The absolute derby of this week’s UEFA Champions League round is in Paris, where PSG hosts Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes. These two titans of European football fought for the UCL title a few years ago, and Bayern got the trophy back then. The stakes are high again, so we expect to see a good battle in both events. Injuries are presenting a big problem for these two units, though PSG is in a bit tougher position; we need to say that. Nevertheless, there won’t be any alibis for a potential failure.
Preview
PSG (+180) is in a terrible situation. The Saints have Mbappe sidelined, Messi will play, but he won’t be 100% ready. Apart from that, the team from Paris has back-to-back losses, which happened against their top rivals, like Marseille and Monaco.
The fans are upset because PSG can’t compete with Bayern in its current shape. There isn’t a needed chemistry in the back line; the offense is sluggish and disorganized; overall, the entire team is in problems and in a negative rhythm.
Six of the past seven games PSG played ended with both teams netting, and just one saw fewer than three goals throughout that interval. Their matches are as usual, very efficient.
Bayern Munich (+130) began improving his form at the best possible moment. Following three draws in a row in Bundesliga, Julian Nagelsmann made some slight changes and adjustments, some of the players recovered from injuries and the World Cup, and Bayern came back on the right path.
They now have three wins in a row, in all netting at least three times or more. After beating Mainz on the road, 0-4, and Wolfsburg away from home, 0-4, they were better than Bochum at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, 3-0.
Thomas Muller broke the lock of the feisty guests, and after it was routine for the Bavarians to lock the game and break the rivals from Bochum. Bayern is fantastic on the road this year and without a loss in 10 consecutive outings, triumphing in eight and recording two draws.
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Mbappe is out, and that is definite. Messi won’t be, but he won’t be at 100%, which is a terrifying thing for the home team fans. To be honest, Mbappe’s absence is a bigger blow to the Saints than Messi’s.
Bayern is without Neuer until the end of the year, Lucas Hernandez will be out for some time, as well as Sadio Mane, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui.
Head to Head
Two and a half years ago, these teams were in the UCL finals and Bayern won 1-0, denying PSG of lifting its first European title. A year later, they were in the quarterfinals when PSG advanced because of a goal on the road, winning 2-3 in Munich and losing at Parc des Princes 0-1.
Prediction
This should be a highly efficient game because of the mentality on both sides. PSG can’t allow being inferior at home, while on the other side, Bayern won’t be keen on letting the rivals impose their own style of play. We expect to see an offensive approach from both ends, and there won’t be any calculations, which is why taking over 2.5 goals sounds logical.
Pick: Over 2.5 goals -200
- Here are more UEFA Champions League Round of 16 previews:
Here are the previews for Europa League games:
Nikola Velickovic is a sports journalist who loves to write and read on all sports. Nikola contributes both news updates and functions as a sports breaking news writer at WagerBop.
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Email: nikola@wagerbop.com
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