Champions League final team news and prediction: PSG vs Bayern

 

Standing in Paris Saint-Germain's way of their first ever European Cup are favourites Bayern Munich. In fact, PSG have never even been this far in UEFA's elite competition, becoming the 41st side to reach a Champions League final.

 

Bayern have remarkably scored 42 goals in 10 Champions League matches and need to score three to match Barcelona's record in a single campaign (1999/2000). It would be all the more impressive if Bayern equal the record considering Barcelona played 16 games to Bayern's grand total of 11.

 

Ahead of Sunday night's showpiece event, we have everything you need to know in one match, including match details, team news, probable XIs and scoreline prediction.

 

How they qualified

 

Paris Saint-Germain made light work of RB Leipzig in the semi-finals, running out 3-0 winners to qualify for their maiden Champions League final. Angel Di Maria was the star of their semi-final tie, playing a direct hand in all three goals for Thomas Tuchel's side (one goal, two assists) to earn a perfect 10 rating. Juan Bernat and Marquinhos were unlikely scorers to help PSG defeat the Bundesliga outfit.

 

Bayern Munich rode their luck at times in their semi-final with Lyon but showed a ruthelessness in front of goal to advance to the final where they have the chance to win their first European trophy since 2013. After watching Lyon miss several golden opportunities, Serge Gnabry scored a 15-minute brace in the first half before Robert Lewandowski netted his 15th Champions League goal of the season at the death.

 

Team News

 

The big news for Paris Saint-Germain is the availability of midfielder Marco Verratti. The Italian was ruled out of their quarter-final victory over Atalanta and was expected to miss their entire European campaign, but came off the bench at the end of their 3-0 win over in the last four. Now with more days training under his belt, Verratti is expected to replace Leandro Paredes in midfield in a major boost for Thomas Tuchel's side. First-choice goalkeeper Keylor Navas however, is not expected to recover from injury in time. Thiago Silva will hope to bow out a European champion with his current PSG deal due to expire after Sunday's final after seven years at the club. Juan Bernat spent four years at Bayern before joining PSG in 2018 and will start at left-back against his old club on Sunday.

 

Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick is sweating on the fitness of centre-back Jerome Boateng after the defender was forced off at half-time in their 3-0 win over Lyon last week. Boateng was complaining of muscular problems and is now a major doubt, with Niklas Sule, only back from a long-term lay-off himself, ready to deputise. Benjamin Pavard is an option again after coming off the bench in the semi-final and could return to the starting XI so Joshua Kimmich can push into midfield. That change is not expected, however, given the recent run of results. This is expected to be Thiago's final game for the club before pushing for a move to Liverpool, while Kingsley Coman will have to settle for a place on the bench against boyhood club PSG.

 

Probable XIs

 

Champions League final team news and prediction: PSG vs Bayern

 

PSG (433): Rico; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Herrera, Marquinhos, Verratti; Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe

 

Bayern (4231): Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Goretzka, Thiago; Gnabry, Muller, Perisic; Lewandowski

 

Prediction: PSG 2-3 Bayern Munich

Champions League final team news and prediction: PSG vs Bayern