Bayern Munich: Three key battles against PSG in CL final
Benjamin Pavard vs Kylian Mbappe
With Kimmich moving back into the midfield, Benjamin Pavard will be back in the right-back position. The French defender has performed consistently for Die Roten throughout the season, racking up a minimum of 7/10 grade every weekend.
However, Pavard will be coming up against the biggest challenge of his club career on Sunday. He will be facing Kylian Mbappe on the right flank, who is the best young player in the world. Pavard is not flashy while going forward, but he is reliable defensively. He will need to be at his best defensively to keep Mbappe quiet on Sunday.
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Mbappe made an instant impact against Atalanta when his team was trailing in the game. The French forward is rapid on and off the ball. He has an array of tricks in his arsenal to put the best defenders on the floor and motor along in the final third. The 21-year-old forward is also a lethal finisher, so there is no scope of a lapse in concentration while defending against him.
Pavard may have to position himself deeper than his usual position on Sunday to reduce the chance of getting outrun by Mbappe. He cannot beat Mbappe in a footrace, but a much clever approach positionally can help him in reducing the impact of young forward on the game.