Bayern, PSG Go For Broke In Lisbon
2020 UEFA Champions League final showdown
The D-day is finally here and in-form Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich are considered clear favourites to triumph in tonight’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain
Football pundits are betting on the German side to come out tops at 4/7, with PSG rated 11/8 to win the prestigious trophy.
No doubt, the biggest game of the season. After seven long years, Bayern Munich is finally contesting in the Champions League final again. And it is the underachieving French giants, PSG that are standing in their way of the elusive big-eared trophy.
For manager Hansi Flick, he has proven his genius this season, but it will all be for naught unless he comes up with one last plan. PSG have a whole host of superstars at their disposal.
Chief among them are the terrifying duo of Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe, who can rip any defense to shreds. They will be the key concern of the Bavarians, who have some tough choices to make in their lineup.
Bayern Munich have crushed Chelsea, hammered Barcelona, and swept Lyon aside to make it here. Now, it seems like ninety minutes in Lisbon will determine the team’s fate.
Team news
The cheering news is that neither side has any significant injury concerns, with Keylor Navas and Marco Verratti declared fit for the game. With that in mind, knowing Hansi Flick, there will be no real changes to Bayern Munich’s lineup.
The Venue – The match that finally brings the curtain down on what has been an extraordinary and bizarre season due to the COVID-19 pandemic will hold at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. The stadium, home to Portuguese giants, Benfica, is venue for the big game that will be played behind closed doors in line with restrictions and protocols to protect public health.
Estádio da Luz (Portuguese pronunciation: [(ɨ)ˈʃtadiu dɐ ˈluʒ], Stadium of Light), officially named Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Lisbon, Portugal.
Mostly used for the home matches of S.L. Benfica and the Portugal national team, it has a record attendance of 135,000. It was a match in which Benfica triumph 3–1 over FC Porto on January 4, 1987.
Its capacity has over the years been upgraded at different times. 40,000 (1954–1960); 70,000 (1960–1985); 120,000 (1985–1994); 78,000 …
The ground breaking event took place on June 14, 1953 and its former names, though unofficial is Estádio de Carnide
The Stakes Are High – Both clubs are locking horns after coming through the ‘final eight’ tournament in Portugal, which was the scaled-down, as an expedited solution to help conclude this year’s competition.
While Bayern are looking to clinch their sixth Champions League crown, it is a maiden appearance on this stage for PSG as they attempt to get their hands on what has become for them a holy grail.
Road To The Final For PSG
The French side’s path to the final saw them first top a group containing Real Madrid, Club Brugge and Galatasary.
They then defeated Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, before overcoming Atalanta and RB Leipzig en route to the final.
Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi are the club’s top scorers in this season’s competition, with five goals each.
Bayern’s March To The Final
Bayern Munich have been in rampant form in this season’s Champions League, winning every game and scoring 42 goals along the way.
The Bavarians topped a group containing Tottenham, Olympiacos and Red Star Belgrade, before demolishing Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate in the last 16, hammering Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter-final and beating Lyon 3-0 in the semi-final.
Robert Lewandowski is the competition’s top scorer with 15 goals so far, while Serge Gnabry has chipped in with nine strikes.
History Beckons – No matter who emerges the winner in Lisbon, the Portuguese capital tonight, history will be made. For PSG, it is a chance to win their first continental crown and France’s second all time after Marseille triumphed in the inaugural Champions League final, which took place 27 years ago.
On their part, Bayern are gunning for their sixth title and second historic treble. Victory will see them joining Barcelona in this very exclusive club, while becoming the first side in history to lift the prize having won every game they played.
Head-to-head, this match-up will also be the 10th meeting between both teams with the Ligue 1 side edging the Bundesliga club by 5-4 wins. – With agency reports
