Bayern Munich vs PSG - Champions League team news and prediction

 

In a repeat of last season's Champions League final, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain will this time do battle in the quarter-finals over two legs. PSG will be out for revenge after losing 1-0 to Bayern in August last year to lose their first Champions League final.

 

Ahead of such a moutwatering tie, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place, including team news, probable XIs, where the game is taking place and how you can catch it.

 

When is kick off?
Wednesday 7th April, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Allianz Arena, Munich (Germany)
What channel is it on?
BT Sport 3

 

Form Guide

 

Bayern Munich have won seven in a row ahead of Wednesday's clash. Hansi Flick's side have also tightened up at the back with successive clean sheets, as many as their previous 10 matches combined.

 

PSG head into their match with Bayern off the back of a disappointing home defeat in Ligue 1 to Lille that has left them outsiders for the title in France. They have actually lost two of their last four matches and rode their luck against Barcelona last time out in Europe.

 

Team News

 

The big news for Bayern is the absence of star striker Robert Lewandowski. The 32-year-old picked up a knee injury on international duty with Poland and will miss both legs against PSG. Lewandowski has scored 40 goals in 36 games for Bayern this season and will be a huge loss. Even his replacement, Serge Gnabry, is unavailable after testing positive for COVID-19. Former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is the only other recognised striker in the squad but it wouldn't be a surprise if Alphonso Davies is pushed further forward with Leroy Sane playing centrally.

 

PSG missed Neymar in both legs against Barcelona in the last round but now have the Brazilian back from injury in a major boost for the French side. The downside for Mauricio Pochettino is he has lost both Marco Verratti and Alessandro Florenzi to COVID-19 and Leandro Paredes is suspended for one match. Neither Mauro Icardi and Layvin Kurzawa are expected to be fit enough to start so there are big decisions for both managers here.

 

Probable XIs:

 

Bayern Munich vs PSG - Champions League team news and prediction

 

Bayern (4231): Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Alaba, Hernandez; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Muller, Davies; Sane

 

PSG (4231): Navas; Kehrer, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo; Danilo, Gueye; Kean, Di Maria, Neymar; Mbappe

 

Key Battle: Manuel Neuer vs Keylor Navas

 

Bayern Munich vs PSG - Champions League team news and prediction

 

Given the attacking talent of both sides even with the key absences the two goalkeepers can expect to be kept very busy over both legs. Manuel Neuer has been pretty busy all season in truth. Only in two previous league campaigns for Bayern has Neuer been forced to make more saves than his current tally of 69 from 27 appearances and there are still seven games to go. Moreover, only two goalkeepers have been forced to make a save more frequently than Neuer in the Champions League this season (every 17.4 minutes).

 

Navas hasn't exactly been bored between the sticks either. Even though PSG eliminated Barcelona 5-2 on aggregate in the last round, Navas played a pretty major role in their victory. The former Real Madrid shot-stopper made a series of highlight-reel saves to deny Barcelona, including a penalty stop from Leo Messi, that effectively prevented any comeback in the second leg. He has been a superb signing for PSG and will have to be at his best again even if Robert Lewandowski is missing.

 

Scoreline Prediction: Bayern 2-1 PSG

Bayern Munich vs PSG - Champions League team news and prediction