Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Bayern Munich
Contents: Champions League semi-final, first leg
Location: Parc des Princes, Paris
Date and time: Tuesday, April 28th, 9pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 16:00 GMT ahead of the live text commentary stream.
The team that makes it through to the Champions League semi-finals will be the favorites to win the final in Budapest in May, where either Arsenal or Atletico Madrid will face off.
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Arguably Europe’s most in-form team, Bayern are aiming for a treble, having already won the Bundesliga title and reached the German Cup final this season. They also go into the match full of confidence after dispatching Real Madrid in a thrilling Champions League quarter-final.
Meanwhile, defending champions PSG are also in good form, with a six-point lead at the top of Ligue 1. The Parisians defeated Liverpool in the quarter-finals with relative ease, but must overcome their recent poor performance against Bayern to advance to May’s final.
PSG defeated Bayern 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup last July, eliminating Bayern, but they have lost their last four games against Bayern in the Champions League.
No matter what happens, there’s a good chance there will be plenty of goals. Both teams have scored 38 goals in the Champions League so far this season, more than any other club.
PSG close to winning Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 3-0 on Saturday to extend a six-point advantage over leaders Reims and move further towards the Ligue 1 crown.
Coach Luis Enrique rested his attacking trio of Ousmane Dembele, Juvica Kvaratscheria and Desiree Douye.
“We did our job well,” Enrique said. “Games like this can be difficult, but we showed we are ready.
“When you get a result like this, it’s the best way to prepare for the Champions League semi-finals.”
Enrique talks about PSG’s “Ai”‘s tough schedule
Enrique insists his players are enjoying a grueling schedule as they chase glory on two fronts, with the match against Angers being the third of nine games in 29 days.
The games overlapped in part because PSG postponed domestic matches to support their Champions League campaign.
“We have a tough schedule, but we are enjoying it. Whether it’s a negative result against Lyon or a positive result against Nantes, nothing will change the rest,” he said before the win against Angers.
“We won’t change our direction depending on whether we win or lose. What’s important is that the individual players are doing well and that they play the best team possible. You can’t control everything.”
Kane’s goal lifts Bayern to glory
Harry Kane has scored 53 goals in 45 games for Bayern, the most by an English player in the league for almost a century.
After Bayern beat Dortmund in February, Kane had scored two goals in four consecutive games. He scored 30 goals in 24 games and looked set to break Robert Lewandowski’s single-season record of 41 goals.
But since then, Kane has only started one of Bayern’s seven league games as coach Vincent Kompany wrapped him up in preparation for the big stage.
After coming on as a substitute to help Bayern come from three goals down to win 4-3 against Mainz on Saturday, Kane told reporters where his real focus lies.
“It’s going to be tough,” Kane said of chasing Lewandowski’s record. “Obviously, I came here to win the Champions League and I’m here to win the German Cup, so in the end that’s the priority.”
Kane called PSG “the current European champions for a reason”, adding that the French champions “are a really strong team with great quality and are well-coached.”
“There will be a lot of activity. It will depend on the moment and the quality.”
Kompany says PSG is ‘probably the toughest challenge’
Kompany said it would be a big challenge for the current Champions League holders.
“Paris in the Champions League, the defending champions, probably the toughest challenge,” Kompany said before the next match.
“We don’t want it to end here. It’s a competitive week. We’re looking forward to it, but we also know how difficult it will be. Our belief is there. That’s something that’s very valuable in football.”
Kompany received his third yellow card of the tournament in the second leg win over Real Madrid and was suspended for the first leg. His English assistant, Aaron Danks, will be in the dugout.
“Obviously we’re going to miss him on the sidelines. He’s our boss and our leader,” Kane said. “But everyone knows what needs to be done, even if the boss isn’t on the sidelines.”
How did PSG reach the semi-finals?
Ousmane Dembele scored twice at a rain-soaked Anfield to seal PSG’s place in the last four with a 2-0 win over Liverpool and a 4-0 aggregate victory.
How did Bayern reach the semi-finals?
Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz and Michael Olise scored late goals to give Real Madrid a dramatic 4-3 victory in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and advance to the last four with an aggregate score of 6-4 after a thrilling draw.
direct confrontation
The two clubs have met 16 times but have never drawn, with Bayern winning nine of those matches and PSG winning seven.
Last 5 encounters:
November 4, 2025: PSG 1-2 Bayern Munich (Champions League, league stage) July 5, 2025: PSG 2-0 Bayern Munich (Club World Cup quarter-finals) November 26, 2024: Bayern 1-0 PSG (Champions League, league stage) March 8, 2023: Bayern 2-0 PSG (Champions League final match) 16) February 14, 2023: PSG 0-1 Bayern (Champions League last 16)
What happened in their last encounter?
Bayern Munich defeated PSG away in the league in November, with Luis Diaz scoring two goals and receiving a red card.
The Colombian winger scored two goals before being sent off for a heavy tackle on Achraf Hakimi just before half-time.
PSG, who had reduced their arrears thanks to the efforts of coach Joao Neves, dominated the ball after the break but were unable to reach a full count, falling to their first defeat in this tournament since last season’s quarter-final second leg against Aston Villa.
PSG team news
Key midfielder Vicinha is a big doubt after picking up a heel injury earlier this month, while Quentin Njantu is ruled out due to injury.
Desiree Douai and Nuno Mendes were both in the squad to face Angers and should be available for the game against Bayern, despite sustaining injuries in the quarter-final second leg win over Liverpool.
Midfielder Fabian Ruiz played 45 minutes against Angers and is returning to full fitness after two months off with a knee injury and is likely to start against the German champions.
Expected starting lineup:
Safonov (goalkeeper); Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes. Luiz, Zaire Emery, Neves. Due, Dembele, Kvaratscheria
bayern team news
Serge Gnabry, Tom Bischoff and Sven Ulreich are all ruled out through injury, as is Rafael Guerreiro, who suffered a minor hamstring tear in the match against Mainz at the weekend.
Teenage star Lenato Carle has recovered from a torn thigh muscle and is close to full fitness and could be available.
Expected starting lineup:
Neuer (goalkeeper) Stanic, Upamecano, Tarr, Reimer. Pavlovich, Kimmich. Olise, Musiala, Diaz. Kane
