After Bayern Munich’s epic 6-4 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, the German giants have been tipped as favourites by some and it is easy to understand why.
The most successful team in the history of the competition have just been knocked out, paving the way for Bayern to win their first title in six years. Standing in their way are the reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in the semi-finals, but this might be the test that Vincent Kompany’s side would fail to pass.
Bayern have been undoubtedly solid in this season’s Champions League.
From finishing second in the league phase, to scoring a whopping 10 goals in the round of 16 against Atalanta, to defeating Real Madrid home and away in the last eight.
PSG are in a class of its own
PSG have, however, been a class apart that not many are talking about.
If there is one characteristic of Luis Enrique’s team it is resilience.
They were not one of the best teams in the league phase, finishing in 11th place, two points away from a top-eight finish after a 1-1 draw at home with Newcastle United on the final day.
The French giants were able to get past local rivals AS Monaco 5-4 on aggregate in the knockout playoffs before thumping Chelsea 7-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, in what was considered a revenge mission for last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup final defeat in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Then came their third consecutive English opponent Liverpool, and this was by far the most impressive with a 4-0 aggregate win.
While some might argue that Arne Slot’s men are not in their best shape, a team needs to be on top of their game to overcome the Reds and that is what the Rouge et Bleu did.
PSG are still the same strong side that swept past the likes of Arsenal and Inter Milan to win that elusive Champions League crown last term.
The core of players like current Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele, as well as Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, and Bradley Barcola among others have not lost one bit of their spine and mentality.
It is no secret that Bayern have been nervous many times this season, often conceding needless goals, and while the same can be said of PSG, it is the Parisians who know how to pull it off best.
Lest you forget, winning the Champions League back-to-back is a herculean task.
Only Real Madrid have managed to do it an incredible three times in a row between 2016 and 2018 under the watch of French legend Zinedine Zidane.
Now the time is ripe for PSG to become the first French side to win consecutive European titles, and not Bayern Munich, Arsenal or Atletico Madrid can stand in their way.
