PSG hold an one goal lead as they welcome Bayern Munich to Parc des Princes in the second leg of their Quarter-Final tie in 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
Having prevailed 3-2 in the first leg, PSG simply need to avoid defeat to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Bayern must simply win if they’re to advance but must score at least twice to take this tie to extra time, because a 1-0 win would see them eliminated on away goals rule.
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Marquinhos is a major doubt for PSG with a muscle injury suffered in the first leg at Bayern’s Allianz Arena.
Marco Verratti (Coronavirus) could return but Layvin Kurzawa (calf), Mauro Icardi (thigh) and Juan Bernat (knee) are still ruled out.
Bayern could be without Jerome Boateng and Lucas Hernandez due to respective knee and abdominal injuries.
Leon Goretzka and Niklas Sule are doubts with thigh injuries but both players could be handed a late fitness test before travelling to Paris.
Marc Roca (knock) is also a doubt but Ron-Thorben Hoffman, Kingsley Coman, Malik Tillman, Robert Lewandowski (all knee), Corentin Tolisso (tendon), Serge Gnabry (Coronavirus) and Douglas Costa (ankle) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- PSG have won six of ten previous Champions League meetings against Bayern Munich (W6, L4).
- Bayern have never won away at PSG in four previous visits (L4), conceding three goals in two of their four previous trips to the French capital.
- PSG’s Kylian Mbappe has scored three goals in his last two Champions League games.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored three away Champions League goals for Bayern this season.
- Daniele Orsato hasn’t refereed a PSG home game this season, although the Italian referee was in charge of their 3-1 away win at Manchester United in December.
Prediction
PSG can come into this game with real confidence knowing that all the pressure is on an injury hit Bayern, especially after a clinical first leg in which they showed high energy on the pressing and took their chances better than their German rivals for three clinical but crucial goals.
Bayern however can be buoyed by the spirit shown in their fightback to make it 2-2 before Kylian Mbappe snatched PSG’s winner, yet they must improve their defending because poor man marking and backtracking when PSG launched attacks proved to be their downfall.
Now with this tie at 3-2 in PSG’s favour, I feel like the first goal is going to be key and with Bayern needing two goals on top of ending their Parisian hoodoo, they are going to be desperate for an early goal which might well play in to PSG’s hands if they dig in defensively.
On that note, I reckon PSG might try and repeat their home performance from against Barcelona in the last round and grind out a 1-1 draw here, no matter how hard Bayern try if the hosts put in a defensive masterclass.
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Bayern Munich
