PSG will face Bayern Munich in the knockout stages of the Champions League, with the first leg at the Parc des Princes on February 14.
A big draw for the Parisian club, even if the history between the two clubs turns (slightly) to the advantage of Paris Saint-Germain.
The form of the players after the World Cup will be the question mark of this clash.
Just like the performance of a former member of the Parisian house: Eric Maxim Choupo Moting.
Once again, PSG supporters will be able to complain: after Chelsea, Barça, Manchester United or Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain will again face a big chunk in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Lack of luck, they will say.
The lack, above all, of a victory against Benfica during the group stage, which would have allowed them to finish first in the group and to watch the draw, this Monday, much more calmly.
The proof: the Portuguese will face Bruges.
But, if the supporters of PSG can consider themselves aggrieved, what about those of Bayern Munich?
After coming out of a pool with Barça and Inter with six wins in six games, they find themselves facing PSG of Neymar, Mbappé and Messi in the knockout stages of C1.
Meanwhile, the Nerazzurri will face Porto.
So, just over three months from this clash between depressives, a little focus on the Bavarian club.
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What gives the history between PSG and Bayern?
Six victories for the French, five for the Germans.
Since 1994, the two teams have met eleven times in the Champions League, with the final bouquet, the fight for the title in 2020, after a Final Four organized in Lisbon because of the pandemic.
"For me, it's very motivating to play against Bayern Munich, it's the opportunity to get revenge for the lost final," commented Parisian sports director Luis Campos at the microphone of La Chaine L'Equipe.
I know that we rectified the following year [in the quarter-finals].
For me, it's the opportunity to show the world the great coach we have, the great players we have, and the positive football we are playing at the moment.
»
In the memories of the less young Parisian supporters is notably the slalom of George Weah in the Bavarian defense (0-1), in 1994 at the Olympic stadium in Munich.
"Oh he's gone, oh he's gone", sang in chorus Jean-Michel Larqué and Thierry Roland at the microphone.
Hook, hook, praline in Oliver Kahn's skylight.
Another demonstration, that of Neymar during the match at the Allianz Arena in 2021. The Brazilian was in those few days when he is completely unplayable.
On the way back too, for that matter.
What is Bayern giving this year?
Facing Bayern Munich is complicated.
But facing Bayern Munich deprived of Robert Lewandowski, who left to bask in Catalonia to try to win a Europa League play-off, is a little less complicated.
Well, that's what we thought at the start of the season, especially since the Bavarians had some complicated matches.
But, for a few weeks, everything has been slipping, like this perfect hit by Kelly Slater in Hawaii in 2017. TTC, Bayern have still scored five or more goals on eight occasions since the end of July.
The Pole gone, the torch was to be taken up by Sadio Mané, who arrived from Liverpool.
But the Senegalese being more sharing than the Pole, the goals come from everywhere: here by Musiala, there by Gnabry, in the corner by Sané.
Even Eric Maxim Choupo Moting (we will come back to this) goes there from his skylight bastos.
“It's a good time to play against Bayern, however, indicated Luis Campos, very serene.
We feel really good, very confident with the season we are having.
In a match like this, there is no favorite.
»
What will the World Cup give for the two clubs?
If you go to the Camp des Loges during the World Cup, you risk finding two poor souls wandering aimlessly: Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marco Verratti, not qualified for the World Cup.
Virtually all of their PSG boyfriends will be in Qatar.
The FC Bayern Campus should be even more deserted.
For those who left for the Middle East, between the psychological pressure of the result and the physical exertion, the return to earth could be complicated.
It is therefore difficult to imagine Neymar returning to the level at which he has been since the start of the season after a defeat in the final against France (just in case).
For Messi, the test in Qatar is his last opportunity to bring the World Cup back to Argentina.
And anything that doesn't look like a final victory should be hard to digest.
"During the World Cup, we have no control over our players, we don't know what will happen," Campos soberly admitted.
What will Choupo Moting do against his former club?
From the Cameroonian striker, PSG supporters keep this image of a player capable, clumsily, of preventing a teammate's goal by removing the ball on the line, in 2019, against Strasbourg.
"Even for me it's hard to explain," conceded then Choupo Moting.
Since then, the former Parisian No. 17 has gone to Bayern and, this year, is tearing everything up: at least one goal in his last seven games;
Inter and Barça who take a fare… Prepare him for the Ballon d'Or.
Especially since, against Paris, "Choupo" got into the habit of having fun, with a goal on the way there and back in the quarter-final in 2021. In difficulty in the air, like the showed in particular the two goals conceded against Maccabi Haifa, PSG could still suffer against his ex and his imposing physical presence.
And since Donnarumma is somewhat feverish in his outings...
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Champions League
Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG)
Soccer
Bayern Munich
Lionel Messi
Neymar
Kylian Mbappe