Bayern Munich v PSG predictions: German giants to reach the last four again

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Bayern Munich v Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Bayern Munich to qualify
2pts 8-11 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news

Bayern Munich
Corentin Tolisso (thigh), Douglas Costa (foot), Ron-Thorben Hoffmann (knee) and Robert Lewandowski (knee) are out. Serge Gnabry is unlikely to be fit.

Paris St-Germain
Leandro Paredes is suspended, Alessandro Florenzi, Marco Verratti (Covid-19) are self-isolating and Mauro Icardi (thigh) and Layvin Kurzawa are also sidelined. Juan Bernat (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Match preview

Bayern Munich must tackle both legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain without injured star striker Robert Lewandowski, but the Bavarian maestros have other strings to their bow and are worth backing to advance to the last four for the eighth time in ten seasons.

Lewandowski's knee injury, sustained during the March international week, is expected to see him sidelined for around four weeks but it will not change the mentality of the German champions, who are used to winning big games and have triumphed in seven of their last eight Champions League quarter-finals.

They are also unbeaten in their last seven European knockout ties against French opposition, including last season's Champions League final against PSG which was a closely-fought affair settled by a Kingsley Coman goal.

Bayern have not been crowned European champions in successive seasons since lifting the trophy three times in a row between 1974 and 1976, but their 2020-21 defence has gone pretty smoothly.

Hansi Flick's side dominated Group A, finishing seven points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, and were 6-2 aggregate winners over Lazio in the round of 16.

They have taken control of the Bundesliga title race thanks to Saturday's 1-0 success away to RB Leipzig, which was achieved with former Stoke forward Eric Choupo-Moting deputising for Lewandowski.

While Bayern triumphed in their key weekend encounter, PSG lost 1-0 at home to Ligue 1 leaders Lille.

At this stage of the season the successful teams tend to show coolness under pressure but Neymar lost his composure against Lille and was dismissed for two bookable offences, ruling him out of Saturday's league game at Strasbourg.

PSG have suffered eight league defeats this season, the most in any campaign since 2010-11, and they are at risk of failing to win the league for the first time since 2016-17.

While PSG's inconsistency may cost them domestic glory, they remain a danger to the top European teams thanks to a star-studded attack featuring Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria.

However, at the elite level it often takes more than individual quality to win a match and PSG look understrength in midfield with Leandro Paredes suspended and Marco Verratti absent due to Covid-19.

Bayern are strong in midfield with Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich providing quality and energy and their partnership could be key to the Bavarians coming through their heavyweight quarter-final clash.

Key stat

Bayern Munich have won 18 of their last 19 Champions League fixtures.

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