PSG vs Bayern: Four key battles to shape the Champions League Final
The 2019/20 Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich is one of the most eaglery anticipated, well-balanced UEFA showpiece events in years. Bayern have devastating power throughout the side, while PSG have less-celebrated players carrying out the dirty work for their front three to wreak havoc.
There are talking points all over the pitch, as well as of it, ahead of Sunday's showdown, but we have steered through the noise and picked out four head-to-head battles that will directly shape the outcome of the 2019/20 Champions League final.
Thiago Silva vs Robert Lewandowski
Where best to start than Bayern Munich's No.9. Robert Lewandowski has scored 15 goals in the Champions League this season, netting in each of his nine appearances to date. The recently turned 32-year-old is two goals shy of Cristiano Ronaldo's record haul in a single Champions League campaign and will have to become the first player to score a hat-trick in a Champions League final to surpass him. Having already scored a treble earlier in the group stage of the competition, you wouldn't put it past Lewandowski pulling it off on Sunday but Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Thiago Silva will be out to stop the Bayern star.
Sunday's final is Silva's final game for PSG. His contract is ending and a move to Chelsea beckons after seven years in Paris. The 36-year-old, once regarded as the best in his position, has shown he is still absoutely class in PSG's run to their first ever final. Completing 78.6% of his attempted tackles and winning 77.3% of his aerial duels, Silva is going to need to be at his best to deal with Lewandowski's all-round game. The Bayern top scorer averages both 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 and 2.8 aerial duels won per 90 in Europe this season, scoring four of his 15 goals with his head.
Thomas Tuchel would have had sleepless nights ahead of Sunday's encounter with Bayern Munich had Marco Verratti been ruled out, as was originally expected. However, the 27-year-old has recovered from injury and his availability is a huge boost for PSG. His expected return to the starting XI sets up a mouthwatering head-to-head between two of Europe's finest technicians: Verratti vs Thiago. Without Verratti, PSG stood next to no chance controlling midfield but with the Italian they have more than a shot.
In fact, of players with more than five appearances in the Champions League this season, Verratti is second for most passes per 90 (93.8) and Thiago ranks third (91.2). Moreover, both remarkably complete in excess of 90% of their attempted passes, with Verratti (93.2%) once again shading his Bayern counterpart (91.3%).
While both tremendous with ball in feet, neither are afraid of getting suck in, though Verratti's can be too eager at times and an early yellow card for the Italy international could prove hugely problematic for PSG. The 27-year-old averages 3.4 tackles per 90, with Thiago impressively managing 3.8. One last midfield masterclass would the perfect way for Thiago to bow out ahead of a potential summer move to Liverpool.
While Paris Saint-Germain arguably have the dazzling attacking talent in the shape of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, Bayern Munich aren't short of flair themselves. However, Thomas Muller remains as key as ever to everything Bayern do going forward even if at times he looks extremely unorthodox in style.
Muller has rediscovered his best form this season, setting a Bundesliga record for most assists in a single campaign (21). In Bayern's Champions League run to the final he has been just as key. He averages 2.4 key passes per game from open play, more than any other player in the competition with more than five appearances. In Bayern's 8-2 demoliton of Barcelona in the quarter-finals he recorded a perfect WhoScored 10 rating and has four goals and two assists in nine appearances this term.
Tasked with making life as difficult as possible for Muller operating between the lines of midfield and attack if Marquinhos. The Brazilian is a centre-back by trade but playing in defensive midfield has become a stable of Tuchel's tactics in big games. Marquinhos has made the transition well and with 1.5 interceptions per 90 and 1.9 tackles per 90 he will need to be razor sharp to prevent Bayern finding Muller on a regular basis. Not only that, but the 26-year-old has proved an unlikely goal source for PSG, scoring in both the quarter-finals and last four.
Angel Di Maria vs Alphonso Davies
Leaving arguably the most exciting player until last, it will be interesting to see how Alphonso Davies fares in his maiden Champions League final up against one-time winner Angel Di Maria. Davies has been box office for Bayern this season and performed even better as the Champions League has reached its climax. It's a shame Kylian Mbappe is expected to spend most of his time on the opposite flank as his pace would be more than a match for Davies and the space he leaves behind at left-back.
However, Mbappe isn't even one of PSG's top-two rated players in the Champions League. Instead, Di Maria trails Neymar in that regard. Di Maria garnered a perfect WhoScored 10 rating in their last four win over RB Leipzig after playing a direct hand in all three goals. The 32-year-old has registered more assists than any other player in the Champions League this season (6) but will have his work full on Sunday night at both ends.
Davies has a WhoScored rating of 7.99 in the Champions League this season and is on course to finish the campaign with the highest ever WhoScored rating for a defender in the competition since we obtained Opta data in 2009/10. The Canada international has three assists to his name in seven European appearances and an average of 3.7 dribbles per 90 ranks in the top 10 in the competition. Davies knows he has the pace to catch Di Maria but the 32-year-old only needs a second extra to inflict maximum damage, as he has shown in PSG's run to the final. This promises to be a captivating tactical battle.
