PSG grabs hold of Mbappé and Messi to overcome Bayern and keep the European dream alive

Milan wants to assert Brahim Díaz's goal against Tottenham in London

MADRID, 7 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain meet this Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, a duel in which the Germans will defend their valuable 0-1 lead from the Parqie de los Príncipes facing the offensive threat of a rival led by Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé, but without Neymar, while Milan also travels to Tottenham with the same small advantage achieved at San Siro and the mission of returning to the quarterfinals eleven years later.

Once again, PSG finds itself between a rock and a hard place in Europe, forced to turn around the 0-1 first leg at the Parc des Princes with both Kingsley Coman, formerly of the Parisian club. The Munich team practically dominated him in the first leg until Mbappé's exit to the field, with a maturity and a residue that his six European Cups give him and his performance always in the continental elite.

Something that was missing again at home and in recent seasons for the Parisian team, which accused the bad night of Messi and Neymar, and the little time available to his '7', who was initially left on the bench by physical problems , but whose departure was already a serious threat to Julian Nagelsmann's men.

Now, Mbappé is completely healthy to join the Argentine striker, from whom a better version is expected to be able to fight for the ticket to the quarterfinals and that the third component of the offensive 'trident' is not missed so much, who has already said goodbye to the campaign for having to undergo surgery on his right ankle.

The Parisian forward arrives at the Allianz Arena in a great moment of form, after becoming the top scorer (201) in the history of PSG, surpassing the Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, in 247 games with the Parisian club. The '7' will want to lead a PSG, whose project could once again suffer a serious setback if they add their fourth defeat in the round of 16 in the last six editions.

PSG, also with Kimpembe's long-term absence, will be able to have Marquinhos and an Achraf who returns for this appointment and after being accused of rape in the country, and Christophe Gaultier could bet on a defense of three central defenders to try the comeback.

For its part, Bayern must avoid falling into any type of speculation for its advantage and it is expected that it will maintain the same intensity and command that it had in the first chapter of this tie. "We have to be aware of what we are at stake," reflected Nageslmann before the duel, when he also celebrated having the recovered Sadio, who has already had minutes in the last two Bundesliga games, but who, except for surprise, , will repeat on the bench.

The victory in the first leg gave wings to a Bayern team that has since added a defeat (3-2) against Borussia Mönchengladbach and two victories over Union Berlin (3-0) and Stuttgart (1-2), to become the leader in the Bundesliga. In the Champions League, his resume is immaculate with seven wins in seven games, the same record at this point as when he was champion in 2020, defeating PSG. However, the last direct duel at the Allianz Arena, in the quarterfinals of the following season, fell to their rival's side (2-3), with Mbappé scoring a key double and subsequent pass for the Parisian team.

The most sensitive absence for Bayern will be that of the suspended Benjamin Pavard, sent off in the final minutes of the first leg, and who will be replaced by Josip Stanisic in a defense that is also expected to have three central defenders and two very offensive wingers such as Coman and Davies .

The Champions League also travels to London, where AC Milan will have to defend the short lead of one goal (1-0) achieved at the San Siro against Tottenham thanks to an early goal from Malaga's Brahim Díaz that decided a duel in which the 'rossoneri 'They did not suffer too much and that gives them an initial advantage to try to return to the quarterfinals of the competition 11 years after losing to FC Barcelona

However, the Serie A champion comes to the clash after losing in the match against Fiorentina (2-1), a defeat that places them fifth in their league, although the 'Spurs' are not experiencing a better moment either, who reach the game after two painful defeats against Sheffield United, in the FA Cup, and Wolwerhampton, in the Premier.

The plague of injuries continues to plague the English team, which will continue without Lloris, Bentancur, Bissouma and Dier-, but with the face-to-face support of their coach, Antonio Conte, already recovered from an operation. The locals will need the best version of their offensive partner formed by Harry Kane and Son, with little prominence at San Siro.