for extra.

Straight after the first leg, he spoke to the entire squad in the Parc des Princes dressing room and advised them that they’d proven sufficient proof in the closing half-hour that night time to imagine in their capacity to win in Munich and qualify. He is for certain they may do it.

Mbappe will even put on new black and orange soccer boots for it, specifically made for his final file with the No. 1 and the No. 201 on them. He will hope they carry objectives and success on Wednesday night time at the Allianz Arena the place, it should be mentioned, he scored twice in the similar fixture two years in the past.