Football

Bayern Munich vs PSG lineups: Is Mbappe injured?

Bayern Munich vs PSG lineups: Is Mbappe injured?

PSG head to the Allianz Arena tonight to take on Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. The home side take a one-goal advantage into the second leg after a second-half strike from Kingsley Coman earned Bayern a 1-0 victory in Paris.

Both sides have varying records in European competition. While Bayern Munich are historically known as one of European football’s powerhouses thanks to their six European Cup/Champions League victories, PSG are still waiting to get their hands on the famous trophy.

The match is a replay of the 2020 final. Played behind closed doors in Lisbon due to the Covid pandemic, Bayern Munich won on that occasion, too. PSG will be hoping to take a small slice of revenge tonight and they will go into the match in a confident mood after winning all three of their Ligue 1 games since the first leg.

Team news

Bayern Munich

The major team news for the home side is the fact that Benjamin Pavard is suspended after receiving a red card in the first leg. His challenge on Lionel Messi in stoppage time was ugly, to say the least, so he will have to sit this one out. Croatian defender, Josip Stanisic, played ahead of Pavard at the weekend perhaps in preparation for this one and he is expected to play there again tonight.

Aside from Pavard, Bayern are also without Manuel Neuer who broke his leg ski-ing after the World Cup, and Lucas Hernandez who has also been out injured since the World Cup.

Other than that, manager Julian Nagelsmann has a clean bill of health in this squad. Sadio Mane returned from injury as a substitute against Stuttgart at the weekend and he has to settle for a place on the bench again tonight as Choupo-Moting gets the nod up front.

Leroy Sane also drops to the bench with Nagelsmann opting for a change in formation which means Thomas Muller starts. In another change from the first leg, Alphonso Davies comes in for Joao Cancelo, who isn’t enjoying the best of loan spells in Munich.

PSG

The big news from the PSG camp is that Brazilian superstar, Neymar, is ruled out. Not only will the 31-year-old miss the game against Bayern Munich but he will also miss the remainder of the season as he requires ankle surgery.

The French side also have defensive issues. Presnel Kimpembe is unavailable while Marquinos is set to play through the pain barrier at the Allianz Arena. The Brazilian defender is suffering from a rib injury but made it known yesterday that he was willing to play through injury to help his team.

The good news for PSG is the fact that Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are both fit to play. The pair have struck up a great partnership in recent weeks and they will fancy their chances tonight. Mbappe recently said that he shouldn’t have played in the first leg due to injury while Messi was lucky to escape unscathed from the challenge that earned Benjamin Pavard a red card.

Confirmed lineups

Bayern Munich

Sommer, Stanisic, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies, Kimmich, Goretzka, Coman, Muller, Musiala, Choupo-Moting

PSG

Donnarumma, Pereira, Marquinhos, Ramos, Hakimi, Ruiz, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes, Messi, Mbappe

 

 

 


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