The whole of European football is looking forward to this cracker! On Tuesday, FC Bayern visit Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie (live text and free Web Radio from 21:00 CET on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). Julian Nagelsmann’s side head to the French capital hoping to put themselves in a good position for the second leg at the Allianz Arena on 8 March. All the information on the UCL clash at Parc des Princes is in our preview.
Here are the best photos from the eve of the game:
The situation for Bayern
Bayern go into the meeting with PSG on an impressive run of 19 games without defeat in all competitions, including wins in each of the last three. If they keep this series going in the French capital, they’ll have sown the seeds for the return leg at the Allianz Arena on 8 March. Their 100 percent record so far in this Champions League season, with six victories from six outings, should also give the German record champions confidence. Bayern warmed up with a comfortable 3-0 win over VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday, but they know that PSG are a different calibre. “Paris have incredible players but I have great confidence in our team. We have respect but no fear,” said board member for sport Hasan Salihamidžić, who like everyone at the club is feeling great anticipation for the match. “The boys are fired up and looking forward to the game.”
“We’ve won our last three. We have to continue in exactly the same way,” demanded a confident Kingsley Coman at the pre-match press conference. His coach was also sure that the Munich men will “deliver a top performance” in Paris and stand up to the hosts’ attack. “We want to win tomorrow as well,” added Nagelsmann.
We spoke to Dayot Upamecano before the clash with PSG:
The opponents: Paris Saint-Germain
PSG’s star-studded team qualified for the last 16 as runners-up of Group H. Having finished level on points and goals with Benfica, and with the head-to-head also equal, it came down to the greater number of away goals, which saw Benfica claim top spot. The French champions’ form has been middling in recent weeks. After being knocked out of the cup 2-1 at Olympique Marseille, Christophe Galtier’s men lost 3-1 in Saturday’s big Ligue 1 match at AS Monaco. Despite the fourth competitive defeat since the World Cup break, PSG remain top of the league, five points ahead of second-placed Marseille.
The dip in results has not damaged the French side’s confidence, though. “We have difficulties but we have a lot of quality. We know our potential,” said Neymar in the press conference on Monday. “We know it won’t be an easy game against Bayern, but we have a great squad to deliver a good performance on Tuesday.”
We take a closer look at PSG in our opposition profile:
The team news for Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern
Bayern are still without long-term absentees Sadio Mané, Lucas Hernández, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Neuer in Paris. Ryan Gravenberch is available again having missed the last two matches against Wolfsburg and Bochum, and Joshua Kimmich also returns to the squad following his suspension in the Bundesliga.
For PSG, Kylian Mbappé, who registered the most goal involvements in the group stage with seven goals and three assists, has reported fit in time after a thigh injury. Marco Verratti and World Cup winner Lionel Messi are also included in the squad following recent knocks. Ex-Bayern midfielder Renato Sanches is out with a thigh problem, though.
Here are the facts on PSG vs. FCB:
What the coaches say
Julian Nagelsmann: “It’s an even match-up, the chances are 50-50. Both teams will try to impose their football. The contest won’t be decided in the first leg, but it will set the course for the second leg. I'm very, very sure we'll have a top game and we'll see a lot of enthusiasm from both teams. I hope we come away with the better outcome.”
Christophe Galtier: “It’s a 50-50 game, a Champions League game. We’re up against a team with great quality, but my players are used to these big games and know that we can step up. We won’t know after tomorrow who’s going through to the next round. We’re very focused and want to find the best setup, so that we can play as well as possible.”
Watch the pre-match press conference with Julian Nagelsmann and Kingsley Coman in full:
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