{"id":424705,"date":"2024-11-25T19:53:42","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T19:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=424705"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"High-stakes-as-Bayern-host-PSG-amid-European-wobbles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/High-stakes-as-Bayern-host-PSG-amid-European-wobbles\/","title":{"rendered":"High stakes as Bayern host PSG amid European wobbles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bayern Munich host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in a battle between two sides flying high domestically but seemingly struggling to adjust to the new Champions League format.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After four games, Bayern have lost twice — including a 4-1 defeat by Barcelona, led by their former boss Hansi Flick — and sit 17th, which would leave them unseeded for the knockout phase play-off.<\/p>\n

PSG’s situation is even worse, with the French champions in 25th — one spot outside the knockout places entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For two teams who contested the Champions League final just four years ago, and who both lead their leagues by six points, the lowly rankings are already cause for concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bayern’s struggles are a far cry from their exploits in the old group stage, where the six-time European champions signed off with a record 40-match unbeaten run, featuring 36 wins and four draws.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their last loss in the group phase came back in 2017 — a 3-0 defeat to Tuesday’s opponents PSG.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This season, other than Bayern’s loss in Barcelona, which led to whispers new coach Vincent Kompany may struggle against top sides, the German giants have impressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unbeaten in the league, Bayern’s only other defeat came in the Champions League away at Aston Villa — a 1-0 loss in a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As it would be for PSG, a league phase elimination remains an unthinkable possibility — and one which could have real ramifications for Kompany.<\/p>\n

The crowded football calendar provides a real incentive for finishing in the top eight and avoiding the extra play-off round for teams finishing from ninth to 24th.<\/p>\n

Thomas Mueller knows PSG, who still have to play Manchester City, will be eager to gain ground after an underwhelming start in Europe.<\/p>\n

“Paris’ position in the table does not reflect their performance. They’re a super team with super individual players,” the Bayern veteran told BR24 on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“A lot is at stake. I’m happy it’s at home.”<\/p>\n

– ‘Married couple’ –<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

PSG’s loss to Bayern in the 2020 final — when their former academy product Kingsley Coman scored the winner against them — remains the closest the French side have come to Champions League glory.<\/p>\n

Collectively, Bayern and PSG have won 21 of the past 24 league titles on offer at home, and the two have made a habit of running into each other in Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tuesday’s meeting marks the fourth time in six seasons the pair will meet. Bayern have won four of the five past games but PSG did eliminate them in the quarter-finals of the 2020-21 competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“In the Champions League, you almost feel we’re a married couple,” Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said earlier this year after the draw was made.<\/p>\n

PSG’s swift attackers will hope to trouble a Bayern side missing defensive midfielders Aleksandar Pavlovic and Joao Palhinha.<\/p>\n

The out-of-form Leon Goretzka deputised well in Friday’s 3-0 home win over Augsburg, but PSG are likely to pose a different level of threat.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano is better placed than most to know what to expect from France team-mates Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola.<\/p>\n

“It’s an important game for us,” Upamecano told Telefoot on Sunday.<\/p>\n

“If you look at the table, it’s not great — we are not where we want to be.”<\/p>\n

dwi\/mw\/dj<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany is in his first season at the club<\/p>\n

-LLUIS GENE
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Bayern Munich’s French forward Kingsley Coman puts his side in front against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 Champions League final<\/p>\n

-LLUIS GENE
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bayern Munich host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in a battle between two sides flying high…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23812],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-424705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424705"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424705\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}