Epizy News: Experts' verdict on PSG vs. Bayern Munich: Lewy key, Ulreich fallible

Wednesday, 27 September 2017

Experts' verdict on PSG vs. Bayern Munich: Lewy key, Ulreich fallible

Experts' verdict on PSG vs. Bayern Munich: Lewy key, Ulreich fallible
The ESPN FC crew has all the best news and analysis ahead of Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich. The ESPN FC crew has all the best news and analysis ahead of Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich. The ESPN FC crew has all the best news and analysis ahead of Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich.
Wednesday's mouth-watering Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich pits two teams with rather different problems.
Who is the key man and how will the match go? ESPN FC asked a range of experts and you can have your say too ...
Mark Lovell -- ESPN FC Bayern Munich correspondent Write Bayern off at your peril. They were ahead after 90 minutes against the odds at Real Madrid last season, before succumbing with 10 men against the eventual winners in extra time. By their lofty standards, they have been below-par so far this season, but Carlo Ancelotti's side will bring their A-game to Paris on Wednesday.
It's hard to see Sven Ulreich keeping a clean sheet against Neymar & Co. but PSG are equally fallible at the back.
Key Player: Sven Ulreich
Prediction: PSG 2-2 Bayern
Raphael Honigstein -- ESPN FC German football expert Would both teams be secretly happy with a draw? Ulreich in goal may give the hosts cause for optimism and they'll no doubt look to attack the spaces behind Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. Another talking point: could Bayern use a third central midfielder or will Thomas Muller start?
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Bayern
Mark Ogden -- ESPN senior football writer Neither club appears to be totally harmonious, with Neymar's arrival upsetting the ambience within the PSG dressing room and Ancelotti struggling to inspire Bayern.
It's a big game for both clubs, with neither able to afford a defeat in terms of what it will mean for the mood music.
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Score: PSG 3-1 Bayern

Robert Lewandowski has scored 12 in 11 games for club and country so far. Derek Rae -- ESPN commentator
Bayern, clear underdogs, will have a lot of defending to do and their form has been patchy. A repeat of the second half against Wolfsburg last Friday, when Ancelotti's men drew 2-2, will mean a thrashing. It's not lost on them how hard this task will be.
Key Player: Niklas Sule
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Bayern
It defies logic as Bayern and Ancelotti are under pressure but they can snatch a point through sheer doggedness and perhaps a moment of inspiration from Lewandowski.
Alex Shaw -- ESPN FC general editor While Champions League group matches can often be draining experiences as the top teams go through the motions and the also-rans suffer, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich is a blockbuster pitting two stumbling giants against each other. Both coaches appear under mounting pressure as they juggle all the demands managing a behemoth entails.
Unai Emery needs a statement victory to suggest he can keep a lid on a dressing room full of personalities and whispers of discontent at Bayern are growing too, with Ancelotti overseeing an underwhelming start to the Bundesliga season. With three Champions League trophies to his name, Ancelotti is European royalty but defeat to PSG would suggest his crown is slipping.
Key Player: Neymar
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Bayern
A tight, tense affair with both coaches desperate not to lose will probably lead to both sides cancelling each other out and yet more questions over each coach's prospects this term.
 Neymar and Edinson Cavani's spat is an unwanted distraction for Unai Emery. Gunter Klein -- Chief reporter, Munich Merkur
It's about whether Bayern can maintain the illusion they can still keep pace with Europe's elite with their transfer policy. A Neymar gala would be the worst scenario of all for Bayern.
Key Player: Mats Hummels
Prediction: PSG 2-1 Bayern
Stephan Uersfeld -- ESPN German football correspondent Modern football vs. tradition: That's what Bayern president Uli Hoeness wants everyone to believe. Having missed out or passed on Alexis Sanchez, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane, Jadon Sancho, Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane in past windows, at least according to some reports, the Bundesliga champions might become the new Arsenal of Champions League football.
Key Player: Sven Ulreich
Prediction: PSG 3-1 Bayern
Ulreich is no Manuel Neuer and showed against Wolfsburg the captain's injury could seriously hurt Bayern in the final months of 2017.
Ryan Bailey -- writer and broadcaster PSG's star-studded attacking line taking on a Bayern team that conceded twice at the weekend should be tantalising.
Key Player: Edinson Cavani
Prediction: PSG 2-0 Bayern
The home side has prevailed in each of the last four meetings between the sides and PSG have lost only one of 43 European contests at the Parc Des Princes.
 A lot will be expected of Sven Ulreich in place of the injured Manuel Neuer. Chris Williams -- Associate Bundesliga editor, Futbolgradlive
This should be a cracker. Bayern travel to France in rollercoaster form; defeat to Hoffenheim has been followed by inconsistent patches of joy and dropped points. In stark contrast, PSG are running riot domestically and in the Champions League.
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Prediction: PSG 2-2 Bayern
The hosts should just edge it but Bayern are dangerous enough to come away with a share of the points.
Archie Rhind-Tutt -- German football expert Bayern are more vulnerable than they have been in any of the past five seasons. The 2-2 draw on Friday night showed that, with Ulreich's mistake letting Wolfsburg back into the game. It's going to be a struggle not having Neuer until January and it's on nights against the European elite like PSG that his absence will be most keenly felt.
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Prediction: PSG 2-1 Bayern
 Carlo Ancelotti has had a slow start to the season with Bayern Munich. Pit Gottschalk -- Editor-in-Chief, Funke Sport
It is PSG's new money against Bayern Munich's old money. The process of renewing itself, even in successful times, is still the mindset of Bayern Munich -- not just buying the most expensive players available -- and that's the most important difference with PSG. And it will make a difference.
Key player: Arjen Robben
Prediction: PSG 1-2 Bayern
Lutz Pfannenstiel -- Head of international relations & scouting at 1899 Hoffenheim Just when you thought that they had found their rhythm, Bayern had a horrible second half against Wolfsburg, dropping two vital points after leading 2-0. That alone shows that things are not perfect.
For both teams this is the first proper test. After this big one, both will know where they really stand. Both teams will qualify for the next round as Celtic and Anderlecht are simply a class below these two giants. Bayern have a very experienced team who know how to play the big games. The problem is that they have key players missing. David Alaba might be back but might not be at 100 percent following his injury.
Neuer's injury could be the key to how the season goes. Ulreich is a good second choice, but he can't fill the gloves of the world's best over a long spell. He makes mistakes and doesn't have Neuer's calming reassurance. But Bayern, with Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Niklas Sule have three top central defenders and Rudy has already shown that he can cover the loss of Xabi Alonso.
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Bayern
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