KyroSports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Tennis
  • Formula 1
  • Football
Write for Us
Kyrosports
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Tennis
  • Formula 1
  • Football
No Result
View All Result
Kyro Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Football Football competitions UEFA Champions League

PSG vs Bayern Munich: 5 things to look forward to | UCL 2019-20, Final

PSG and Bayern Munich will square off against each other in the Champions League final at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon tonight.

Krishnendu Sanyal by Krishnendu Sanyal
23rd August 2020
in UEFA Champions League, Bayern Munich, Football, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain, Robert Lewandowski
7 min read
19 1
0
PSG vs Bayern Munich

PSG and Bayern Munich will meet in the Champions League final tonight. (Image Credits: Twitter)

15
SHARES
383
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Feronikeli, Lincoln Red Imps, Tre Penne and FC Santa Coloma got the Champions League season off with the preliminary rounds on 25th June 2019 and ten months later, it will end with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain squaring off in the final at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon tonight.

This has been an unprecedented campaign of European football due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The one-legged games from the quarter-final onwards added more intrigue and gave the so-called underdogs a real chance to progress.

Lyon beat Juventus and Manchester City and Atalanta were minutes away from beating PSG in the quarter-finals.

At the end of it, we are left with two teams that symbolise the rift in European football at the moment – the battle between the traditional powerhouses and the nouveau riche.

Bayern Munich represent the traditional European giants who have history behind them. But PSG are the symbol of everything that the old powerhouses of Europe hate – backed by a nation-state, an almost bottomless pit of money and someone who has gamed UEFA to reach the top.

PSG’s Holy Grail

Once the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani decided to buy PSG close to a decade back and pumped in his state’s considerable funds, the Parisians were always expected to dominate French football. They have won seven of the last eight Ligue 1 titles and five of the last six French cups.

But the Champions League has remained elusive to the club and they have suffered multiple heartbreaks in the competition. From 2013 to 2016, they were stopped in the quarterfinals every year.

In the next three seasons, they were ousted in the Round of 16, which included Barcelona’s La Remontada and Manchester United knocking the Parisians out with an injury-hit squad despite losing 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg.

READ ALSO

How Long Is a Soccer Game?

How Long Is a Soccer Game?

4th March 2021 - Updated on 5th March 2021
89
Liverpool players take knee in support of black Live Matter movement

Liverpool vs Chelsea: Preview, team news, predicted XI and more | Premier League 2020-21

3rd March 2021 - Updated on 4th March 2021
308
FIFA 21 Team of the Year

FIFA 21 Team of the Year: Messi was out of the team for the first time in 11 years

23rd January 2021
117
Globe soccer awards 2020

Globe Soccer Awards: Ronaldo defeated Messi to become Player of the Century

28th December 2020
184
ISL 2020: Hyderabad vs East Bengal

East Bengal’s fourth defeat in ISL: Hyderabad’s second win of the season, Point reached table top five

17th December 2020
58
Ronaldo vs Messi

Juventus beat Barcelona by 3–0 at their home

9th December 2020
116
Load More

⚽️✨#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/Fq0WG0WNXa

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 22, 2020

PSG have been accused of wilting under pressure in the Champions League. Atalanta almost knocked them out this season as well but now this is their chance to wipe off previous years’ tears.

Can the PSG players step up against the form team of Europe in Bayern Munich in the final or will they again choke under the bright lights in Lisbon?

Bayern Munich are the team to beat

Hansi Flick’s side are massive favourites going into the final despite the quality PSG have in their squad. The German champions have often looked unbeatable in Europe this season and the 8-2 win over Barcelona was only part of the story.

Robert Lewandowski has scored in every Champions League game he has played this season and has 15 goals in nine games in the competition. He is just two goals short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s haul of 17, which he scored for Real Madrid in the 2013-14 campaign.

? Best striker in Europe this season?

? Robert Lewandowski in 2019/20 = ???#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/u6cy4OXyxQ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 22, 2020

Thomas Muller is back to his best this season under Hansi Flick and has a record of 14 goals and 26 assists in all competitions. His partnership with Lewandowski is frighteningly good.

Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Thiago have been pivotal in Bayern Munich controlling the tempo of games. Alphonso Davies and Alvaro Odriozola provide impetus from the full-back positions and David Alaba and Jerome Boateng have looked stable at the heart of their defence.

In short, Bayern Munich have been frighteningly good and it will take one hell of a performance from PSG to stop the German champions from being European champions.

PSG’s attacking trio

Bayern Munich look unbeatable but PSG have the attack to break down any team in Europe. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria have looked brilliant together since the restart.

Di Maria scored a brace in the 3-0 dismantling of RB Leipzig in the semi-final but Neymar and Mbappe were equally important. The trio pressed an RB Leipzig defence who were always keen to play out from the back and forced them into making mistakes.

??? https://t.co/iRtNEYPYjs pic.twitter.com/M38rLx8FGr

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 22, 2020

The PSG attack could play a similar role against the German champions as well and could even keep their marauding full-backs in Alphonso Davies and Alvaro Odriozola in check.

If the Parisians have to win their first Champions League tonight, their attacking superstars need to step up.

Bayern’s high defensive line could be an issue

The German champions have rarely veered from their plans regardless of their opponents. They play a defensive high line and both Lyon and Barcelona did show the chinks in the Bavarians’ armour.

Barcelona exploited the high line to score an early goal against the German champions and Lyon repeatedly exposed its flaw in the first half only to squander their chances inside the penalty box.

If Bayern Munich again deploy the high line against PSG, it will be a massive risk. The Parisians have the players in their team to play those over the top balls and PSG’s attack would have oodles of space to run in behind the Bayern Munich defence.

? Who's faster: Kylian Mbappé OR Alphonso Davies?#UCLfinal

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 23, 2020

Thomas Tuchel‘s side also press high and quick turnover in a dangerous area could easily see the Bayern Munich defence chasing the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria.

Will Hansi Flick take the risk again for the high reward or go a bit more conservative? This decision could make or break the final.

Champions League the last piece in Qatar’s sportswashing efforts

Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, has been PSG’s owner since 2011 through the Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), a state-owned organisation.

QSI is a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).  QSI chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been the PSG president since 2011, but Al Thani is the ultimate power behind the scenes.

He is the chairman of the QIA and founded QSI. To put it more bluntly: Qatar is PSG, PSG is Qatar. Al Thani will reportedly attend tonight’s final. It will be the first time a state-owned club have been represented on European football’s grandest stage.

The men behind the teams ?

? Tuchel ? Flick#MissionLis6on #UCLFinal #PSGFCB pic.twitter.com/sWNg38O4L2

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 22, 2020

There is no one reason for a state to buy a football club. They may enjoy the status that football’s glamour often affords. It could also be a sound financial decision to shift funds offshore and widening business interests. In successful cases, they may even – eventually – generate extra revenue from the project.

But they also buy for soft power purposes, building a global influence and constructing a false image of the country through sport.

That is the principle of sportswashing: “When they think of Qatar, they must think of football.”

Also Read: PSG vs Bayern Munich: Preview, team news, predicted XI and more: UCL 2019-20, Final

Tags: Angel di MariaBayern MunichHansi FlickPSGThomas MullerThomas Tuchel
Share6Tweet4SendShare1Send
Krishnendu Sanyal

Krishnendu Sanyal

Sports Writer by profession and Biryani enthusiast by passion. When not getting his heart broken by Manchester United, Krishnendu muses about literature too

Related Posts

How Long Is a Soccer Game?
Football

How Long Is a Soccer Game?

4th March 2021 - Updated on 5th March 2021
89
Liverpool players take knee in support of black Live Matter movement
Football

Liverpool vs Chelsea: Preview, team news, predicted XI and more | Premier League 2020-21

3rd March 2021 - Updated on 4th March 2021
308
FIFA 21 Team of the Year
Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFA 21 Team of the Year: Messi was out of the team for the first time in 11 years

23rd January 2021
117
Globe soccer awards 2020
Cristiano Ronaldo

Globe Soccer Awards: Ronaldo defeated Messi to become Player of the Century

28th December 2020
184
ISL 2020: Hyderabad vs East Bengal
ISL

East Bengal’s fourth defeat in ISL: Hyderabad’s second win of the season, Point reached table top five

17th December 2020
58
Ronaldo vs Messi
Football

Juventus beat Barcelona by 3–0 at their home

9th December 2020
116
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

8th April 2020 - Updated on 9th April 2020
Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020 – Complete Team Analysis

24th December 2019
Mario Balotelli celbrates against Manchester United

The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

11th June 2020
East Bengal need to play in the ISL

East Bengal and ISL need each other

22nd August 2020
Kuldeep Yadav bowling in the nets (Image credits: Facebook | Kuldeep Yadav)

Kuldeep Yadav, the new Mystery spinner!

Ravi Shastri, the master, may become the Coach of Team India soon (Image Credits: Facebook | Ravi Shashtri)

Ravi Shastri throws hat in the ring for India head coach

He can be the all-rounder India needs

Basil Thampi and Krunal Pandya selected for India A tour to South Africa

The new captain; a lot will depend on how he manages his resources (Image Credits: Facebook)

Joe Root, Dean Elgar set to fight in the 1st England-South Africa Test

2021 Bahrain GP

Key Moments That Stood Out In The 2021 Bahrain GP?

29th March 2021
Max Verstappen

Why The Bahrain GP Is Poised To Be More Interesting Than You Think?

28th March 2021
Online Casino & Type of Bonuses Offered

Online casinos: History, Advantages, and Types of Bonuses Offered

15th March 2021
How Long Is a Soccer Game?

How Long Is a Soccer Game?

4th March 2021 - Updated on 5th March 2021
  • 15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

    15 Highly Educated Cricketers Of All Time

    506 shares
    Share 202 Tweet 127
  • Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020 – Complete Team Analysis

    284 shares
    Share 168 Tweet 48
  • The astonishing decline of Mario Balotelli

    154 shares
    Share 62 Tweet 39
  • East Bengal and ISL need each other

    129 shares
    Share 52 Tweet 32
  • The world will live on these 5 fielders in the world cup 2019

    123 shares
    Share 49 Tweet 31

About Kyrosports

Kyrosports is an all-sports website, with multinational audience and writers. Users engage on the website, read, write and post comments while interacting with like-minded fans from all over the globe. The site covers mainstream sports like Football Cricket Tennis Basketball Hockey Formula One Badminton professional wrestling, mixed martial arts, and boxing as well as niche ones like kabaddi and squash through news, articles.

The site also provides its use live coverage of cricket matches (including liveblogs and scorecards).

Kyrosports Tribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Series
  • IPL 2020

© 2020 All Rights Reserved | Kyrosports - Powered by CodEye Technologies.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Tennis
  • Formula 1
  • Football

© 2020 All Rights Reserved | Kyrosports - Powered by CodEye Technologies.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.