Bayern - PSG: Lost soldiers waiting for revenge

* Bayern - PSG: 3am on Thursday, 9/3, Hanoi time.

For many years, PSG has been considered one of the most powerful teams in Europe. But the championship in the Champions League - the most prestigious tournament on the continent - still eludes them. The French club came closest to the peak of glory in 2020, but lost to Bayern in the final. The scenario of that match repeated in the first leg of the last 1/8 round, when Kingsley Coman scored the only goal, helping "Bavarian Gray Lobster" win over the guests.

The result of the first leg made most predictions in favor of the final victory for Bayern. PSG is suspected of having the courage to turn the situation around. However, that may change if you look at some of the statistics related to this matchup. First, the last four confrontations between Bayern and PSG have results in favor of the away team. Among these is the match PSG won 3-2 at the Allianz Arena in the quarter-finals of the Champions League 2020-2021, helping them overcome their opponents by the away goals rule.

Kylian Mbappe was the inspiration for PSG to win the aforementioned victory when scoring the double. In the first leg, Mbappe could only play for the last 30 minutes due to injury. But he was in the best condition to start in the second leg. Mbappe's runs will be a constant danger for Bayern in the context that goalkeeper Yann Sommer is not in the habit of rising to cover defenders like Manuel Neuer, who is absent for a long time due to injury.

It was Sommer's tendency to stay close to the goal that contributed to Benjamin Pavard's red card in the first leg. Similar situation caused Dayot Upamecano to be sent off in the match against Monchengladbach later. Pavard is in the best form of the Bayern central defenders and his suspension will be a big loss for the home team.

"PSG didn't have Mbappe from the start in the first leg and that affected their plans. When Mbappe came on, PSG started to change the game. In the second leg, PSG needed to equalize, so I predict they will attack and put more pressure. In Ligue 1, PSG usually go back quite deep and then play counter-attack. Their play also depends on which of the players is healthy and can play." , Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann commented.

As for PSG, they don't have Neymar. But the absence of the Brazilian striker is unlikely to negatively affect the visitors. Because without Neymar, PSG will have an extra defensive support, in the context that Lionel Messi and Mbappe are not good at this. Therefore, PSG's squad is likely to be more balanced.

"I know there is debate about this. Obviously, without Neymar is a loss. But is the PSG squad more balanced? The answer is yes. So is PSG playing better without Neymar? I can say that having him will be better if the team needs to score," admitted PSG coach Christophe Galtier.

PSG did not prepare well for the first leg, entering the match with two consecutive defeats, including defeat to Marseille in the Classique match of French football. But this time, teachers and students Galtier ran much better. They will go to Germany with confidence after three consecutive victories.

Bayern own terrible form at home in the Champions League, winning 15 of the last 17 matches at the Allianz Arena. Including three wins against Barca, Inter and Viktoria Plzen in the group stage without conceding a goal. Since April 2018, Bayern has always scored at home in the continental arena and from the 2010-2011 season, "The Bavarian Gray Lobster" has never been eliminated in the knockout round of the Champions League after winning the first leg.

Besides the absence of Pavard and Neuer, Bayern are also without Lucas Hernandez and Noussair Mazraoui. PSG lost Presnel Kimpembe but Renato Sanches could return. Right-back Achraf Hakimi has been troubled off the pitch recently, but he has temporarily resolved it and could return in this important match. The last time Hakimi played was the first leg against Bayern.