Bayern Munich vs. PSG: Who will win the 2020 Champions League?

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain do battle on Sunday with the Champions League on the line. Here’s a look at who will win and why.

Bayern Munich come into the Champions League final as favorites. There are a number of factors that support that narrative. The team has both the tradition and talent to grab Europe’s top club competition for a sixth time.

Paris Saint-Germain, on the other hand, have no record of European success at this level, although they do have the talent to pull off an upset and win the trophy for the very first time.

Here’s a look at both teams and how they stack up ahead of Sunday’s final in Lisbon.

How they got here

Bayern had the tougher road to the final after having to meet Chelsea in the Round of 16, followed by Barcelona in the quarterfinals. Instead of an issue, Bayern mowed Barca 8-2 in one of the most lopsided results in the competition’s history. Bayern defeated French side Lyon 3-0 in the semifinals.

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PSG had an easier trip, eliminating Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16, then Cinderella side Atalanta in the quarters. PSG had the best of German side RB Leipzig 3-0 in the semifinals. As a result, Bayern and PSG are looking to complete the treble this season after both won their respective league-cup doubles this year.

Previous meetings

Bayern and PSG have met eight times in history when counting official competitions, all in the Champions League. PSG holds the edge with a 5-0-3 record. The last meeting between the sides, played in 2017, ended in a 3-1 Bayern victory.

In what will be a first, the teams have also always played each other during either the UCL’s preliminary rounds or the group stage, never during the knockout rounds.

Players to watch

Both sides are stacked with talent. The story all season has been Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski’s scoring spree. He was the top scorer in the Bundesliga (with 34 goals) this past season and currently leads all players in the Champions League with 15 tallies. The Polish star has scored in nine straight tournament games, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 11 in 2018.

In addition, Bayern has one of the best rosters in the world. Midfielder Thomas Muller has exceptional alongside MLS alum Alphonso Davies. In addition to Davies, fellow winger Serge Gnabry has also been in good form, scoring twice to power Bayern over Lyon 3-0 in the semis.

PSG also has some powerful attacking players. Neymar has spearheaded the team throughout this competition, alongside his frontline partners Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Kylian Mbappe.

Neymar, injury-free in the knockout stage for the first time since joining the club in 2017, is the highest-scoring Brazilian in Champions League history. Although he has yet to score this month, Neymar’s passes and dribbling skills have helped PSG create chances in the final third.

Latest team news

Like any final at the end of a long season, teams enter the game both exuberant and fatigued. Both sides will feature their regular starters. Bayern could be without defender Jerome Boetang after suffering muscular problems in the semis.

PSG has no players suspended for the final, but will likely be missing midfielder Marco Verratti. The Italian suffered a calf injury in training a few weeks back and has been rehabbing in the hopes of playing in the final.

What are the coaches saying

Bayern manager Hansi Flick, following his team’s semifinal victory, was all smiles. He also had nothing but praise for PSG.

“They fought their way into the semifinal and then reached the final. We will analyze some things,” he told UEFA.com. “We know they have quick players. We will look to organize our defense, but we know our biggest strength is putting our opponents under pressure.”

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel was both elated and exhausted after his team’s run to the championship game.

“My feelings are very hard to describe… from totally exhausted to totally happy,” he added. “At the same time, staying focused because the trip is not over. We have a final to play in, which we absolutely want to win. Stay calm, stay cool and try to prepare for it like any other game.”

Who will win?

The German machine against the upstart Parisians has all the ingredients for a memorable final. This game is a clash between teams who love to dominate their opponents. Both defend well and can also put on relentless attacks.

While true that the competition has been rife with upsets, especially during the bracket rounds, Bayern should ultimately have enough experience and talent to lift the trophy. PSG will be looking to pull off that upset, but it remains unlikely given just how strong Bayern have been this season.