Bayern Munich host Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 second-leg on Wednesday with the Bavarians protecting a 1-0 first-leg lead they picked up in France.
In another meeting of two of Europe's big guns, PSG must try to keep their elusive Champions League title win alive and come from behind in Germany.
| What: | Bayern Munich v Paris Saint-Germain, Champions League last-16 second leg |
| Where: | Allianz Arena, Munich |
| When: | 20:00, Wednesday 8th March 2023 |
| How to watch: | BT Sport 2 |
| Odds (Full Time Result): | Bayern Munich 5/6, Draw 10/3, Paris Saint-Germain 13/5 |
Another cagey clash anticipated
After the first game finished 1-0, the second clash is expected to be an equally similarly tight affair, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Bayern progress as they once again demonstrate their greater European knowhow in the knockout stage of the continent's top club competition.
Super-wealthy PSG, despite having global stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in their ranks, have still to conquer Europe and it's among the toughest of asks in world football trying to overturn a first-leg deficit against the experienced Bavarian giants.
Their task is underlined by the fact Bayern are as short as 2/11 To Qualify, with PSG 7/2 in the same market.
Can Coman deliver yet again?
This is a repeat of the 2020 final, which Bayern won 1-0, and it was the same man who broke Les Parisiens' hearts three years ago in Lisbon - ex-PSG youth product Kingsley Coman - who scored the winner in the first leg last month.
Julian Nagelsmann's side were able to safely see out that game away from home, despite having Benjamin Pavard sent off late on, and they must believe they are now closing in on another appearance in the last eight as they seek a seventh European Cup crown.
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PSG knocked out Bayern in 2021
With revenge the obvious word in the minds of the PSG players and supporters, there is also a similar sense Bayern want to make up for being knocked out by the French champions in the quarter-finals two years ago when these two familiar foes lock horns again.
That PSG managed it on that occasion will offer them inspiration of a repeat, especially as they won a spectacular first-leg 3-2 at the Allianz Arena back then - which was just enough to see them squeeze through on away goals despite Bayern triumphing 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in the second game.
Overall, Bayern have a terrific record in Europe and have only exited the competition at this stage once in the past 12 years - when losing to Liverpool in 2019 - so with a 1-0 lead to fall back on, Nagelsmann's men should get the job done.
Munich formidable on home soil
To further strengthen the case for the Bundesliga side to go through, Bayern have not gone out of the Champions League after winning the first leg since the 2010/11 campaign, and they remain formidable opponents on home soil.
Bayern have won 15 of their last 17 Allianz Arena matches in the competition, and this season saw off Barcelona (2-0), Inter Milan (2-0) and Viktoria Plzen (5-0) in the group stage without conceding a goal.
Domestically, they have not lost at home in the league all season, winning seven of their 11 matches and drawing four times, and overall they come into this second-leg clash in good form, winning six of their last seven games in all competitions.
Like Bayern, PSG are top of their domestic league so will not be short of confidence. Christophe Galtier's men have an eight-point lead over Marseille compared to Bayern's more precarious advantage at the top in Germany. The record 32-time Bundesliga champions are currently only above Borussia Dortmund on goal difference.
No Neymar for visitors
The visitors continue to be without Brazilian ace Neymar, after it was confirmed on Monday that he will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury that needs surgery.
PSG's 4-2 win over Nantes in Ligue 1 at the weekend will be remembered as the day Mbappe became the club's all-time top goalscorer, the France star scoring late on to overtake Edinson Cavani's tally of 200 strikes, and now the 24-year-old will be charged with shooting down Bayern.
He is a tempting 8/5 in the Anytime scorer market for the mouth-watering midweek showdown.
However, unfortunately for PSG and Galtier - who will be under pressure with another last-16-stage exit if it comes to pass for the Ligue 1 side - Bayern seem set to prevail.
