PSG and Bayern Munich will face off in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with a spot in the semi-finals on the line.
PSG are in impressive form right now with five wins from their last six matches in all competitions, and they are coming into this game vs Bayern Munich on the back of two consecutive victories without conceding a goal.
The Ligue 1 champions and UEFA Champions League holders will be full of confidence and momentum. It will be interesting to see if Luis Enrique’s men can beat the German champions and book their place in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich did well to bounce back from the defeat against Benfica with a win over Flamengo. It remains to be seen whether they can raise their performance levels and beat the European champions here.
Vincent Kompany has a quality team at his disposal, but the Belgian tactician will need to be at their best to get a good result here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
PSG
Luis Enrique does not have any major injury concerns ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final. PSG are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Bayern Munich, with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes will start on the flanks, and they will look to contribute in the final third and at the back. Marquinhos will start alongside Willian Pacho at the heart of the PSG defence.
As for the midfield unit, Vitinha will look to provide control to the side alongside Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves. They will look to control the tempo from the middle of the park. Ousmane Dembele will lead the line for PSG vs Bayern Munich, with Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on either side of him. They will look to add pace and flair to the side.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany will be without Alphonso Davies due to ACL damage. Hiroki Ito and Kim Min-jae are out due to knocks. Finally, Kingsley Coman picked up a knock against Flamengo. Bayern Munich will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs PSG, with Manuel Neuer in goal.
Konrad Laimer and Raphael Guerreiro will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Jonathan Tah will form the central defensive partnership alongside Dayot Upamecano.
Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka will add physicality and defensive cover to the side. Thomas Muller will reprise the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates.
Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise will add pace and flair from the wide areas, with Harry Kane leading the line for Bayern Munich vs PSG on Friday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Muller, Musiala; Kane
Key Stats
- PSG have won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions.
- Bayern have conceded four goals across their last three matches.
- Bayern Munich’s only clean sheet in the tournament came against Auckland City (10-0 win).
- Bayern Munich have won each of their last four meetings vs PSG.
- PSG have lost three of six matches vs Bayern Munich since Luis Enrique took over.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The Georgian internaitonal is our key player to watch out for this week. Kvaratskhelia has been in fantastic form, and he will look to cause all sorts of problems for the German side. Bayern Munich have been quite vulnerable at the back in recent weeks, and they could struggle against him.
The 24-year-old is exceptional at taking on defenders and beating them in one versus one situations. He will look to carve out opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net as well. PSG will need his ingenuity in the final third, and it will be interesting to see if he can step up and deliver.
Prediction
PSG 2-1 Bayern Munich
Both teams are packed with top-quality players, and this is likely to be a cracking contest. PSG are slightly better on current form, and they will look to get the job done here vs Bayern Munich. This is likely to be a close contest, and it will be an open game with a fair few chances.
Both teams are likely to get on the score sheet here, but Bayern Munich are likely to be let down by their defence. A narrow victory for PSG is on the cards here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Luis Enrique and his charges.
