The champions of France and Germany will collide withinside the Champions League on Tuesday whilst Paris Saint-Germain face Bayern Munich withinside the first leg in their remaining-sixteen tie at Parc des Princes.
PSG are hoping 2023 is the 12 months wherein they stop their lengthy watch for the Champions League trophy, even as the Bavarians are dreaming of being topped champions of Europe for the 7th time.
After being knocked out of the Coupe de France through Marseille, Christophe Galtier`s aspect had been aiming to go back to triumphing methods after they travelled to the principality to stand Monaco on Saturday, however because it transpired, PSG again to the capital empty-exceeded following a dark 3-1 defeat with all 4 dreams arriving withinside the first half.
The Parisians nevertheless boast a healthful 5-factor lead on the pinnacle of the Ligue 1 table, however dropping directly video games is some distance from a super manner to put together for a European assembly with Bayern Munich – a aspect they misplaced to withinside the 2020-21 Champions League final.
Preview: Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich – prediction, team news, lineups
PSG could have was hoping to have confronted a barely less complicated opponent withinside the remaining-sixteen, however in spite of completing stage on 14 factors with Benfica, they needed to accept 2d vicinity withinside the group, as they misplaced out to the Portuguese giants on away dreams scored.
If the French champions are to keep away from a 2d directly remaining-sixteen exit – they had been crushed through eventual winners Real Madrid at this level remaining season – then they may want to make the maximum of domestic advantage, and having received 12 and drawn 3 in their 15 domestic video games this season, they may genuinely be assured that they are able to take a result in Germany.
The hosts have additionally received six in their preceding Champions League domestic video games on the Parc des Princes, claiming wins over the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Juventus in that period, even as they’ve most effective misplaced one in all their 5 domestic conferences towards Bayern withinside the competition – dropping 1-zero whilst the 2 facets remaining met in April 2021
Bayern skilled some thing of a mini-disaster through their excessive requirements after they again from the iciness spoil with 3 consecutive 1-1 attracts, however a feel of normality has been restored in Bavaria in latest weeks.
Julian Nagelsmann‘s free-scoring aspect racked up 4 dreams in victories over Mainz and Wolfsburg withinside the DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga respectively, earlier than they warmed up for his or her midweek Champions League sport with a snug 3-zero win over Bochum on the weekend way to dreams from Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry.
Their preceding attracts have allowed others to shut the space on the pinnacle of the Bundesliga table, with Union Berlin simply one factor adrift, even as Borussia Dortmund are most effective 3 factors farfar from Bayern, however their quest for an eleventh directly Bundesliga name will need to be placed on keep as they put together to make the experience to Paris.
Bayern made mild paintings of a complex group – which protected Barcelona and Inter Milan – as they improved to the knockout rounds with out losing a unmarried factor, and that they now have the threat to win their first seven video games of a Champions League marketing campaign for the second one time, after formerly doing so withinside the 2019-20 season.
The perennial German champions generally fare nicely at this level of the competition, having improved from the remaining-sixteen in 9 of the remaining 10 seasons, together with their remaining 3 European campaigns.
