Prediction: Bayern Munich to Win and Both Teams To Score
Odds:21/10
Bookmaker:Betfair
A mouth-watering UEFA Champions League final is on offer on Sunday evening as Bayern Munich square off with Paris Saint Germain.
The German and French champions clash at the Estadio da Luz in a game that has the potential to be an absolute thriller considering the respective forms of the two sides.
Paris Saint Germain
Despite all the riches available to the French giants since their takeover in 2011, this weekend’s meeting is their first ever UEFA Champions League final and only their third major UEFA final of any form. The Parisiens had previously reached the 1995/96 and 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup finals, beating Rapid Vienna in the former but falling to Barcelona in the latter. Their run to the showpiece finale this season is remarkable considering that they were almost eliminated at the hands of Atalanta in the quarter-finals but managed to stage a dramatic late turnaround, before overcoming Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig. One aspect that Tuchel’s men will hope to harness once again is their goal-scoring ability. PSG have scored the second-most goals in the competition this season with 25 with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria all proving to be pivotal throughout the campaign. Should they finally lift the trophy, the huge investment to bring that triumvirate to the Parc de Princes will certainly seem worth it.
Team News
Keylor Navas remains a severe doubt for the French outfit as he continues to struggle with a hamstring problem. He will be replaced by Sergio Rico should he not recover in time. Layvin Kurzawa and Marco Verratti could also both miss out due to thigh and calf problems respectively. Idrissa Gueye could be included in the starting line-up having been introduced from the bench against RB Leipzig. One man who is sure to play is captain Thiago Silva. The final will be his last appearance as a Paris Saint Germain player.
Bayern Munich
Whilst PSG have been stunningly prolific in the Champions League this season, they still do not compare to the juggernaut that is Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich. The German champions have netted an astounding 42 goals in the competition this term at rate of 4.2 each match. That means that they have scored just three fewer than Barcelona’s record count of 45 from the 1999/00 season, albeit in six fewer matches. That alone should give the Bavarians considerable confidence as they strive to claim their sixth European crown in what would be their 11th final but their current form is also stunning. Bayern are currently in the midst of a 20-match winning run which shows no sign of halting by any means. There has only been two occasions since football’s restart where they have failed to score more than one goal in a match, against Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen, and yet they still managed to claim victory in those matches.
Team News
Flick only has a couple of injury worries to contend with ahead of the match. Jerome Boateng suffered a muscular problem in the semi-final win against Lyon, eventually being withdrawn at half-time. He could miss out this time around. Meanwhile, Benjamin Pavard made an appearance off the bench in the last game so could be drafted into the starting line-up.
Key Facts To Consider
- Paris Saint Germain have the better all-time head-to-head record between the two sides (W5, L3)
- Bayern Munich have reached 11 UEFA Champions League finals, with this being PSG’s first
- Bayern boast the top scorer in the competition in the form of Robert Lewandowski (15 goals)
- Despite never winning the Champions League, PSG can boast three winners in their side (Keylor Navas, Angel Di Maria, Neymar), whilst Bayern possess six (Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Thiago, Javi Martinez, Thomas Muller)
- Bayern won the most recent match between the two 3-1 in 2017
Conclusion
Bayern’s experience in Champions League finals really could be the deciding factor in this mouth-watering affair. Apart from that, there really isn’t that much difference between the two sides. They both have exhilarating forward lines, whilst they are capable of shipping goals. It should be the Germans though who edge this one and claim the trophy.
Prediction: Bayern Munich to Win and Both Teams To Score
Odds:21/10
Bookmaker:Betfair
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