Preview: PSG and Bayern prepare for epic Champions League semifinal
We’re set for a high-octane first leg clash in Paris between the two highest-scoring teams in the Champions League. Current holders PSG take on perhaps the biggest challengers for their crown.
By Filip Mishov
Patient vs. direct style, same goal but a different approach as Enrique and Kompany hunt for European honours
The reigning European champions are marching towards the successful defence of the Ligue 1 title after cruising to a comfortable win at Angers over the weekend, and thus opening a six-point lead on Lens with just four rounds to go.
Now, Paris Saint-Germain’s focus turns to the Champions League semi-final’s first leg against Bayern München, the main contenders to Luis Enrique‘s free-flowing squad for the European throne. The Parisians are hitting top form right at the business end of the season, but the Bavarians are historically tricky opponents for them – PSG’s last win over Bayern in Europe’s elite competition dates back to 2021, with five consecutive defeats having between then and now.
The back-to-back Bundesliga champions are excelling on all fronts this season, as Vincent Kompany‘s side are unbeaten in 19 games across all competition, and currently on a nine-game winning streak. That record was in jeopardy for 53 minutes at Mainz on Saturday until Harry Kane & co. miraculously overturned a three-goal deficit in the second half. Nothing seems impossible for Bayern München in 2025/26.
The Germans have scored an incredible 38 goals in the Champions League to date, joint most with PSG (who’ve played two matches more due to the playoffs), and have already defeated them at the Parc des Princes during the league phase of this competition.
Key players
Vitinha is Paris Saint-Germain’s unsung hero and for all the firepower within the squad, it’s the Portuguese maestro who is the key to making the team click. The 26-year-old missed the past couple of matches through injury, but the former FC Porto midfielder is back in first-team training and ready to pull the strings again for Luis Enrique on the pitch.
Such is the importance of Vitinha for the Spanish coach that only his teammate, Willian Pacho, has played more minutes than him in the Champions League, while no one has covered more distance (159.7 km) or made more accurate passes per 90 (97.9) in the competition.
Luis Díaz scored a match-winning brace before getting sent off at the Parc des Princes earlier in the season and the Colombian’s excellent debut campaign in the Bayern shirt is going under the radar given Harry Kane and Michael Olise‘s extraordinary performances. The explosive winger completes FCB’s lethal attacking trident and with 25 goals and 17 assists across all competitions, it is not a surprise for Luchito to earn an impressive FotMob rating of 7.86.
Team news
With Vitinha back in first-team training ahead of the match, Enrique enjoys an almost full squad to pick from, with the youngster, Quentin Ndjantou, being the only absentee.
Interestingly enough, Vincent Kompany is suspended for the first leg in Paris after collecting his third yellow card of the season in the quarter-finals and the coach will watch the match from the stands, perhaps with Sven Ulreich, Raphaël Guerreiro, Tom Bischof, Lennart Karl and Serge Gnabry who are also ruled out due to injury.
Prediction
PSG are slowly but surely reaching the heights of last season’s all-conquering form as the campaign comes to a head, but Bayern are in scintillating form themselves, and even without Kompany on the touchline, I expect them to score goals, continue their unbeaten run and secure a positive result in Paris, while a goalfest is looking inevitable given the teams’ fruitful attacks.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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