Christophe Galtier’s men will challenge the Bavarian ogre in the round of 16 of the C1 next February after their regrettable second place.
By Adrian Mathieu
© MUSTAFA YALCIN / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP
Published on
Link copied
Copy link
En finishing second in their group on the wire behind Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) knew that they were exposing themselves to heavy for the knockout stages of the Champions League. Fate has not smiled on Kylian Mbappé and his teammates: they will face a behemoth of European football, Bayern Munich.
Along with Real Madrid and Manchester City, it was arguably the most formidable team on paper for the Parisians. The dream of the leaders of the capital to finally win the cup with big ears will therefore go through a very big chunk.
Campos: “It’s a good time to play against them”
Difficult to project on this shock back and forth which will only occur in February, and especially after a World Cup in the middle of the season, which will undoubtedly leave traces. The time is not yet for defeatism, because the Parisian club can rely on a major asset. His trio Mbappé, Neymar and Messi has been simply sparkling since the start of the season with 43 goals scored between them. If these attackers stay on fire after the World Cup, it will be a great advantage to challenge Bayern.
On direct confrontations, we inevitably remember the final lost against the Bavarians in 2020 with a goal from Kingsley Coman, trained at Camp des Loges. The last opposition to date, during the 2020-2021 season, had turned to the advantage of the Parisians despite a cascade of injuries. Winner of the German club in the quarter-finals, PSG fell in the next round against Manchester City.
READ ALSOMonday’s tackle – World Cup 2022: the return of luck to Deschamps
For Luis Campos, this draw does not change the situation: “After Turin, I told the players in the locker room that Bayern was our most likely draw. We have to look at this match in a positive way, with the quality of our squad. It’s a good time to play against them, because we feel good, we are confident with our current season. We have zero control over our players with the World Cup, we will see how we recover them, but we will have time ahead of us, ”said the Portuguese leader on BeIN Sports.
Watch out for Choupo-Moting!
If the speech is at this moment optimistic, we must all the same be wary of this impressive Bayern Munich during its group stage. Sadio Mané and his family were full with six victories in six games, notably dominating Barça and Inter.
On Instagram, Thomas Müller gave his first feeling on this gala poster: roomer last time, the German international is this time more measured in his remarks. “They are two very good teams with excellent players. This time no “goodbye”, I respect Paris Saint-Germain a lot and I can’t wait until next year for this clash. »
Current leader of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich has still experienced a small period of hollow this season by chaining four league games without a win. For his second season at the head of the Bavarians, the young Julian Nagelsmann (35) has yet to prove himself and despite one of the best squads in Europe, there is a small margin for improvement at this Bayern.
READ ALSOPSG: how Erling Haaland can inspire Kylian Mbappé
Finally, when you know the teasing history of PSG against its former players, it’s hard not to think of the reunion with Éric Choupo-Moting. Sometimes mocked in Ligue 1, the Cameroonian international is currently walking on water with nine goals in his last seven appearances. In addition to Mané, Gnabry, Müller, Sané, Musiala or even Coman, this unexpected striker at the start of the season will have to be watched closely for the Parisian rearguard.
The full draw for the round of 16
PSG-Bayern Munich
Liverpool-Real Madrid
Dortmund-Chelsea
Milan–Tottenham
Inter Milano – Porto
Leipzig-Manchester City
Benfica – Brugge
Frankfurt – Naples