Bayern Munich can complete only the second treble in their proud history by beating Paris Saint Germain in Sunday’s Champions League final to underline their status as Germany’s super club.
Bayern have cruised to the Lisbon final, scoring 42 goals in their Champions League matches. In all competitions, they are on a 20-game winning streak stretching back to early February.
“We don’t have to say anything more about Bayern Munich, because their opponents will no longer be beaten but destroyed,” grumbled Borrusia Dortmund chief execurive Hans-Joachim Watzke in the wake of the 8-2 quarterfinal drubbing of Barcelona.
On the other side, Paris feature the best defence in the Champions League. But their attack, orchestrated by Neymar, is capable of damaging the German champions.
“In attack, Bayern still have their quality, but at the back they need to be more stable. Maybe against Paris they shouldn’t defend so high, because Paris will use the speed of Neymar and Mbappe”.
Bayern coach Hansi Flick agreed with that assessment, but was not willing to change the high pressure system that Bayern have imbued with a ruthless streak.
“We were lucky to hold out in the first phase of the match (vs Lyon),” admitted Flick. “We’ll have to see that we organise the defence a little differently. Our great strength is pressuring on the opponent and I think that we will succeed against Paris as well.”
Even the great Franz Beckenbauer stepped in to caution the Germans, saying: “I’ve watched PSG’s games, they’re one heck of a team. It’ll be the most difficult game of this Champions League season. I can’t find any weak points in the team and I expect them to vary their playing style. I hope that both teams don’t hold back too much, don’t show each other too much respect and play just as refreshingly and with a joie de vivre like they have done up to now. Then we can expect a wonderful final.
“It’ll be a match played on equal terms. I’d say it’s 50-50. Sometimes you need luck. If Bayern get that, they’ll win the game.”
Angel di Maria has been inspirational for Le Parisiens and he also sees the match as a finely balanced contest.
“They’re tough, they’re a really well-organised team, and I think this will be their 11th European Cup final,” Di Maria said. “We know they have amazing players, players in incredible form, but we also have good players, our own system, our own way of playing, and I think we have a group that deserves to win the Champions League.”
History is on PSG’s side. The two sides have faced off on eight occasions, all of them Champions League encounters, and Munich have walked off as losers five times, although they won the last encounter.
The difference-maker for the French side could be Neymar, who scored in both legs against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 and cried afterwards. He was excellent against Atalanta in the quarterfinals and magnificent against Leipzig in the semifinals, even if he did not score in either game.
PSG will hope the Brazilian — who has scored 70 times altogether in 84 matches for them — has been saving his next goal for the final. “I hope that the good lord will help him to score on Sunday and us to win,” said his compatriot Thiago Silva.
He added: “Speaking of Bayern Munich is easy. All of us who enjoy football see Bayern Munich as a role model in both the European and world stage. A team that plays with a high intensity and has a lot of quality.
“From their keeper, who is among the greatest in the world, to their striker who is the current top scorer in this season’s [UEFA] Champions League, and has been putting in great performances. Bayern Munich must be regarded as one the best teams in the world.
“We must respect their team, and try to play in our style, as we’ve been doing all season, to play at our highest level. And we’re aware of all that comes along with a final, the motivation on the other side.”
