Bayern Munich
PSG
07 April 2021
20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Champions League
Allianz Arena
There will be fireworks when Bayern Munchen and PSG face each other in the replay of the 2019/20 Champions League final.
🔜 Next Champions Legaue 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/eykC1GGxvH
— Match Day (@Match__Daay) April 4, 2021
The Bavarians are on a quest to defend their trophy, but they will have to do it without key attacker and top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who suffered an injury during the international duty.
In his absence, a man to watch in the home team will be Leroy Sane, who has been in a fine form of late. Both Costa and Tolisso are rated doubtful for Wednesday’s clash.
Les Parisiens, on the other hand, are eager to get revenge on FCB for the defeat in the last season’s Champions League final.
Mauro Pochettino can’t count on Florenzi, Bernat, Kurzawa, Letellier, Paredes, and Veratti for the first leg, while all Icardi, Danilo, Diallo, Kean, and Kehrer are rated doubtful for the game.
Anyhow, a close encounter is on the cards at Allianz Arena, and we are tempted to put our money on draw.
Bayern Munich vs PSG Head-to-head
The host is on a three-game winning streak across all major contests.
The Bavarians have recorded four of the last five overall wins.
Their previous encounter gave a 0-1 away win for Bayern in CL.
Both teams have scored in two of their recent three fixtures.
The host has lost none of their last four clashes at home since 1997.
Team News:
It remains to be seen if Lewandowski's knee injury will heal in time for him to take part in the second leg, but in his absence, former PSG attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is set to lead the line against several familiar faces.
Choupo-Moting starting up top would only leave three spaces free for Coman, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane to battle for, and the latter may be the unlucky one to occupy a spot on the Bayern bench.
Defenders Alphonso Davies and Jerome Boateng both sat out the win over Leipzig due to suspension, but the duo are available for this encounter and could displace Niklas Sule and Lucas Hernandez in the rearguard.
However, Corentin Tolisso and Douglas Costa are keeping Lewandowski company in the treatment room as they nurse tendon and ankle problems respectively.
PSG will likely recall Ander Herrera to the midfield this week, as Leandro Paredes will sit out the first leg through suspension while Danilo Pereira is struggling to overcome a calf injury.
Marco Verratti and Alessandro Florenzi have both returned positive coronavirus tests and will play no part in this encounter, with the latter's absence giving Colin Dagba the chance to stake his claim for the right-back spot over Thilo Kehrer.
Abdou Diallo is set to continue on the opposite side of the rearguard as Layvin Kurzawa continues to battle a calf problem, while Mauro Icardi is nearing a return and could provide another option for Pochettino up top.
Icardi will challenge Moise Kean for the chance to spearhead the attack if passed fit, while Neymar's sending-off against Lille will not affect his participation in this game.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Choupo-Moting
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Navas; Dagba, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Gueye, Herrera; Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe; Kean