Prediction: PSG vs Bayern Munich



Verdict: Bayern not to lose

Best Odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: bet365

Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a dream start to the new Champions League campaign as they hammered Celtic on the road, but they will have bigger fish to fry in the second group game. Bayern Munich are just as hungry for UCL success as the Saints are and they head into the game hoping to make amends for the 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg at the weekend.

PSG

Desperate for Champions League success, Paris Saint-Germain threw caution to the wind and splashed out on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe this summer, but they haven’t exactly managed to properly reinforce the other areas. With Blaise Matuidi leaving for Juventus, the Saints are somewhat short of options in the middle of the park, and they also lack a proper back-up to Edinson Cavani, although they do have quite a few quality footballers who could act as forwards if necessary. Both marquee signings have enjoyed bright starts to the new season, but it is the clash between Edinson Cavani and Neymar over penalty duty that has been making the headlines. Dani Alves has attempted to put down the fire by inviting all his teammates to a dinner, but it remains to be seen whether the issue will have been sorted. The Saints might have to face Bayern without the Brazilian superstar, but that would be a perfect opportunity to prove they will not be overly reliant on the former Barcelona forward. It is important to note that Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten in last nine UCL fixtures at Parc des Princes, although they won just two of last five,

Team News

Neymar and Angel di Maria remain doubtful for selection, but Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe have shaken off minor knocks and should start.



Bayern Munich

Just like their next opponents, Bayern Munich have struggled to live up to the billing in the Champions League and they hope this will be the season when they finally lift the coveted trophy. The Bavarians, too, seriously reinforced their ranks in the summer, recruiting the likes of James Rodriguez, Corentin Tolisso, Niklas Sule and Sebastian Rudy, with the new signings fitting right in. This has seen some old guns such as Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller struggle for playing time, but increased competition for places can only be a good thing. In all fairness, Bayern Munich haven’t shown a great deal of consistency, having already suffered two slip-ups on domestic stage, with Friday’s draw against Wolfsburg seeing the Bavarians squander a two-goal lead. This is enough to suggest that the confidence is not exactly high at Allianz Arena ahead of the top-of-the-table clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern Munich have struggled on recent Champions League travels, losing four of last six games.

Team News

Juan Bernat and Manuel Neuer continue to miss out, but David Alaba should be back in contention after recovering from injury.

Key Factors to Consider

• PSG unbeaten in last 9 ULC games at home (W5 D4)
• Last 7 of those produced a total of 22 goals
• Bayern lost four of last six away games in UCL (W2)
• PSG won each of three home games vs Bayern
• The two teams meeting for the first time since 2000

Conclusion

Paris Saint-Germain have been in fine form of late and they boast an impressive record in past meetings with Bayern Munich on home soil, but we, nonetheless, expect the Bavarians to do well at Parc des Princes. They’ve got a lot more experience in these kinds of games and should secure at least one point.

Verdict: Bayern not to lose

Best Odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: bet365