UEFA Champions League 2017/18 - PSG VS Bayern Munich: Match Preview
Here's a look at one of the mouthwatering fixtures of Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League 2017-18, in which PSG take on Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes:
Paris Saint-Germain's president - Nasser Al-Khelaifi and the PSG fans would be expecting that the club goes deep into the tournament this time around, especially after the huge financial spending over the summer, there would be no more excuses for Unai Emery and his squad for any poor performances this season.
Adding Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to an already impressive forward line of Cavani, Draxler and Di Maria certainly improves PSG’s credentials with regards to the UEFA Champions League crown.
The other players like Adrien Rabiot and Marco Verratti are continuously improving their game day by day and with their skipper Thiago Silva at the back, the forwards of Bayern Munich are bound to have a tough time in Paris.
Bayern Munich would be hoping to make a statement of intent after what they regard the previous season’s quarter-final exit as a disappointing one. The already star-studded lineup involving the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Franck Ribery and Arturo Vidal is further accompanied by the acquisitions of James Rodriguez and Corentin Tolisso.
Their squad depth is as impressive as always with the likes of Martinez and Muller expected to be on the bench for this fixture. However, an injury to their shot-stopper Manuel Neuer means that Bayern might struggle against PSG’s forward line with the former often regarded as the 'Best Goalkeeper' in the world.
The world-class centre-backs of Bayern - Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels would have to be at their best to support the backup goalkeeper, Ulreich and prevent PSG from scoring.
Both the teams had comfortable victories in Matchday 1 with PSG and Bayern defeating Celtic and Anderlecht respectively. However, the pundits and fans expect this clash as a much closer and exciting one, owing to the amount of talent that both these team possess.
With the likes of Neymar, Cavani, Lewandowski and James Rodriguez on the football field, football fans might just witness attacking prowess of the highest level.
In this game of quality forwards, however, it may just be the central midfielders who orchestrate their team’s victory. Even the midfielders of the highest calibre would be present, with Verratti and Thiago trying to break up each other’s attacks, retain the ball and unleash their respective forwards as soon as possible.
With 3 points and possibly the top of the group at stake, both the teams are expected to play free-flowing and exciting football. Both Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery are brilliant tacticians and would want to make a statement to the rest of Europe by putting up a top quality show this Wednesday.