Two months after the Qatar 2022 World Cup final, European football meets again with the Champions League, from Tuesday, with the first leg of a fairly even round of 16 and an attractive PSG-Bayern.
In this particular season, interrupted in November and December by the World Cup in Qatar, the winter eclipse of the European queen test has lasted more than three months. Long enough for the stars to have lost some of their reference points, and for it to have affected the hierarchies.
At PSG they breathe for the recovery of Kylian Mbappé to measure Bayern Munich for the Champions League
Who would have thought that PSG, who had finished the group stage undefeated, despite the fact that the two draws against Benfica relegated them to second place, would have so many doubts before facing Bayern Munich on Tuesday (3:00 p.m. from Ecuador)? ?
But the World Cup left remains in the organisms, the injuries have accumulated and the start of the year for the Parisians has not been the best (four defeats since January 1), enough to put the club from the Qatari capital under pressure, which has dreamed of a Champions League title for more than a decade.
Stars in top form are also needed, which does not seem to be the case for the ‘MNM’ attacking trio: Messi (hamstring) rested in Saturday’s game, neymar He has had ankle problems since the World Cup and kylian mbappe (thigh), initially low but who entered the call, is just coming out of an injury.
“If I wasn’t worried, it would be serious,” acknowledged coach Christophe Galtier. “But, in these difficult times, a union is necessary.”
The three stars of PSG They trained on Monday and finally, Mbappé entered the squad for the game, which may fuel the suspicions of Bayern, who was suspicious and expected a poker ‘bluff’ from PSG in relation to the French striker, current leader of the competition’s scorer table (7 goals) along with Mohamed Salah.
Bayern have also suffered several serious injuriesfrom Sadio Mané to Manuel Neuer through Lucas Hernandez, but it has strengthened well in the winter market, unlike PSG, and it arrives launched for this new rematch of the 2020 Champions League final, won by the Germans (1 -0).
But it’s hard to know if the ogre from Munich is the irresistible team that walked in the group of death with Inter Milan and FC Barcelona (6 games, 6 wins, 18 goals scored).
It is also difficult to measure the balance of forces in Tuesday’s match between the AC Milanwhich is not accompanied by the results, and Tottenhamusually solid, but beaten 4-1 by Leicester this weekend in the Premier League.
in the others matches, which are staggered until February 22 (return duels from March 7 to 15), the clash Real Madrid-Liverpool Next week will also attract attention, when the Spanish team continues to support a dissident project of a private Super League.
Less than a year after his triumph at the Stade de France (1-0) with a goal from Vinicius against Liverpool, the real Madridfourteen times European champion and last winner of the trophy, which was imposed on Saturday in the Club World Cup, He faces the Reds againsix times champion of the Champions League, although currently in great difficulties in the Premier (10th).
“I think that the players are in an upward phase after a difficult month of January”, warned the Italian coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, who recovered his center forward and Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Benzema.
En route to the final, on June 10 in Istanbul, the other eighths propose two duels among former winners: Borussia Dortmund (1997) faces Chelsea (2012, 2021) and Inter Milan (1964, 1965, 2010) faces FC Porto (1987, 2004).
Manchester Cityin search of a first crown, faces RB Leipzig next week, but the English giant has other concerns in the face of the threat of sanctions from the Premier League, which accuses it of several violations of the financial rules of the championship.
Naplesimpressive in the group stage and dominant in Serie A, will try for his part against Eintracht Frankfurt reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in its history.
Lastly, the Club Brugesa surprise guest among the European aristocracy, hopes to continue his good run on Wednesday against Benfica. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
