Talking Tactics: Bayern Munich can exploit PSG’s narrow midfield
By Kartik Sahni
Bayern Munich can take advantage of PSG’s narrow midfield to be testified as Europe’s best.
A 25-year old German attacker collected a long pass on the right flank, dribbled laterally past two men to drift inside, fended off pressure from a third marker, and blasted the ball in the top left corner of the goal. A strike that brought back so many memories. For a moment, all Bayern faithful saw Arjen Robben on their screens. It was indeed a Robbenesque maneuver from Serge Gnabry that put Die Roten ahead by one goal against Lyon. There was no looking back for Hansi Flick and his cavalry. Bayern Munich swept past Lyon in the semi-finals to book a date with Paris Saint-Germain for the UEFA Champions League finale of 2020.
Hansi Flick is one step away from realizing his dream in his debut season as Bayern’s head coach. A dream that might also have Thomas Tuchel gazing at his bedroom ceiling in sleepless nights. It is Paris Saint-Germain’s first-ever UEFA Champions League finals. As much as it is a dream for both the German tacticians, it remains a “project” for PSG and their owners. Domestic success is all that PSG has earned since the Qatar Sports Investments group took over in 2011.
The two sides have had eight encounters previously in the Champions League, all occurring in the group stages. The French champions have triumphed on five of those occasions without any draws. The Bavarians will contest their 11th Champions League final as they chase their sixth European crown to equal Liverpool’s feat.
Die Roten has amassed 42 goals in ten UCL outings this season. They are three goals short of emulating Barcelona’s record of the 1999/2000 season. The records and numbers will eventually fade away, but all that counts is putting your ribbon on the trophy. Hans-Dieter Flick faces the toughest challenge of his career. His counterpart, Thomas Tuchel, looks adamant about kissing the holy grail on Sunday. Let’s have a look at the possible scenarios one is likely to witness at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon after taking a quick look at PSG’s current campaign.