Bayern Munich vs PSG – News and Probable Lineups

Following an exhilarating first leg in the French capital just eight days prior, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain meet again at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday for the second leg of their monumental Champions League semi-final clash.

The match at Parc des Princes yielded the highest score ever recorded in a UCL semi-final, with PSG managing to fend off a late comeback from the hosts to secure a 5-4 victory.

Match overview

A thrilling spectacle for neutral observers, yet nail-biting for both fanbases, the PSG-Bayern showdown flipped back and forth throughout last week’s record-setting first leg, where neither side prioritized defensive tactics.

PSG’s dynamic trio of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were instrumental in the first hour, contributing to seven direct goal involvements among them. However, Bayern’s astonishing recovery from 2-5 to 4-5 in just four minutes set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable return match.

One can only wonder what was going through Kompany’s mind as he watched his suspended team from a high vantage point at Parc des Princes, where Bayern conceded five goals in a single Champions League match for the first time in over three decades, and the odds are stacked against them this week.

Historically, when Bayern has lost the first leg of a European semi-final—this has occurred ten times—they’ve managed to turn things around only once, narrowly making it to the final against CSKA Sofia in the 1981-82 European Cup.

On Saturday, Bayern found themselves embroiled in a gripping 3-3 draw with bottom-placed Heidenheim, marking their longest winless streak of the season. This was the first time in the 2025-26 campaign that they had gone two successive games without victory, with a dramatic equalizer in the 100th minute from substitute Michael Olise snatching a point for them.

They also staged a remarkable comeback on April 25, turning a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 victory over Mainz 05—highlighting their ability to claw back from challenging positions. The last three matches for Bayern have seen an incredible total of 22 goals, with 59 goals recorded in their last eleven fixtures, averaging more than five goals per match.

However, Luis Enrique, the current titleholder, dismissed opinions suggesting that the nine-goal thriller was indicative of poor defensive capabilities from either side, describing such views as “sh*t opinion” while reflecting on his team’s narrowly attained yet invaluable victory in the first leg.

Historically, securing any win in the first leg leads to high odds of success for Les Parisiens, who have triumphed in 36 of their 43 UEFA two-legged encounters after winning the first match, and 14 of their 17 affairs where that victory came by a solitary goal.

Similar to their forthcoming adversaries, PSG made numerous alterations in their latest domestic encounter—despite not having officially secured the Ligue 1 title—settling for an exciting 2-2 draw with Lorient after coming back from behind twice.

Moreover, the away record will delight PSG supporters, as the reigning European champions have emerged victorious in their last six away matches across all competitions, achieving clean sheets in their previous five encounters.

Nonetheless, achieving a shutout against Bayern on Wednesday would be monumental for PSG, considering that FC Hollywood has claimed five victories in their last six home clashes against Les Parisiens, scoring 15 goals in the process.

Both clubs are also closing in on breaking Barcelona’s record of 45 goals in a single Champions League season, with PSG having netted 43 times and Bayern 42—setting up a challenging task for either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid when facing Wednesday’s winner in Budapest.

Team News

Bayern does not have new injury issues to contend with as they head into the second leg, and Kompany is optimistic about the potential return of young star Lennart Karl, who is recovering from a torn thigh muscle.

Serge Gnabry (thigh) and Raphael Guerreiro (hamstring) are both ruled out for the hosts, but neither was expected to be in Kompany’s starting XI for Wednesday, when the manager is anticipated to field his strongest lineup.

Returning will be Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Olise, Luis Diaz, and Harry Kane, all of whom were benched against Heidenheim. Kane, in particular, aims to score in his seventh consecutive Champions League match, having set the record himself as the first English player to score in six straight outings last time out.

On the other hand, PSG experienced a significant injury setback during last week’s thrilling encounter, with flying full-back Achraf Hakimi sustaining a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for several weeks.

With Hakimi unavailable, Warren Zaire-Emery is expected to step into the defense, while Fabian Ruiz will rejoin Portuguese teammates Vitinha and Joao Neves in a familiar midfield setup from PSG’s successful 2024-25 season.

The visitors will also be without backup goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier (hand) but are otherwise in good condition for the matchup on Wednesday, as Kvaratskhelia seeks just one goal to set a new single-season UCL record for PSG, having equaled Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record of 10 goals from the 2013-14 campaign last week.

Bayern Munich probable starting XI:

Neuer; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Diaz; Kane

Paris Saint-Germain probable starting XI:

Safonov; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

All signs indicate another high-scoring encounter between these two esteemed European sides, but the absence of Hakimi—considered by many as the best defender globally—could have dire implications for PSG both in offense and defense.

Bayern has netted four goals in five of their last seven home games, and we anticipate Kompany’s side will deliver another formidable performance, dashing PSG’s hopes of consecutive Champions League titles and moving forward to the final after what promises to be an exhilarating 15-goal showdown.