Luis Enrique believes Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Bayern Munich will see Europe’s high two groups collide, in a battle he’s assured of profitable.
PSG welcome the Bundesliga champions to the Parc des Princes on Tuesday for a mouth-watering conflict as each look to succeed in subsequent month’s showpiece match in Budapest.
The Parisiens booked their place within the remaining 4 with a 4-0 mixture overcome Liverpool, whereas Bayern beat 15-time winners Actual Madrid 6-4 throughout two legs.
Luis Enrique’s aspect are assigned a 21% probability of going back-to-back, whereas Bayern are handed a 35% chance of going all the best way by the Opta supercomputer.
The 2 sides have already met on this season’s competitors, with a Luis Diaz brace sealing a 2-1 win for Bayern, although the Colombian was despatched off in first-half stoppage time.
Forward of kick-off, the PSG boss outlined his need to take a first-leg result in the Allianz Enviornment, whereas additionally stating that although Bayern could have been extra constant throughout all competitions this season, his gamers are those to beat.
“These are Europe’s high two groups, though Arsenal have additionally had an excellent season,” Luis Enrique instructed reporters.
“When it comes to consistency, Bayern are maybe barely above us as a result of they’ve solely misplaced two video games, however when it comes to what we’ve proven, there’s no group higher than us.
“After we missed out on the highest eight [in the league phase], I stated that there was no group higher than us.
“It is advisable assault greater than you defend if you wish to win, and we all know how exhausting that shall be, however we’re not right here to barter; we wish to win.”
Specializing in Bayern Munich. pic.twitter.com/R4nHOrYS6e
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) April 27, 2026
Bayern, in the meantime, arrive with the wind of their sails having wrapped up the Bundesliga title, together with reaching the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal in midweek.
However Vincent Kompany’s aspect have been pressured to battle from three objectives all the way down to beat Mainz 4-3 of their final league outing, with the Bayern boss opting to relaxation a few of his star first-team gamers corresponding to Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise.
All three got here off the bench to attain within the second-half turnaround, although this time Kompany should serve his managerial duties from the stands, having acquired his third yellow card of this season’s Champions League throughout the quarter-final second leg towards Madrid.
“It’s all the way down to us to carry out on the pitch,” England captain Kane confused when requested concerning the reality Kompany gained’t be on the touchline on Tuesday.
“We’ll miss him on the touchline. He’s our boss, a coach who’d like to be on the market with us.
“I’m anticipating a tricky recreation however am excited concerning the problem. We’re prepared. It’s now about performing.”
Bonjour, Paris! pic.twitter.com/2I6EXpHAoZ
— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) April 27, 2026
Following his strike towards Mainz, Kane has now netted 56 objectives in 50 appearances in all competitions this season, greater than every other participant in Europe’s high 5 leagues.
The 32-year-old has been a revelation since becoming a member of from Tottenham for a reported €100m (£86.5m) switch payment in 2023, and has amassed 138 objectives in 141 appearances throughout all competitions for the membership.
Kane’s present deal is because of expire on the finish of subsequent season, although Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed that contract talks between the 2 events are set to be opened on the conclusion of the marketing campaign.
“Bringing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich was a significant coup within the membership’s historical past,” Rummenigge instructed T-On-line.
“It’s well-known that he had a launch clause. He didn’t activate it, signalling that he would undoubtedly keep in Munich.
“And now, the related administration within the operational space – as agreed – will maintain talks with him someday after the season, with the clear purpose of extending his contract as a result of Harry has undergone one other transformation beneath Vincent Kompany.
“He’s at all times been an excellent striker who scored a number of objectives, however now he’s a playmaker, dropping again into midfield and utilizing his fantastic lengthy passes to convey Michael Olise and Luis Diaz into the sport. That’s crucial for our model of play.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
PSG – Vitinha
Vitinha has accomplished 1,370 passes within the Champions League this season, the best complete by a participant in a single version on document (since 2003-04).
The Portuguese midfielder has additionally accomplished 100+ passes in eight completely different video games this season, with solely former Barcelona star Xavi in 2010-11 (9) doing so in additional in a single marketing campaign on document (since 2003-04).
Bayern Munich – Harry Kane
Kane’s 12 objectives this season are already essentially the most by an English participant in a European Cup/Champions League marketing campaign.
He has additionally scored in every of his final 4 knockout stage video games within the competitors, and will equal the longest streak by a Bayern participant within the Champions League (5 by Robert Lewandowski between 2016 and 2018).
MATCH PREDICTION: PSG WIN
PSG and Bayern have confronted one another 15 occasions within the Champions League, and 9 occasions throughout the final 9 campaigns. Because the begin of the 2017-18 version, solely Actual Madrid towards Manchester Metropolis has been performed extra occasions within the competitors (13) than this fixture (9).
And it’s the Bundesliga aspect who’ve the higher of this rivalry. They’ve gained every of their final 5 video games towards PSG within the Champions League, together with one earlier this season (2-1 final November). That is already the longest profitable streak a group has achieved towards the Parisiens in main European competitors (5).
Kompany has gained each of his Champions League conferences with Luis Enrique’s PSG. If Bayern win right here, the Belgian coach may have essentially the most victories of any supervisor towards Luis Enrique within the competitors (three).
Nevertheless, PSG have scored 2+ objectives in every of their final eight knockout stage video games within the Champions League, the joint-longest run within the competitors’s historical past. The one different group to take action in eight in a row was Barcelona between April 2015 and April 2016, who have been additionally managed by Luis Enrique.
With a victory right here, Luis Enrique would turn into the quickest to 50 wins of any supervisor in Champions League historical past (at the moment 49 wins in 76 video games). The present document is held by Pep Guardiola, who achieved his fiftieth victory in his eightieth recreation (Bayern Munich 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb in December 2015).
However as beforehand talked about, PSG have struggled towards Bayern in Europe. They’ve misplaced 60% of their video games towards them within the Champions League (9/15 – W6), with this their highest loss share towards any opponent they’ve confronted 3+ occasions within the competitors.
And you’ll anticipate objectives on the Parc des Princes. PSG and Bayern are the joint-top scorers within the Champions League this season (38 objectives), in addition to having the 2 highest objectives per recreation averages (3.2 for Bayern and a couple of.7 for PSG).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
PSG – 41.1%
Draw – 24.3%
Bayern Munich – 34.6%
