Paris (AFP)

To face an ogre like Bayern Munich in a new "Final 8"? Paris and Lyon, the last French representatives in the Champions League, await their opponents, guaranteed or potential, on Friday during the draw for the quarter and semi-finals in Nyon (Switzerland) at 12 noon.

From Bayern, the fresh German champion who has established himself as the new No. 1 favorite, to Real Madrid, winner of four of the last six editions, not to mention FC Barcelona by Lionel Messi or Manchester City by Pep Guardiola, PSG and OL risk falling on a very threatening opponent.

And which will especially have the advantage of having already resumed its championship, unlike Ligue 1.

To allow the resumption of the 2020 edition of the queen continental competition, UEFA has adopted an original format, which will be played on single knockout matches, from 12 to 23 August, on neutral ground in Lisbon (Portugal) and in camera "until further notice".

For PSG, one of the four teams already qualified for the quarter-finals with RB Leipzig (Germany), Atalanta Bergamo (Italy) and Atlético Madrid (Spain), therefore ends the rule of goals "counting double "outside and the risks of" remontadas ".

Only two victories are enough to reach the final, which will be played at Luz stadium, the lair of Benfica ... Remains to avoid a heavyweight from the start for his return to the European Top 8, after four years of absence at this level.

To complete the table for "Final 8", there are four tickets left to distribute after the last four round of 16 which will be played on August 7 and 8. And the quarter-and-a-half confrontations will be determined in advance as of Friday.

- Duel PSG-Lyon? -

Given that there is no seed or protection by country during the draw, only Lyon, the other French representative still in contention, shares with Paris the handicap of having experienced a period of four months without competition , since the early termination of Ligue 1 in mid-March.

To make this 100% French duel possible, OL must finish the job against Juve after their 1-0 first leg victory at the end of February. What make its president Jean-Michel Aulas optimistic about the chances of final victory for his team.

"We have to put everything down this year because there are very few matches left. The fact that it is behind closed doors, the fact that we won the first match against Juve and the fact that we are in a set-up on a dry match without return, that we have never had as many chances as today to lose it but also to win it, "he said on RMC on Wednesday.

In Paris, prudence is more essential since the departure of striker Edinson Cavani, right back Thomas Meunier, who did not extend their contract expiring on June 30, and young hopefuls Tanguy Kouassi and Adil Aouchiche, who preferred to pass professionals in another club.

- In camera "until further notice" -

It is therefore with a group amputated of two executives and without the possibility of recruiting that PSG resumed training at the end of June, 15 weeks after its qualification at the expense of Dortmund (1-2, 2-0).

"If it will be more difficult in the Champions League, clearly yes, but impossible, no," however warned Paris coach Thomas Tuchel last Friday during his press conference to resume.

The planned absence of the public due to the health crisis makes the task even more complicated, while the presence of its supporters was decisive against Dortmund, even outside the stadium.

UEFA considered Thursday "prudent to conclude that the matches should be held behind closed doors until further notice" in Lisbon, while the Portuguese capital and its surroundings are still among the most important centers of contagion in the country.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa even hinted on Wednesday that the restructuring measures concerning the 20 neighborhoods in the northern belt of Lisbon, in force until next Wednesday, should be extended at least until the end of July.

© 2020 AFP