Bayern do not trust their minimal difference against PSG

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann wants his team to take the lead against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Kylian Mbappé is more eager to score after becoming PSG’s top scorer.

Both will get their chance on Wednesday when Bayern try to assert a slim 1-0 lead at home in the round of 16 second leg.

Bayern won the first leg in Paris thanks to a goal from Kingsley Coman, a former PSG player. But it remains to be seen how they are planted.

Under Nagelsmann, Bayern don’t back down when they have to defend a one-goal difference. They take two or three more. The increased pressure worked in the group stage against Inter Milan and Barcelona, ​​who failed to score against them. But they could invite PSG into the game.

“We both have a lot of offensive power. We have to go to them when they have the job and make us feel physically from the first minute,” said Nagelsmann. “What we need on the return is to prevent them from imposing their idea. Its quality, and you will have an ordeal “defend”.

Whatever happens, one of the teams will suffer their first elimination from the ‘Champions’ since both succumbed to English rivals in the Round of 16 of the 2018-19 edition. Both planned to reach at least the quarter-finals and a defeat could leave Nagelsmann or PSG coach Christophe Galtier hanging in the balance.

Nagelsmann’s five-year contract in 2021 was a message from Bayern bosses that he was coming to see the 33-year-old German as the architect of a long-term project. They have their hands full against PSG and are also locked in a tight Bundesliga title race, with Bayern level on points with Borussia Dortmund at the top.

Both sets will have significant absentees on Wednesday.

Sadio Mané missed the first leg with a foot injury that kept him out of the World Cup, but the Senegal striker has come off the bench in Bayern’s last two Bundesliga games.

Either way, Bayern will leave without goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernández, who have both been out for long periods with injuries. Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui was able to train, but has not played since Mundia. And another defender, Frenchman Benjamin Pavard, will serve a suspension date after being sent off in the first leg surrender against PSG and Croatian Josip Stanisic would be his replacement.

El PSG scared of menos a Neymar luego que el lunes se confirmed que el atacante brasileño quedó décartado para el resto de la temporada por una lesión en el tobillo, pero Mbappé y Lionel Messi llegan entonados tras marcar goles en la victoria 4-2 ante Nantes on Sunday. Mbappé made history by becoming the club’s all-time goalscorer, scoring 201 goals, to break the tie with Edinson Cavani.

Right-back Achraf Hakimi has been summoned after receiving preliminary rape charges last week. Hakimi, 24, has missed France’s last three league games through injury.

In the French legal system, a preliminary indictment means that the judge has a serious reason that a crime has been committed, but allows more time to investigate further before bringing it to justice.

On Tuesday in Munich, PSG midfielder Marco Verratti and Galtier announced a different game from last month as Bayern’s high pressing stifled the French champions.

Verratti felt that going back to a three-defender scheme would change the dynamic, in addition to the fact that a physically full Mbappé is in good harmony with the Argentinian Messi.

“They are players with huge experience, something that will help us a lot,” said the Italian.

Mbappé was only able to play the last half hour of the first leg due to injury. Completely recovered, Galtier is delighted with the contribution of the French star.

“We’re going to have more resources,” Galtier said. “We’re going to have to have more ball and play higher, recover the ball higher up the opposing field. We’re going to have to be attentive and daring on the attacking front.”