Kylian Mbappe, Leon Goretzka, PSG, Bayern Munich
UEFA Champions League

Bayern-PSG preview: can Mbappé fire Paris to glory?

Bayern-PSG preview: can Mbappé fire Paris to glory?

UEFA Champions League
Publish on 03/06 at 11:49 - S. TELFORD

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Kylian Mbappé is out to fire Paris Saint-Germain past Bayern Munich and into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich - Paris Saint-Germain

 

- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

 

Mbappé became PSG's all-time top scorer on Saturday, grabbing the final goal in a 4-2 win over FC Nantes that pulled him onto 201 strikes from just 247 games.

 

The France talisman overtook previous record-holder Edinson Cavani, and needed 54 fewer games to do it, but he would have had the record earlier had his brace in last month's first leg stood.

 

Mbappé twice denied

 

Paris academy graduate Kingsley Coman got the only goal at the Parc des Princes. Mbappé, having recently overcome a hamstring injury, came off the bench and found the target twice, but his efforts were ruled out for offside.

 

"I play to make history and I've always said I wanted to make history in France, in the capital of my country, in my city, and I'm doing that," Mbappé said after his Nantes strike.

 

"It's magnificent, but there is still a lot to be done. For me, as a native Parisian, this is special. If someone had said to me I'd score the goal to beat the record while wearing the captain's armband, I wouldn't have believed it."

 

Watch: Highlights of PSG's 4-2 win over Nantes


 

Mbappé finished that game as captain after Marquinhos had made way for El Chadaille Bitshiabu having taken a blow to the ribs, but the Brazil centre-back is expected to be back to lead the side on Wednesday.

 

Neymar Jr. remains sidelined with a sprained ankle, but with Mbappé and Lionel Messi paired up front, Christophe Galtier's side always have a fighting chance.

 

Regular defenders Achraf Hakimi and Presnel Kimpembe are out with a pulled hamstring and ruptured Achilles tendon respectively, with Nodri Mukiele and Danilo Pereira expected to continue in their steads.

 

Bayern absentees

 

Bayern lost their goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer to a broken leg in a skiing accident in the aftermath of Germany's winter FIFA World Cup exit, but they have kept winning with Yann Sommer in goal.

 

Bayern have a significant French contingent alongside Coman, but two of them - Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez - are out through suspension and a ruptured ACL.

 

Galtier's opposite number Julian Nagelsmann respects the threat PSG pose.

 

"Overall, we did a good job [in Paris]," he said.  We've taken the first step, and want to follow it up by taking the second. [But] you're on a knife edge, with the pace they have."

 

Possible teams

 

Bayern: Sommer; Stanisic, Upamecano, De Ligt; Coman, Kimmich, Goretzka, Davies; Muller, Musiala; Choupo-Moting

 

PSG: Donnarumma; Ramos, Marquinhos, Pereira; Mukiele, Fabian, Verratti, Vitinha, Mendes; Messi, Mbappé