Talking Tactics: Bayern Munich can exploit PSG’s narrow midfield

Where can Bayern Munich prevail against PSG?

The answer lies in the midfield. When out of possession, PSG defends in their preferred 4-3-3 with an aggressive pressing technique. A successful progression past their first line of pressure switches the game in opposition’s favour. Tuchel likes to play with a compact midfield composed of three center-midfielders.

Bayern’s hefty midfield overload will get an advantage in such situations to open space and attack PSG’s defense. Lyon’s attacking approach in Coupe de la Ligue against PSG to create passing channels in the midfield was exemplary. Moreover, when playing without the ball, Bayern’s compact structure is a prospective weapon to unplug PSG’s passing circuit for feeding Neymar in the central space.

RB Leipzig did a good job to pack Neymar in his position. The Brazilian was a target of an average of 71.5 passes in his last two games. The percentage of passes successfully received by him, however, dropped from 94 percent (Atalanta) to 81 per (RB Leipzig). It was, nonetheless, Leandro Paredes whose sly passing ensured smooth ball progression and left Leipzig’s midfielders scratching their heads.

Bayern shall aim to thrive from the left side of the park. Alphonso Davies’s involvement in the attacking stages will stretch PSG’s midfield line. The Canadian could be seen combining with his teammates exploiting the space in midfield and playing a one-two to overlap in behind Thilo Kehrer.

Similar to Flick’s alternate approach of mixing long and diagonal passes for taking out opponents in a jiffy, Tuchel will try his luck by locking-in Mbappe and Di Maria as potential targets to create a one-on-one situation against Bayern’s full-backs.

Expected lineups:

"Neuer Pavard-Boateng-Alaba-Davies Kimmich-Gortezka Gnabry-Muller-Coman Lewandowski ——————————————————————————– Neymar-Mbappe-Di Maria Paredes-Marquinhos-Herrera Bernat-Kimpembe-Silva-Kehrer Navas"

Score Prediction: PSG 2 – 4 Bayern