Paris Saint Germain vs Bayern Munich
UEFA Champions League, KO: 20:00 Feb 14, 2023, Parc des Princes
PARIS ST GERMAIN'S long-held dream of winning the Champions League faces a huge challenge this week when they welcome Bayern Munich for the first leg of the round of 16.
But PSG come into this game in something approaching a crisis by their own high domestic standards. They will probably still manage to win Ligue 1, with a five-point lead over Marseille, but the magic has vanished for them this season despite boasting Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
They lost their second game in a row on Saturday to complete a dreadful week where they crashed out of the French Cup at Marseille and were defeated at Monaco in the league. Additionally, Messi had a hamstring strain and Mbappe is also sidelined.
Christophe Galtier remains optimistic he will be able to at least call on Messi, but there's a lot not right with PSG this season and they have lost at Rennes and Lens and drawn with Reims already in 2023.
Bayern face an unexpected challenge for their Bundesliga crown through Union Berlin this season and they recently drew three league games in a row 1-1, before stabilising and winning their last three games against Mainz in the German Cup and Wolfsburg and Bochim in the league.
How the bookies view it
PSG may have home advantage, but they are outsiders here against Champions League royalty Bayern at 2/1 with UniBet.
The Germans can be backed at 15/11 with SBK and the draw is 2/1 with UniBet.
Recent head to heads
Bayern beat PSG in the French side's only final in 2020 in Lisbon although they gained some revenge the following year when they put them out on away goals in the quarter-finals with both sides winning away from home.
Players to watch
Presuming Messi is fit, the World Cup hero will be PSG's main threat along with Neymar. The 35-year-old icon has 22 goals for club and country this season and is 13/8 to score with bet365.
Fellow legend Thomas Muller is 33 now, but netted in their weekend win before being taken off at half time to preserve him for this. He has scored in his last two games and is 17/5 to net in Paris.
Anything else catch the eye?
PSG look ripe to suffer more disappointment and the Bavarian giants can hand out more Champions League pain for them.
Despite their illustrious strikeforce, it's defence and midfield where PSG continue to have major problems and they could leave themselves wide open in front of an expectant home crowd.
Bayern have scored 11 goals in their last three games and are in great form. They are also a fair price at 4/5 with bet365 to core two.
With all that attacking quality on the pitch, it should be an entertaining cracker. Try the over 3.5 goals at 13/10 with bet365 too.
This UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich will be played on Feb 14, 2023 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Paris Saint Germain vs Bayern Munich prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
