A new European champion will emerge today at the Estadio da Luz, in Portugal as first-time finalists, Paris Saint-Germain take on five-time winners of the competition, Bayern Munich.
This will be a battle for both league champions to be crowned kings of Europe – a title which would complete a historic European treble for either club. PSG were crowned Ligue 1 champions while Bayern emerged Bundesliga winners.
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The French side have won 24 of the last 28 domestic trophies available to them while the Germans come into this match having won 27 of their last 28 outings across all competitions including each of the last 19 – an unprecedented achievement for a German top-flight team.
PSG will attempt to be the first French club to ever complete an European treble and will also attempt to become the ninth team ever to achieve that feat while Bayern who are Bundesliga undisputed champions and with more European football experience will look to do another treble.
Seven years ago, Bayern won a treble when they picked up their fifth Champions League crown and victory on Sunday would see them join Barcelona as the only clubs to do so on two separate occasions.
As for PSG, their journey in Lisbon started with late drama as substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in second-half stoppage time to seal a frantic 2-1 win over Atalanta in the quarter-finals. The semi-finals seemed a much more straight forward contest as the Parisians found their groove and eased to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig.
As for Bayern Munich, they have shown a ruthless streak in Portugal that gives them the favourites tag heading into the contest on Sunday.
Hansi Flick’s side sent a message to the competition in the quarter-finals as they blitzed Barcelona 8-2. Thomas Muller and on-loan Barcelona start Phillipe Coutinho grabbed a brace each as the Bundesliga champions laid waste to Leo Messi and company in one of the most comprehensive Champions League victories in recent memory.
Yet there is not quite an aura of invincibility about the team despite the results suggesting otherwise, and PSG will have taken belief from Lyon’s performance in the semi-finals despite their fellow Ligue 1 side being on the end of a 3-0 defeat.
Bayern’s clean sheet in that match was more down to some key saves from Manuel Neuer than any particularly robust defending in front of him, with Lyon capitalising on a high defensive line on more than one occasion without taking their chances.
It is difficult to see the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel di Maria and Mauro Icardi being quite so wasteful if gifted the same chances, and it is also difficult to see Bayern changing the way they play given their ability to outscore any team.
Thomas Tuchel’s side will, therefore, be confident that they will get opportunities, and with the best defence in the competition this season they also, seem well-equipped to keep Bayern’s own dangerous attackers at bay.
These two sides have met on eight previous occasions, with all of those coming in the group stages of the Champions League.
It is PSG who boast the superior record in those head-to-head meetings, winning five compared to three victories for Bayern.
Only two of those past meetings have come since 2000, with the two sides trading victories in the 2017-18 group stages – PSG winning 3-0 in Paris and Bayern winning 3-1 in Munich.
One thing is certain, a new European champion will emerge tonight.
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