PSG and Bayern, stellar duel for the return of the Champions League

Milan receives Tottenham in a duel with a forced change of chip

BARCELONA, 13 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The round of 16 of the Champions League begin this week, after too many days without being able to hear the famous anthem of the highest continental competition, with a highly anticipated duel between PSG and Bayern Munich and another between Milan and Tottenham, between two teams in need of a chip change.

At 9:00 p.m., at the Parc des Princes and at the San Siro, the action will return to the pitch in a 'Champions' that narrowly missed. In Paris, the fans trust in the return of Kylian Mbappé after his injury and that the trident straightens the course of the team, against a Bayern that has been eating their toast.

PSG and Bayern have met three times in the last four seasons, with three Bavarian wins to one Parisian. Among those duels, the 2020 final that Bayern won with a single goal from the Frenchman, and former Parisian player, Kingsley Coman. For that reason alone, this crossing is already of interest.

Of course, the most recent duel was in the quarterfinals of the 2020/21 season and there PSG already claimed revenge, eliminating the Bavarians. Now, in a 2023 that did not start well for a PSG defeated in Ligue 1 by Monaco (3-1) and by Marseille (2-1) in the round of 16 of the French Cup, the Parisians want to dream big.

For its part, Bayern arrives -- like its rival in Ligue 1 -- leader of the Bundesliga, but in a better moment of form after beating Bochum and Wolfsburg and leaving behind the streak of draws that they had been dragging. An improvement that, added to his experience in the 'Champions', makes Bayern a tough rival for PSG, who is once again chasing his first 'Orejona'.

Christophe Galtier, PSG coach, warned in the previous one that Bayern is a "good team" that has won everything, while his colleague, Julian Nagelsmann, pointed out that the Parisian team is a "difficult opponent". Crossed compliments before the verbal battle is transported to the fight for the ball and the goal.

At the same time, at the San Siro, Milan host Tottenham. The milanistas and the 'Spurs' are fifth in Serie A and the Premier League, respectively, and go to this European event with the ambition of winning to put land in the middle with the rival and get closer to the quarterfinals. Without a doubt, the best air possible before returning to their domestic competitions.

For now, Stefano Pioli's 'rossoneri' have forgotten their bad run in Serie A, beating Torino, and they are confident that these improved spirits will continue. Of course, it is a different Milan from the one that the 'Scudetto' achieved last year and, so far this season, irregularity rules and they are 18 points behind the leader, Napoli.

They will face Antonio Conte's Tottenham, who knows the stadium well since he was the coach of the eternal rival and feud partner, Inter Milan. But the 'Spurs' aren't going too far in the Premier either, fifth, 12 points behind the leader, an Arsenal with pending games.

It is not his 'League', nor his real objective, but the truth is that the distance is great and that the defeat of the last day against Leicester City (4-1) could have done damage, which would be repaired with a good game and Result at San Siro.

The Milan coach, Stefano Pioli, assured that Harry Kane's Tottenham will be an "exciting" rival but foresees an "even" game. For his part, Antonio Conte also sees him as open and "balanced", against a Milan that will be an "important adversary".