5 reasons why Bayern Munich will struggle against Paris Saint-Germain | UEFA Champions League 2019-20

Neymar and Mbappe
Neymar and Mbappe

#3 Marco Verratti returns for Paris Saint-Germain

Marco Verratti is back
Marco Verratti is back

Thomas Tuchel has revealed that both Marco Verratti and Idrissa Gueye have been training with the team and that both are available to play the final for Paris Saint-Germain against Bayern Munich.

He said,

"Marco and Idrissa trained with us after the Leipzig game without any problem... they are both available,"
"[Verratti's] injury was a knock. It wasn't muscular, so the risk is not big."
"It will be difficult for him to last 120 minutes or 90 minutes in the midfield tomorrow, but as long as nothing happens to him in training yes (he can play), and then we will see in the morning if he can start."

Ander Herrera, Leandro Paredes and Marquinhos had played as the midfield 3 for Paris Saint-Germain against RB Leipzig and did a very good job. However, now with Verratti back in the fray, Paredes is expected to lose his spot in the XI.

It is not sure if Gueye will be used from the start but the Verratti-Gueye partnership has worked excellently for Paris Saint-Germain more often than not. The Senegalese hounds opposition midfielders and storms into the final third to cause problems while the Italian dictates play from a deeper position.

#2 Boateng's fitness concerns exposes Sule

Jerome Boateng
Jerome Boateng

Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome Boateng will face a late fitness test on Sunday as he remains a doubt for the final. Paris Saint-Germain are one of the best attacking units in Europe and Bayern Munich will need their best defenders on the pitch to be able to negotiate the threat they pose.

If Boateng does not pass the fitness test then Hansi Flick will have to go with Niklas Sule and the 24-year-old is not yet equipped to dispense his duties at the heart of defence as well as the experienced Boateng can.

Bayern Munich manager Flick, meanwhile, insists that a personnel change does not translate to a tactical change.

“They have a lot of quality in their attack, perhaps similar to Barcelona on that score. Lyon played in a very direct style, they went straight towards goal and often played long balls forward into that spacing behind the defence.
“So it’s very important we are able to cut out those passing lanes so that we don’t afford the opposition space to play the ball into. Of course, Paris Saint-Germain have a lot of pace in the side. They’re a top team with some incredible players and it’s a very exciting match.
“But over the last 10 months, we’ve always tried to impose our style of play on the opposition. We’ve always played with a high line against the opposition and ultimately we’ve got results doing that. So we won’t change too much on that score,”

#1 Bayern Munich will not have the majority of possession as usual

Joshua Kimmich and Thiago of Bayern Munich battle for possession with Chelsea's Mason Mount
Joshua Kimmich and Thiago of Bayern Munich battle for possession with Chelsea's Mason Mount

With the likes of Verratti, Herrera, Marquinhos, Gueye and Di Maria always running around to have a look in, Bayern Munich might not be able to dominate possession against Paris Saint-Germain as they have often done so far this season.

But in all likelihood, Thomas Tuchel might set his team up to sit a little deeper in order to exploit the space left behind by the Bayern Munich defenders. As such, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielders might not be tasked with actively running balls down in midfield.

But whenever they win the ball back, they have experienced campaigners in the centre of the pitch who can hold on to the ball and keep it before looking to release their attackers

This will, in turn, cause Bayern Munich to be less adventurous and more conservative as well as they're well aware of Paris Saint-Germain's attacking impetus. Also, Paris Saint-Germain have the kind of players who can keep hold of the ball and dictate play if they need to.

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