PSG v Bayern Munich: Line-ups, stats and preview

PSG v Bayern Munich preview

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha says the Ligue 1 leaders and Bundesliga counterparts Bayern are “the two best teams at the moment” as the top two in the league phase of the Champions League prepare to meet at the Parc des Princes.

Inter, Real Madrid and Arsenal are the only other sides with a perfect record from their first three matches, with PSG looking to repeat their 2-0 win at the Club World Cup finals in July, when they overcame the late dismissals of Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez.

“You always want to play in these kinds of games and play beautiful football,” said Vitinha, praising Bayern striker Harry Kane’s “incredible” form.

“He was [also] very strong last season. We know, above all, that Bayern are a great team and strong collective who defend and attack well. But of course we’ll have to keep an eye on Harry Kane.

“I think it will be similar to what we saw at the Club World Cup. It will be tight with lots of one-on-ones and both teams will want to have the ball.”

A 95th-minute Goncalo Ramos goal gave PSG a 1-0 home win over in-form Nice on Saturday, when Bayern won 3-0 against visitors Leverkusen courtesy of goals by Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson and a Loic Bade own goal.

“Paris and Bayern have great respect for each other,” observed Gnabry, via Bayern’s website. “It’s going to be a cracker.

“[Recent] games [between the teams have] always been even, mostly won by the team who scored first. We’re going there with confidence.”

Manager Vincent Kompany echoed Gnabry’s words. “I’m looking forward to PSG,” said the Belgian. “We’ve earned the right to go there full of enthusiasm.

“It needs to be rock and roll. They’re confident, we’re confident – it’s a great match.”

PSG v Bayern Munich team news

Defender Illia Zabarnyi is suspended for PSG and Desire Doue is out after sustaining his second significant injury of the season when the winger was stretchered off in their 1-1 draw at Lorient on October 29.

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele suffered hamstring pain after being introduced as a 73rd-minute substitute against Nice but trained on Monday.

“No risks will be taken for any player,” said manager Luis Enrique. “Ousmane has played in the last two matches and he will play, although I don’t yet know how many minutes.

“We’ll decide that [on the day], but he is improving his physical condition.”

Defenders Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies (both knee) and winger Jamal Musiala (leg) will not feature for Bayern.

Kompany named Kane and wingers Michael Olise and Luis Diaz as substitutes as his team earned a 15th consecutive win in all competitions by beating Leverkusen.

“Rotation?” asked Kompany, whose side scored all of their goals before the break. “I call it competition.

“It’s normal for the opposition to feel motivated when they see there are a few players not there.”

England captain Kane is the joint-top scorer in the league phase, matching Madrid talisman Kylian Mbappe’s tally of five goals.

PSG v Bayern Munich predicted lineups

PSG: Lucas Chevalier, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Senny Mayulu, Bradley Barcola

Bayern: Manuel Neuer, Josip Stanisic, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, Konrad Laimer, Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, Luis Diaz, Harry Kane

How to watch PSG v Bayern Munich: Live stream, TV channel

Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 GMT (16:00 ET / 14:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on TNT Sports 2.

TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through discovery+, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.

PSG v Bayern Munich stats

PSG v Bayern Munich prediction

Paris won their first four home matches against Bayern in the competition between 1994 and 2017, but their record in the fixture at the Parc des Princes since then is wretched.

Bayern will become the first team ever to win three straight visits to PSG in the Champions League if they are victorious, while the French club’s run of four successive defeats overall against these opponents is their longest losing stretch against a team in Europe, including 40 attempts across four games without scoring.

Die Roten’s record of eight wins against PSG – achieved in 14 games – is the best of any team against them, but a look at the sides’ recent results is perhaps most pertinent for punters.

PSG had dropped points in four of their previous six league matches before their last-gasp win over Nice, while Bayern have won 10 of their last 11 matches by at least two goals, with the other a 2-1 win over Dortmund in which they were two ahead.

Almost a year after the Champions League holders lost 2-1 at home to Atletico Madrid, Bayern can be backed to win by the same scoreline – although the outside bet of the draw might also appeal, given how tricky matches in the middle of the league phase can be to predict.

Paris have been excellent since the start of the competition, thrashing Atalanta before beating Barcelona away and winning 7-2 at Leverkusen.

They are on a six-match winning Champions League run and are the top scorers in the league phase this season, netting 13 times in three games.