The final of the Champions League promises to be very uncertain between PSG and Bayern Munich. Two teams that resemble each other in their offensive strike force and their habit of dominating their opponents. The duel promises to be grandiose, tactical and spectacular.
The middle battle
It is the heart of the reactor. The area where each coach will ask for impact and density to stop the opposing game. With both sides the same will: quickly recover the ball to quickly serve the offensive arrows. "Bayern has the ability to switch very quickly to the front, we see it throughout the season in the league," explains Patrick Guillou, beIN Sport consultant for the Bundesliga. Even if they are not used to adapting to the opponent, the Germans will still have to choose between harassing Parisian players high or favoring a lower position to avoid leaving behind. depth to Neymar and Mbappé. In any case, they will have to cut the preferential circuit between these two. "
An opinion shared by Willy Sagnol, the former defender of Bayern and the France team: "The ambition of Parisian circles will be to find Neymar or Di Maria very quickly so that they can turn around, play vertically thanks to especially at the speed of Mbappé. "
Guardians on the front line
Keylor Navas and Manuel Neuer have faced each other only twice. In the quarterfinals of the 2017 Champions League, the Real Madrid goalkeeper won his distance duel with the 2014 world champion (2-1; 4-2 ap). Navas arrived in Paris this summer to bring his experience as a triple European champion. Internally, it diffuses confidence. On the field, he will have to set the tone against the best attack of the competition (42 goals in 10 games).
His right thigh injury contracted in the quarter-final against Atalanta only allows him to return for the final. A major asset despite doubts about his ability to regain all his physical means. Manuel Neuer, for his part, is the last bulwark against one of his pet peeves. In three meetings, he has already conceded four goals from Neymar, including three in the double confrontation in the semi-finals of the 2015 Champions League. The year the Brazilian won it with Barcelona.
The experience leans towards the German side
During the last eleven seasons of the Champions League, Bayern Munich have found themselves in the last four of the competition eight times. Paris hadn't slipped there for a quarter of a century. “The Bavarian collective experience is clearly superior to that of PSG, it's a huge advantage, blows Patrick Guillou. Certainly Mbappé and Kimpembe are world champions, Navas has won the Champions League three times and Neymar once, but that does not replace the collective strength of a group. "
Faced with a team of which several players already participated in the success in C1 in 2013 (Neuer, Boateng, Müller, Alaba), Parisian ardor can however be an advantage. “It's more difficult to stay at the top than to get there,” warns Guillou. Bayern have been winning steadily for years. PSG must write a page in its history. The players want to force their destiny and win their Grail. In terms of motivation, they might have an advantage. "