Confidence in the FC Bayern camp is high ahead of their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg in Paris. The record champions followed up wins over Mainz (4-0, DFB Cup) and Wolfsburg (4-2) by consolidating top spot in the Bundesliga with a 3-0 victory over Bochum on Saturday. It marked a first home win of 2023 for Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala and Co., as well as a 19th competitive match in a row without defeat. Paris Saint-Germain, beware...
Bayern head to the French capital on Tuesday, looking to build on their recent domestic triumphs and take the first step towards the Champions League quarter-finals.
"It'll be a superb game. It's even better when you can go into a game like that full of confidence," said Kingsley Coman after scoring in the Bochum win.
Kingsley Coman scored Bayern's second goal against Bochum.
"The whole of Europe, like us, can't wait for the game," added Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka. "These are exactly the kind of games you want to play in, that you work towards. We can all look forward to a great game of football."
Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer echoed his teammates' excitement for the heavyweight encounter. "There's a lot of motivation ahead of the game. We'll prepare well and look forward to a great game against a top side."
The goal in Paris is simple enough: Bayern want to put themselves in the best possible position to advance when they welcome PSG to the Allianz Arena for the second leg on 8 March.
"We have to be switched on from the get-on and take a good result back home with us," explained Bayern veteran Thomas Müller. "The most important thing is that we play with intensity as a team, and then we'll see what sort of result we can get."
Like Müller, Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann knows his team will have to be on top form to get the better of PSG. "It's a new competition, the game starts at 0-0," the 35-year-old acknowledged. "We'll try to be at our best and win. I hope that the allure of the competition brings a certain freshness to our game."
Bayern won 1-0 on their last trip to Paris, thanks to a goal from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Another victory at the Parc de Princes would represent a significant step on the road to the quarter-finals.
Bayern warmed up for PSG with a comfortable win over Bochum:
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