UCL Preview: PSG head to Bayern with an eye on the final
After edging the first leg at the Parc des Princes last week, 5-4, Ligue 1 McDonald's leaders Paris Saint-Germain hit the road to face Bayern Munich with a place in the Champions League final at stake.
Zaïre-Emery to the fore
After a dominant display in attack at the Parc, with both of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé netting a brace, Luis Enrique will want to change as little as possible about his side, something that was underscored by his playing a heavily rotated side against FC Lorient this weekend. However, Enrique will have to make one change, as right back Achraf Hakimi will miss out due to injury. The Moroccan's dynamism has been at the heart of much of what Enrique has instilled in his side since taking the reins at PSG, and to cope without him, he'll turn to 20-year- old Warren Zaïre-Emery (who will in turn be replaced in midfield by fit-again Fabián Ruiz).
While a midfielder by trade, the youngster has plenty of experience on the flank, having filled in for Hakimi on numerous occasions in the past, albeit never in a match of this magnitude. Speaking pre-match, he averred that despite Hakimi's absence, and the team wanting to hold a lead, nothing would change about their approach. "We’ll try to impose our game plan, press like we do in every match, and win back as many balls as possible. This team is built to attack, and that’s what we’ll try to do on Wednesday.”
👀 Focused on #FCBPSG!#UCL pic.twitter.com/zaFZjDWwxS
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 5, 2026
Bayern unchanged
As for the hosts, having brought themselves back into the tie from 5-2 down with two second-half goals, Bayern are unlikely to change anything at all, having received particularly dynamic performances from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise in particular. Manager Vincent Kompany, lightly regarded on his appointment, has his team hitting new heights, and is eager to have his side play like the European-level team that they are on this big occasion.
In this afternoon's press conference he remarked on playing a match like this off the back of such a thrilling first leg, "Can people expect the same game as last week? It will always depend on both teams. If one decides to take a step back and defend more, then there could be some calmer phases in the game. Otherwise, there won't be. It's difficult to imagine that either team will change what brought them here in the first place. We're playing at home, we want to win and will do everything to achieve that."
Predicted lineups:
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Olise, Musiala, Diaz; Kane
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Safonov; Zaïre-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia
