Bayern Munich vs. PSG: A Rivalry Defined by UCL Drama

Bayern Munich are set to host Ligue 1 giants PSG on matchday 5 of the UCL League phase. Bayern, currently positioned at 17th on the table need a win to boost their top-8 qualification chances. Meanwhile, PSG will be even more desperate for all three points as they are placed further down at 25. 

A clash between these two sides has been a frequent affair for the past few years, with the most significant one having taken place in the final of the 2019/2020 Champions League edition. Bayern Munich became six-time champions after beating the French team thanks to a headed goal from former Parisian Kingsley Coman. 

The two teams have faced each other 13 times in the Champions League, with Bayern coming out victorious seven times, while Paris claimed victory on the remaining six occasions. With a combined 33 goals scored in all these games along with the fact that there have been no draws indicates that this fixture has never been dull. Hopefully, that will be the case on Wednesday as well. 

Results from previous seven meetings between Bayern and PSG

2017-18 Group Stage

PSG 3–0 FCB

FCB 3–1 PSG (Bayern goalscorers: Lewandowski, Tolliso - 2x)

Following a crushing defeat to PSG, Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti was sacked. Later under Jupp Heynckes, Bayern did turn things around as they went on to beat the Parisians in the home tie.

2019–20 Final

FCB 1–0 PSG (Bayern goalscorer: Coman)

Bayern Munich beat PSG to clinch the Champions League trophy and complete a continental treble. It was PSG's first and, to date, their only appearance in the final of Europe’s premier competition.

2020–21 Quarter Final

FCB 2–3 PSG (Bayern goal scorers: Choupo-Moting, Müller)

PSG 0–1 FCB (Bayern goalscorer : Choupo-Moting)

PSG and Thomas Tuchel got their revenge for last season’s final as they eliminated Bayern thanks to the now-defunct away goal rule. It was a bitter loss for a Lewandowski-less Bayern who created more than enough across the two legs but lacked the finishing touch.

2022–23 Round of 16

PSG 0–1 FCB (Bayern goalscorer: Coman)

FCB 2–0 PSG (Bayern goalscorers: Choupo-Moting, Gnabry)

The golden trio of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe wasn’t enough for PSG to knock out Bayern as they succumbed to a comprehensive 3–0 defeat over the two legs. This would remain Julian Nagelsmann's biggest highlight of his stint at Bayern as he was controversially sacked not long after the victory. 

The two sides meet again on Tuesday and there’s an awful lot resting on the result for both their Champions League campaigns. Bayern will, for the first time in many years, face a PSG side without the likes of star players Mbappe and Neymar, but it doesn't guarantee them a comfortable match as Luis Enrique's team is very dangerous. PSG, just like Bayern, are the unbeaten table-leaders in their domestic league and with in-form players like Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, and Joao Neves they are more than capable of causing a problem or two for Die Roten in the Allianz Arena.