It’s time for the next round of this heavyweight European encounter as Bayern host Paris Saint-Germain for their Champions League round of 16 second leg on Wednesday (kick-off at 21:00 CET, coverage available on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text and free web radio). Julian Nagelsmann and his team simply need a positive result at the Allianz Arena to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Find out more about the game in our preview.
Check out the best photos from the eve of the game:
State of play for Bayern
A 1-0 victory in Paris three weeks ago means Bayern are in a good position going into the second leg, but nothing more as yet. “A key factor will be not to just limit ourselves to defending but also to pose a threat,” Nagelsmann said at his press conference the day before. Scraping over the line with a 0-0 is not on the agenda. The first leg in Paris, especially after the introduction of Kylian Mbappe, showed how dangerous the French champions can be. The job of defending against their array of attacking talent has to be a “collective” one.
However, Bayern hold the advantage with a lead on the board and their fans behind them in this game – and it’s one they want to take. “The records show we won the first leg 1-0,” stated Thomas Müller. “It’s a home game, which is an added advantage. We‘re excited. Two great teams are facing off. Everyone has their own quality. It’ll be lively,” the stand-in captain added.
We spoke with coach Nagelsmann ahead of the second leg:
Opponents Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have underlined their domestic title ambitions with three straight wins in the league to extend their advantage over Marseille at the top of Ligue 1 to eight points. However, if Christophe Galtier’s side fail to get the victory they need in Munich, then the Parisians will be out in the Champions League round of 16 for the fifth time in the last seven years. “The Champions League is always a big goal for this club,” the coach said, calling for his team to show “a more aggressive and complete performance than in the first leg”.
Forward Lionel Messi has also recognised an upward trend since the home defeat to Bayern: “We’ve improved and the team has gotten stronger through winning,” the Argentinian World Cup winner said in an interview on the club’s website. The French champions therefore believe they can progress, but the match in Munich will be “a tough game, just like the first. It’ll all be decided by fine details, but I think if we do things right, we can turn it around,” Messi added.
Read about PSG’s weekend win over Nantes:
Fitness update
Bayern are without Benjamin Pavard on Wednesday after the Frenchman was sent off late in the first leg. Apart from long-term absentees Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer, Nagelsmann has an almost full squad to choose from, after Josip Stanisic recovered from a knock. “I think he’ll play. Stani had a bit of a problem with his thigh, but was able to train,” the coach confirmed.
PSG boss Galtier brings his team to Munich without defender Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles tendon) and also striker Neymar, who is now out for the season after undergoing an ankle operation. However, the Parisians have top scorer Mbappe fully fit and ready to start after he only came off the bench at the Parc des Princes.
Here‘s some pre-match facts on the second leg:
What the coaches say
We all want to go very far in the Champions League, but it also always comes down to form on the day with heavyweights like Bayern and PSG. Both teams are at a similar level in terms of individual players. Both have top stars in their ranks. But our group has a very good feeling of being there for each other and giving everything.
Julian Nagelsmann
We have to play more than we did in the first leg. We have our game plan and we also have Mbappe back, which gives us more possibilities to get through Bayern’s defence. When you play in an important competition, one team will progress and the other won’t. We obviously hope it’s us who advance. We play every game looking to win.
Christophe Galtier
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