PSG hosts Bayern Munich in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League round 16 clash in France on Tuesday.
It will be a clash of titans as the two domestic league giants lock horns in a first-rated UEFA Champions League clash.
In what most pundits termed as a final before the final, the Ligue 1 champions and Bundesliga champions will go head-to-head at Parc des Princes in France.
Winning the Champions League has been core in the dream and ambition of PSG president Nassr Al-Khelaifi, but facing six-time champions Bayern Munich in the first round of the knockout is a nightmare.
While PSG hopes to land their first Champions League trophy, Bayern Munich are hoping to land their 7th trophy. A trip to Paris is not going to be a rosy ride still.
Match Preview
PSG will be going into this Champions League tie against the backdrop of two disastrous results that exposed the weakness of the star-studded side.
They were knocked out of Coup de Franc by Marseille and were walloped 3-1 by Monaco in Ligue 1 after the Coup de France heartbreak.
Christophe Galtier will now be under pressure to deliver when hosting Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes, but it will be a tough test for the former Nice manager.
Julian Nagelsmann, on the other hand, has put his house in order after dropping points in three successive Bundesliga games after the World Cup break
The Bavarians went on the rout against Mainz and Wolfsburg in their last two games and are in perfect shape to take up the Ligue 1 giants in what will be a rematch of the 2020-21 Champions League final.
Meanwhile, a lot is at stake for Christophe Galtier going into this game. Last year, the Parisians were eliminated right in front of their home fans at this stage of the competition by Real Madrid, who went on to win the tournament.
They shockingly surrendered a first-leg 2-0 advantage, setting for a heavy 3-0 defeat to the Los Blancos.
Being eliminated by Bayern Munich at this stage will be a dicey outcome for Christophe Galtier.
Nevertheless, Parc des Princes is a fortress for PSG in the Champions League against Bayern Munich. They have won five of their last six home meetings against the Bavarians.
However, PSG need not take the Bavarians for granted. The Bundesliga giants have progressed to round 8 of the Champions League in nine of their last 10 games.
Team News
Kylian Mbappe is a key name that was reportedly set to miss the clash after picking up a hamstring injury against Montpellier. Now reports have emerged he returned to partial training with the squad and may likely feature in the game.
Other PSG stars that will miss the game include Renato Sanchez and Nordi Mukiele.
Christophe Galtier benched Hakimi, Sergio Ramos, and Nuno Mendes in the game against Monaco and will likely start the trio against the Bundesliga champions.
Lionel Messi and Marco Veratti are still doubts for the game, but the PSG boss is hoping the duo will be fit to be lined up in the game.
Bayern Munich still have Sadio Mane sidelined and will not feature in the game including Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Other players ruled out of the Bavarian squad ahead of the clash include Mazaroui, Gravenberch, and Hernandez.
Julian Nagelsmann will likely start new goalkeeper signing from Borussia Monchengladbach Yann Sommer with Manuel Neuer sidelined.
Goreztka and Kimmich are also likely to start, but Thomas Muller is still a doubt after picking up a minor calf issue on Saturday.
Paris Saint-Germain’s possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Ramos; Mendes; Pereira; Ruiz, Vitinha, Verratti; Neymar, Messi
Bayern Munich Possible IX:Sommer; Cancelo, De Ligt, Upamecano, Davies; Goretzka, Kimmich; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Choupo-Moting
Prediction
Both sides play attacking football. There will be goals in the game but the match will likely end in a 2-2 draw.
